Cheat Your Way to Cooking 5 Different Meals in One Pot: A Busy Family & Nanny’s Guide to Effortless Mealtimes

Cheat Your Way to 5 Meals in One Pot

This is my Dietitian-Mum’s Guide for Busy Families & Nannies

As a dietitian, business owner, and stressed out mum to a toddler and a newborn, I know just how intense family life can be — especially when you're trying to cook healthy meals that please everyone, and still find time to shower.

We’re incredibly lucky to have a Norland student nanny living with us right now — and honestly, it’s been a complete lifesaver. She’s an extra pair of hands with the boys and is giving me the chance to nap, run my business, and also teach her along the way. This blog post was actually inspired by a conversation we had to help her learn how to cook as part of her role and holding a baby in the other!

So, here’s my busy family and nanny’s guide to effortless mealtimes' with our one-pot, five-meal recipe. Perfect for busy families, save time today! — toddler-approved, time-saving, and perfect for families or anyone working with children.

🛒 Ingredient Staples You’ll Need

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 1 red onion, finely chopped

• 3 tins chopped tomatoes

• 1 tbsp tomato purée

• 1 tin black beans (drained)

• 1 tin chickpeas (drained)

• 1 tin lentils (drained)

• 250–500g beef mince (or meat-free alternative)

• 1 sachet chilli con carne mix or a blend of cumin, paprika & mild chilli powder

• Dried Italian herbs

• 1 tsp pre-chopped garlic (optional)

👩‍🍳 How to Make the Base

1. Heat olive oil in a large pot.

2. Add the chopped red onion and cook for a few minutes until softened.

3. Stir in the beef mince and cook until browned.

4. Add the garlic, then stir 2 tins of the tomatoes (save one for later), tomato purée, herbs and spices.

5. Add the drained beans and lentils

6. Let simmer gently for around 15 minutes.

   
   

This is your base!

From here, you can build five easy, balanced meals!

Excuse the messy photo - my real life version! 4 toddler friendly pots ready to cool and freeze

Simply wait for it to cool down and then decant into small toddler size Tupperware pots perfect for freezing or keeping in the fridge for when you want to create your 5 meals.

Want your own adult tasty dinner?

PS If you want to create a spicy adult dinner remember to save ¼ of the beef mince base you’ve created as we can add to that later!

🧒 Toddler & Family-Friendly Meal Ideas

Simply defrost your batch cooked base and then choose one of these meal ideas below!

1. Sweet Potato Cottage Pie

Spoon the pre cooked base into an oven dish and top with soft, mashed sweet potato. Bake until golden. Why it’s great: Sweet potato adds vitamin A and fibre — and it’s naturally sweet, so toddlers usually love it!

2. Mild Chilli with Rice

Serve a portion of the base with cooked rice. Add a tiny sprinkle of spices if your little one can tolerate them. Top tip: Add mild salsa, avocado, or grated cheese to mix up the flavours.

3. Beefy Pasta Bake

Mix the base into cooked pasta and top with grated cheese. Bake for 10 minutes if you want it golden and bubbly. Perfect for: After nursery dinner when you want minimal fuss and maximum flavour.

4. Mini Toddler Fajitas

Warm up a portion of the base and spoon into small, soft tortilla wraps. Serve with mild grated cheese, chopped avocado, and sweetcorn on the side — or let them build their own. Why it works: It’s fun, finger-friendly, and helps toddlers feel involved at mealtime. You can even cut the wraps into pinwheels for bite-sized portions.

Example meals made from one pot beef mince

Nutrition Boosting Tip

To make each meal even more nutritious, serve with colourful veggies on the side — especially those rich in vitamin C like broccoli or peppers. This helps your little ones absorb the iron from the mince and pulses, which is especially important for growing toddlers (iron deficiency is very common!).

🌶️ Make It Spicy for the Grown-Ups

Once you’ve dished out the family portions, leave the rest of the base in the pan and turn it into a bold, flavour-packed adult version:

1. Add an extra tin of tomatoes and more chickpeas.

2. Stir in a spicy chilli con carne mix or a few extra spoonfuls of chilli powder, smoked paprika and cumin.

3. Simmer for 10 more minutes until thick and spicy.

Serve it with:

• Rice and guacamole

• In fajita wraps with grated cheese, lettuce, and tomato

• Or just on top of nachos with your favourite toppings

Bonus Tips for Busy Nannies & Parents

• Get the kids involved – Stirring, sprinkling cheese, or choosing toppings gets them interested and more likely to eat it!

• Label everything – Helps when someone else is doing dinner (looking at you, tired dad on Tuesday).

• Add sides or toppings – Grated cheese, seeds, chopped herbs, or yoghurt can turn the same base into something fresh and new.

  
  

Final Thoughts on this Busy Family & Nanny’s Guide to Effortless Mealtimes

This one-pot wonder genuinely saves my week — it’s easy, affordable, and full of goodness. I batch-cook it once, and we all eat well for days. And if you’re lucky enough to have an extra pair of hands like a student nanny around (especially if you live near Norland College in Bath or South West London), I highly recommend applying. It’s been such a gift to our family.

Let me know if you try this — or if you want more simple, realistic meal ideas like this one.

You can find me over at 

https://www.instagram.com/the_health_nutritionist/

or on www.healthnutritionist.co.uk.