picture of a pink thermos funtainer flask and slow cooker

9 Easy Meal Ideas for Thermos Flasks: Perfect for Busy School Nights

Lizz Banks
Authored by Lizz Banks
Posted: Thursday, January 16, 2025 - 18:18

We are fully in our ‘kids sports’ era of parenting! I personally love it and am that annoying parent who likes to sit on the sidelines and watch all of the various activities! The one major challenge is deciding what we have when we eat dinner! This requires a lot of planning, organisation, and research!

My slow cooker has been a godsend here as I can put this on in the morning and we can either eat at different times or it’s ready to serve the minute we get in the door. Find my go-to slow cooker recipes for busy nights here.

My daughter loves gymnastics and currently trains about 10 hours a week! This means late nights and as she isn’t hungry for a full meal straight after school, before she goes to gymnastics, I have turned to using a thermos flask to put her meals in. This has been a lifesaver as I can cook the food before I leave for the school run and the thermos keeps it warm for about 5 hours, meaning she can eat some before and have the rest afterwards.

Here are some of the meals I make for the warm pot:

1. Pasta and Pesto

This is one of my daughter’s favourites! I love this as it’s super quick and easy to make, plus I can add various things to it easily to make it interesting and get some extra nutrients in.

Add-ins for Pasta and Pesto:

  • Chicken
  • Ham
  • Sausages
  • Peas
  • Green beans
  • Olives
  • Broccoli
  • Turkey
  • Bacon

Sometimes I also put a pot of grated cheese in with the flask so she can sprinkle cheese on top.

2. Pizza

Another super fast one that is a big hit in my house. Packed full of carbs, it’s great to keep her going on busy nights. I have found that the children’s size pizzas from the supermarket fit in the flask perfectly when they are cut into pizza slices.

Toppings for Pizza:

  • Peppers
  • Chicken
  • Ham

A little pot of salad, like cucumbers, peppers, and carrots, makes a great side for this if you need one.

3. Spaghetti Bolognaise

This is a meal that I always keep in the freezer for busy nights, but it works really well in these pots. If I’m using spaghetti in these pots, I always chop the spaghetti up so it’s easy to get out. Alternatively, you can use fusilli or penne pasta instead.

picture of a plate full of spaghetti bolognaise

4. Cottage Pie

This is another staple in our freezer. This is a favourite of mine as I can fill the mince with so many vegetables and add lots of butter and cheese to the mash to make it a great all-around meal that is healthy but can also contain lots of calories for all the energy they will be burning.

5. Soup and Quesadillas

Tomato soup with cheesy quesadillas is another favourite meal for my daughter! This one is a bit lighter and not so good for the car (cleaning tomato soup out of a car seat and clothes is not what you need on busy nights!) but can be another great option.

picture of a bowl of tomato soup with some grilled cheese sandwiches

6. Chicken and Rice

One for those little ones who prefer more plain food, chicken and rice is a great pre and post-activity meal. Make this more varied by adding things like:

  • Carrots
  • Ham
  • Bacon
  • Peas
  • Sweetcorn
  • Broccoli
  • Spices

7. Sausage and Mash Pie

Think sausages and mash, but all together in one pot! This meal/pie is often one I make for friends and family when they’ve just had a baby as it’s so easy to eat one-handed! Simply cook your sausages, then cut them up and layer them in a pan. Next, pour over gravy and add your veg of choice (things like peas, carrots, and sweetcorn work well). Then put the mashed potato on top, you can then grate some cheese and put it in the oven for half an hour. This can then be portioned up, put in the freezer, and reheated whenever needed. You can either make this fresh to go in a pot or reheat from the freezer and put it straight into the thermos flask.

8. Fish Finger Pie

This is another easy, make-ahead-of-time dinner that can be frozen.

How to Make Fish Finger Pie:

  • Cook your fish fingers, mashed potatoes, and any vegetable you would like to add.
  • Chop up the fish fingers then mix them in a bowl with your vegetables and some mayonnaise to combine it.
  • Top with your mashed potato. You can add some cheese and put it in the oven for another half an hour if you like.

9. Mac n Cheese

A great high-calorie meal that is perfect for these food pots. Make it more interesting by adding things like:

  • Vegetables
  • Chicken
  • Bacon
  • Ham

Giving them some bread on the side or a salad would complete it perfectly.

picture of a black pot full of macaroni and cheese

Conclusion

Preparing warm meals for your kids in thermos flasks can be a real game-changer on busy school nights. These meal ideas are nutritious, easy to prepare, and keep your children fueled for their activities. What are your favourite quick meal ideas? Share them in the comments below!

 

 

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