Daycare.com Forum
Daycare Menus, Breakfast, Lunch and Snack Ideas>Help For Someone Who "Can't" Cook
KatiesCorner 01:40 PM 11-30-2014
Hello all! Time to spill my dirty secret, I can't cook... Yet! I never had any interest in cooking, and when I worked at a child care center, they provided all of my breakfasts and lunches. So I I was usually only fixing my own food a handful of times each week. Now, I own my own Family Home Day Care and provide breakfast, lunches, and snacks each day for two toddlers.
I've made this work by using frozen foods, and using a pretty repetitive menu. I'm looking for a few different kind of suggestions-
1.What are some easy foods that you make that are also not too unhealthy?
2.As I learn to cook, what are some easy dishes to start off with?
I've literally never cooked any meats, or anything that didn't come with instructions. Where should I start?
I've made this work by using frozen foods, and using a pretty repetitive menu. I'm looking for a few different kind of suggestions-
1.What are some easy foods that you make that are also not too unhealthy?
2.As I learn to cook, what are some easy dishes to start off with?
I've literally never cooked any meats, or anything that didn't come with instructions. Where should I start?
Thriftylady 01:47 PM 11-30-2014
First of all you CAN cook, you just never have!
Second, you just gotta do it!
Third want a great tip for something easy and healthy? It is so easy that DH uses it in the Semi for himself, quick enough that he will cook a healthy meal in an hour or less on a ten hour break!
It is called an Aroma 3-1 you can get it at walmart. It is a slowcooker (a must have in the kitchen really). It is also a rice and veggie steamer! It has white and brown rice settings. Hubby will rinse some brown rice, put it in pot with water put it in and start it. Partway through cooking, he will add veggies and chicken breast to the food steamer basket and get it going again. It cooks a healthy meal with no effort.
Other than that, well I have lots of ideas, if you will send me your email address perhaps I can help you out. I doubt they want all that here. When I married DH, I had always worked full time, came rushing home to a husband and kids and made something from a box. It is amazing what you can do once you feel you have the time to learn.
Second, you just gotta do it!
Third want a great tip for something easy and healthy? It is so easy that DH uses it in the Semi for himself, quick enough that he will cook a healthy meal in an hour or less on a ten hour break!
It is called an Aroma 3-1 you can get it at walmart. It is a slowcooker (a must have in the kitchen really). It is also a rice and veggie steamer! It has white and brown rice settings. Hubby will rinse some brown rice, put it in pot with water put it in and start it. Partway through cooking, he will add veggies and chicken breast to the food steamer basket and get it going again. It cooks a healthy meal with no effort.
Other than that, well I have lots of ideas, if you will send me your email address perhaps I can help you out. I doubt they want all that here. When I married DH, I had always worked full time, came rushing home to a husband and kids and made something from a box. It is amazing what you can do once you feel you have the time to learn.
Unregistered 09:17 PM 11-30-2014
One easy way to do meals is just do separate ingredients for each meal component.
Milk
Protein= egg or cheese or beans or chicken or ...
Veg = broccoli or green beans or lettuce & tomato or brussel sprouts or parsnips or carrots or ...
Fruit = apple or pineapple or orange or peach or banana or strawberries or blueberries or ...
Grain = bread or pita or toast or rice or barley or ...
Sometimes little kids like their foods all separate. Not that you'd necessarily do every meal this way, but it's basic and simple and gives them variety because you can mix it up and never serve the same meal twice. And it's easy-cook.
Milk
Protein= egg or cheese or beans or chicken or ...
Veg = broccoli or green beans or lettuce & tomato or brussel sprouts or parsnips or carrots or ...
Fruit = apple or pineapple or orange or peach or banana or strawberries or blueberries or ...
Grain = bread or pita or toast or rice or barley or ...
Sometimes little kids like their foods all separate. Not that you'd necessarily do every meal this way, but it's basic and simple and gives them variety because you can mix it up and never serve the same meal twice. And it's easy-cook.
craftymissbeth 05:11 AM 12-01-2014
I'm not the best cook plus I hate the clean up afterward. So I dumbed down my menu a LOT. As a bonus, my dcks eat better than they did before.
