10 Healthy, Simple, Cheap Meals for Minimalist Moms

My kid is at the age where he is very picky about what he eats. If I’m not careful, he will eat candy and cake at EVERY. SINGLE. MEAL. Although I love to cook, I’ve learned not to invest too much time and energy into meals where the precursor to eating includes whining and “I want something else.”

As my son has grown older and become more independent, I’ve found that meals where he preps, makes, or chooses the different ingredients himself are the most popular. As a single mom by choice, the more independent my son can and wants to be increases with the simplicity of the food choice.

Meals for Minimalist Moms that Even Your Kids Can Make

You can easily combine these meals to make many different combinations, saving a ton of time and effort. Or you can add a smoothie or popsicle for a side dish, desert, or incentive to eat vegetables. I’ve also made homemade applesauce as an incentive or dessert after any of these meals.

Here are my go-to meals that are so easy your 6-year old can make (or at least help) with many of them:

1. Pasta

You can go organic, gluten-free, or whole wheat. You can add cheese, pasta, pesto, and/or hummus. You can also put minimal effort and not be as healthy (no judgement!) with Wacky Mac. And hey, if you feel guilty about the Wacky Mac you can always cut up some vegetables for a side dish!

2. Sandwiches

3. Scrambled eggs

I learned from an old roommate: Always have eggs, butter, bread and milk in the kitchen, and boy was she right! Eggs are so versatile, but we’ve settled on scrambled for the time being. I find they are the easiest to make and consume with the least complaints. The best thing is my son at age 6.5 makes this meal by himself!!

4. Oatmeal

This is a morning staple in our house. It is extremely cheap when you buy in bulk. I don’t even cook it – I just add boiling water in the morning. Oatmeal with raisins is the usual choice, occasionally my son lets me put chia seeds, or I let him put in frozen or fresh fruit (I like to save the frozen fruit for smoothies and the yogurt).

5. Yogurt bowls

This is so easy, healthy, and affordable. I buy big plain vanilla yogurts of 4% milk with no sugar. We add frozen and/or frozen fruit, granola, dried fruit, lentils, chia seeds, flax seeds and even leftover apple crumble if it’s around. I can easily feed my infant daughter at the same time, or just give her a frozen strawberry to suck on. It’s the same template every day, but with a lot of variety so you don’t get bored.

6. Chicken and rice

Either a schnitzel I prepared (occasionally packaged) or a chicken leg with the bone. Rice is also a big favorite around here, it’s easy to make a lot of and can be served a couple of nights in a row with different meals. I have to make plain white rice but you could go wild, brown, or yellow. You could also put raisins and beans in it, depending on how picky or adventurous an eater your kids are. I also use the Ninja grill to cook it and it’s great because I can just walk away and this meal practically cooks itself.

7. Cracked wheat and cut up vegetables

Cracked wheat is similar to oatmeal in terms of preparation – you can just add hot water and let it sit. I add a bit of lemon and salt for taste. I have learned that if I cut up vegetables lengthwise and let my toddler and now 6 year old add salt, hummus, or tehina before the meal is ready (first this, then that), he will eat vegetables!

8. Spring rolls

This sounds complicated but once you nail down making sushi rice, it’s basically a sandwich. Instead of bread you use rice paper. Then you slice up vegetables, but they don’t have to be that small. It’s easier than sushi because you don’t have to cut it into small pieces. Also if you keep the vegetables in airtight containers in the fridge you can often have this dish as a snack or for lunches throughout the week.

9. Soup

As an ex-pat living in the Middle East, couscous and rice in soup is a very popular dish (translated as “couscous soup”) that my son eats at afterschool (it lasts til 17:00 officially and includes lunch). But I’ve also made orange soup, lentil soup, and onion soup that he eats as well. I’m not letting my son around hot soup on the stove for a while, but with supervision he can blend the soup so that the vegetables are indistinguishable (and nutrients are hidden!).

10. Mashed potatoes

This is one of the few food items my son will eat usually without a complaint, is simple to make, and healthy. I typically offer the option to add mozzarella cheese for protein. (Ketchup is also popular, although less healthy). Potatoes also last a nice while in your kitchen and/or refrigerator and can also be roasted, sliced, or fried for variety. My son loves to mash the potatoes with our immersion blender.

Take Charge and Keep Weeknights Simple

I’ve learned over the years not to ask open-ended questions of my son. “What do you want for dinner?” is either met by something that shouldn’t be eaten for dinner (e.g, “ice cream! strawberries”) or something I don’t have in the fridge. It’s best to say: “What do you want for dinner, mashed potatoes or a cheese sandwich?” He’ll also sometimes respond only after a few minutes, which can be annoying when you are trying to get kids bathed and in bed.

When there’s bad weather or we have time off from school, I make more elaborate meals and freeze them. But these are basic meals that you can make in a few minutes when you are between frozen meals and can get you through the before-bedtime crunch.