Once you’re a parent it’s all too easy to forget about yourself. We’ve all been there, creating 5 star style meals for the baby/toddler and eating just the leftovers and scraps ourselves. However, it’s SO important to still take care of our own health.
However, since having two babies, lockdown, a dodgy pelvis and working, I know too well that that’s easier said than done. For this reason, I’ve teamed up with Laura Matthews, who is also having her second baby very soon (!!). To share some Easy 5 Minute Meals for Tired Mums.
This is such an important topic for me, as I really haven’t taken enough care of myself since having Ada. I love food and want to eat well, but time just slips away and I often get to the end of the day and realise I haven’t eaten much. Or even taken ANY time to actually make myself some food.
Sometimes it’s easy to share meals with our kids, but other times it’s really not. Leftovers? Purees? Not enough for two? That’s where these ideas come in.
Make Healthy Eating Easy…
Laura and I have worked hard to try and make these:
- SO easy to prep – honestly do take 5 minutes to bung together
- Based on foods you’re likely to have around
- Based on store cupboard staples so they are likely to be foods that you can store for a while in your cupboards
- Balanced – containing most of the food groups you need each day
- Simple – not needing lots of skills or equipment to prepare
We want to make healthy eating easy and a bit delicious for all of you parents out there. Meals you can make when you simply have no time at all!
It’s a good idea to have a well-stocked cupboard and freezer. With foods such as herbs, spices, tinned beans, fish, fruit, etc to be able to assemble a quick meal for yourself. Also jarred foods such as grilled peppers, artichokes or sundried tomatoes in oil and pouches of lentils, rice, quinoa, etc are all super handy.
So get your online shopping sorted just to make these meals that little bit easier too.
Here are our 4 Super Speedy 5 Minute Meals for Mum (and Dad)!
Buddha Bowl
Add half a pouch of pre-cooked grains (e.g. couscous, lentils, quinoa) to a bowl with some fresh or dried basil (optional). Add some cooked beetroot (vacuum packed beetroot is a great option as it can sit happily in the fridge for ages!). Jarred vegetables such as artichokes or roasted peppers in oil & dollop on a large spoonful of hummus on the side.
Scrambled Egg with Feta & Tomato On Toast
Make scrambled eggs and serve with crumbled feta (or use whatever cheese you have in the fridge!) & chopped sundried tomatoes in oil. Add a pinch of dried oregano (optional) and put the mix on top of your toast (use whatever you have available. e.g. bagels, wraps, ciabatta, English muffin)
Quick Mackerel Pate on Oatcakes
Mix a tin of skinless & boneless mackerel fillets with 2tbsp of cream cheese, 2 chopped spring onions, a splash of lemon juice & 1 tsp horseradish sauce. Serve on oatcakes or crackers.
Tuna & Mixed Bean Salad with Tomatoes & CousCous
In a bowl mix up half a can of mixed beans (e.g. cannellini, borlotti) with half a can of tuna in spring water. Add a handful of halved cherry tomatoes, fresh or dried basil (optional) & toss in a dressing (e.g. 1tsp red wine vinegar & 1tbsp extra virgin olive oil). Add enough boiling water to cover 90g couscous and leave to sit until it’s soaked up all the water (5 mins maximum). This salad would go well with bread too, to dip in the dressing!
Salad Options
Here are some salad options too. You might want to add some carbohydrates such as rye bread, crackers, sourdough, couscous, potatoes to make them a “complete” meal. But I find these a good, quick accompaniment to the scraps you eat alongside the kids…!
Red Cabbage Salad
½ a small red cabbage, sliced up in a bowl (if you have one; use the grater attachment on your food processor to save even more time!). Throw in 3-4 handfuls of mixed fruit and nuts. Toss salad with lemon juice, olive oil and add pepper to taste
Carrot and Apple Salad
Grate one large carrot and one small apple and place in a bowl (or use the grater attachment on your food processor if you have one). Toss with pumpkin seeds (or any seed will do), throw in some raisins (I find jumbo the best) and add a drizzle of olive oil and lemon juice. Season with pepper, if needed.
Tricolore Salad
Slice ½ an avocado and 1 large beef tomato and around ½ a small ball of mozzarella. Layer up and drizzle with olive oil (and balsamic vinegar if you have some) and tear and scatter on some fresh basil leaves (or dried are fine!)
Pear, Rocket and Blue Cheese
Add a few handfuls of rocket to a bowl. Slice some pear and add it on top of the rocket. Crumble some stilton (any cheese fine but stilton works well) on top and throw in a handful of walnuts. Drizzle with olive oil and a splash of balsamic or even some honey if you’re feeling fancy.
p.s. if you’re pregnant you need to watch the type of blue cheese you’re having – see here.
Watermelon, Feta and Mint
This is a classic summer salad. Chop up chunks of watermelon, drizzle with olive oil, crumble feta and tear some mint leaves and add to the top. Voila!
