When I don’t feel like cooking, which is at least once a week, I pull together a hodgepodge of whatever I have in the fridge and pantry. Charlie and Olive have always loved the bento-style of food, so they love the variety, and I can pull it together in 5 minutes. My kids usually eat everything, I don’t have to cook, and there are less dishes, so it’s a win-win-win!

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a recent hodgepodge meal: mango, grapes, cornichon,
cucumber, shredded cheddar cheese, buttered baguette

Here are some ideas on what to include:

  • any raw vegetable (carrots, snow peas, tomatoes, avocado, bell peppers)
  • any fruit fresh or dried (my kids love prunes!)
  • any cheese
  • tofu cubes (soft or silken variety)
  • dry cereal
  • nuts and seeds
  • packaged sauces and dips (sour cream, hummus, nut butter, salsa, pesto, guacamole, bean dip, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, jarred tomato sauce)
  • canned tuna w/ mayo
  • deli meat
  • dried/cured meat (my kids love dried anchovies, file fish, and cuttlefish — they’re Asian!)
  • rotisserie chicken
  • smoked salmon
  • canned beans
  • olives/pickles
  • crackers
  • sandwich (pb&j, cream cheese, avocado toast, etc.)
  • bread (bagel, croissant, muffin, rolls, pita, pancakes, waffles)
  • tortillas
  • yogurt
  • dried seaweed
  • granola/nut bars
  • kale chips
  • salad (haha! although I seriously loved salad as a kid)
  • milk or smoothie
  • only involves boiling: eggs, edamame, frozen peas, corn on the cob, hot dogs

What do you make for dinner when you’re too lazy to cook?