One thing I do is every single Wednesday its PB&J's, cheddar cheese cubes, raw broccoli w/ dip, Apple slices, and milk. Believe it or not, but that's the only meal where all of my kids devour 2-3 plate fulls of food.
I don't like PB&J's and since I eat with my dcks I decided to switch things up. I started cooking them just like grilled cheese sandwiches... Oh. My. Goodness. So stinking good!
I also used my crock pot a ton before I dropped the ceramic part and broke it. Since I dislike clean up so much I started using the crock pot bags... you just throw the thing away and washing is super easy. My crock pot was seriously my best friend. I even roasted whole chickens in it.
The rest of our meals consist of basic ingredients. A super simple protein (a lot of days it's something as simple as cottage cheese, cheese cubes, hard oiled eggs, yogurt, etc), two servings of veggies, and an easy grain (bread, roll, buttered noodles, crackers, etc). Many providers serve rice as their grain, but I burn it every time
.
One thing I do is every single Wednesday its PB&J's, cheddar cheese cubes, raw broccoli w/ dip, Apple slices, and milk. Believe it or not, but that's the only meal where all of my kids devour 2-3 plate fulls of food.
I don't like PB&J's and since I eat with my dcks I decided to switch things up. I started cooking them just like grilled cheese sandwiches... Oh. My. Goodness. So stinking good!
I also used my crock pot a ton before I dropped the ceramic part and broke it. Since I dislike clean up so much I started using the crock pot bags... you just throw the thing away and washing is super easy. My crock pot was seriously my best friend. I even roasted whole chickens in it.
The rest of our meals consist of basic ingredients. A super simple protein (a lot of days it's something as simple as cottage cheese, cheese cubes, hard oiled eggs, yogurt, etc), two servings of veggies, and an easy grain (bread, roll, buttered noodles, crackers, etc). Many providers serve rice as their grain, but I burn it every time
.
Thriftylady 09:03 AM 12-01-2014
Originally Posted by craftymissbeth:
I'm not the best cook plus I hate the clean up afterward. So I dumbed down my menu a LOT. As a bonus, my dcks eat better than they did before.
One thing I do is every single Wednesday its PB&J's, cheddar cheese cubes, raw broccoli w/ dip, Apple slices, and milk. Believe it or not, but that's the only meal where all of my kids devour 2-3 plate fulls of food.
I don't like PB&J's and since I eat with my dcks I decided to switch things up. I started cooking them just like grilled cheese sandwiches... Oh. My. Goodness. So stinking good!
I also used my crock pot a ton before I dropped the ceramic part and broke it. Since I dislike clean up so much I started using the crock pot bags... you just throw the thing away and washing is super easy. My crock pot was seriously my best friend. I even roasted whole chickens in it.
The rest of our meals consist of basic ingredients. A super simple protein (a lot of days it's something as simple as cottage cheese, cheese cubes, hard oiled eggs, yogurt, etc), two servings of veggies, and an easy grain (bread, roll, buttered noodles, crackers, etc). Many providers serve rice as their grain, but I burn it every time.
Have you tried a rice cooker? I highly suggest the aroma 3-1 to replace your crock pot. 2 birds..... I'm not the best cook plus I hate the clean up afterward. So I dumbed down my menu a LOT. As a bonus, my dcks eat better than they did before.
One thing I do is every single Wednesday its PB&J's, cheddar cheese cubes, raw broccoli w/ dip, Apple slices, and milk. Believe it or not, but that's the only meal where all of my kids devour 2-3 plate fulls of food.
I don't like PB&J's and since I eat with my dcks I decided to switch things up. I started cooking them just like grilled cheese sandwiches... Oh. My. Goodness. So stinking good!
I also used my crock pot a ton before I dropped the ceramic part and broke it. Since I dislike clean up so much I started using the crock pot bags... you just throw the thing away and washing is super easy. My crock pot was seriously my best friend. I even roasted whole chickens in it.
The rest of our meals consist of basic ingredients. A super simple protein (a lot of days it's something as simple as cottage cheese, cheese cubes, hard oiled eggs, yogurt, etc), two servings of veggies, and an easy grain (bread, roll, buttered noodles, crackers, etc). Many providers serve rice as their grain, but I burn it every time
.http://www.walmart.com/ip/Aroma-20-c...Steel/14321181
Just don't use crockpot bags on the steam or rice setting, learned the hard way lol. They are fine for slow cook.
AmyKidsCo 05:29 PM 12-01-2014
My kiddos LOVE quesadillas, and they're super-easy.
Place a tortilla on a microwave-safe plate. Cover tortilla with shredded cheddar cheese. Place another tortilla on top of the cheese. Turn another plate upside-down and use as a cover for the plate that has the tortillas & cheese on it. Microwave 20-30 seconds. Microwave another 10-20 seconds until the cheese is all melted. Cut into wedges with a pizza cutter.
Easy peasy!
Place a tortilla on a microwave-safe plate. Cover tortilla with shredded cheddar cheese. Place another tortilla on top of the cheese. Turn another plate upside-down and use as a cover for the plate that has the tortillas & cheese on it. Microwave 20-30 seconds. Microwave another 10-20 seconds until the cheese is all melted. Cut into wedges with a pizza cutter.
Easy peasy!
samuelscott 04:38 AM 01-12-2015
I'd say tacos are very easy, chop your veggies, brown your hamburger, drain fat and add seasoning if you like and scoop into shells. or use leftover rotissary chicken for chicken tacos. Now It's ready to eat.
Originally Posted by KatiesCorner:
Hello all! Time to spill my dirty secret, I can't cook... Yet! I never had any interest in cooking, and when I worked at a child care center, they provided all of my breakfasts and lunches. So I I was usually only fixing my own food a handful of times each week. Now, I own my own Family Home Day Care and provide breakfast, lunches, and snacks each day for two toddlers.
I've made this work by using frozen foods, and using a pretty repetitive menu. I'm looking for a few different kind of suggestions-
1.What are some easy foods that you make that are also not too unhealthy?
2.As I learn to cook, what are some easy dishes to start off with?
I've literally never cooked any meats, or anything that didn't come with instructions. Where should I start?
Hello all! Time to spill my dirty secret, I can't cook... Yet! I never had any interest in cooking, and when I worked at a child care center, they provided all of my breakfasts and lunches. So I I was usually only fixing my own food a handful of times each week. Now, I own my own Family Home Day Care and provide breakfast, lunches, and snacks each day for two toddlers.
I've made this work by using frozen foods, and using a pretty repetitive menu. I'm looking for a few different kind of suggestions-
1.What are some easy foods that you make that are also not too unhealthy?
2.As I learn to cook, what are some easy dishes to start off with?
I've literally never cooked any meats, or anything that didn't come with instructions. Where should I start?
Unregistered 04:36 AM 04-24-2015
Another really easy item ....refrigerator biscuits (again I use immaculate. At least they are just basic, no weird ingre,). Bake, take out slice, add cheese slice and sliced turkey or chicken ( see below) place back in warm oven till cheese melted. I turn off the stove when I first take them out, so they don't burn when I put them back in. Yummy!
Also, I always to cook chicken breasts in my crock pot for shredded chicken. It can be used in sandwiches, tacos, burritos, etc. it seemed to dry out. I saw somewhere to pour chicken broth over the breasts and cook in the crock pot. They come out moist and delicious.
Also good...shredded chicken & buttered noodles! Yum! Add some frozen peas for color! Easy peasy! Haha
Also, I always to cook chicken breasts in my crock pot for shredded chicken. It can be used in sandwiches, tacos, burritos, etc. it seemed to dry out. I saw somewhere to pour chicken broth over the breasts and cook in the crock pot. They come out moist and delicious.
Also good...shredded chicken & buttered noodles! Yum! Add some frozen peas for color! Easy peasy! Haha