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5 family-friendly recipes to freeze, reheat and nourish. Weeknight cooking can be chaos – especially if you’re raising a neurodivergent child….

All the recipes below are plant-based, budget-friendly, and use organic ingredients that are easy to find in the UK. They’re also freezer-safe, gluten-free, and dairy-free for families like mine.

Weeknight cooking can be chaos — especially if you’re raising a neurodivergent child. My daughter Lucia is full of life and ideas, but by 3:30pm she’s often completely wiped out from school. She has ADHD, and when she walks in the door, she needs food that grounds her — warm, protein-rich, and calming.

So I batch cook. I freeze ahead. And I reach for the organic, brain-supportive ingredients that help Lucia (and me!) feel more stable, nourished, and ready for whatever tomorrow brings. This post ties into my earlier one 👉 Is Organic Food Worth It? UK Budget Tips for Families, where I share our favourite UK organic grocers.

Why I Batch Cook (Especially as an ADHD Mum)

• Supports focus and calm through balanced nutrition
• Saves my sanity during weeknight rush hours
• Reduces food waste and supports our eco values
• Keeps Lucia’s sensitive digestion and energy steady

My Secret Weapon: The Magefesa Super-Fast Pressure Cooker

Weeknight cooking can be chaos—especially if you’re raising a neurodivergent child. That’s where my secret kitchen hero comes in: my Magefesa super-fast pressure cooker.

I invested in it about four years ago, and honestly, it’s one of the best kitchen decisions I’ve ever made. Batch cooking that used to feel like a weekend-long marathon now takes a fraction of the time. I can whip up different dishes back-to-back in under an hour.

Take my Spanish lentil stew (a firm family favourite). In the Magefesa, it’s ready in just 15 minutes—prep included! The lentils come out perfectly cooked every time, and it frees me up to tackle the other freezer-friendly meals while it’s doing its magic.

Mama Tip:

If you’re thinking about batch cooking for busy ADHD family life, investing in a reliable pressure cooker can honestly transform your kitchen game.

Shop my favourite Magefesa super-fast pressure cooker here

Our 5 Favourite Batch Cook Recipes

1. Spanish Lentil Stew with Potatoes & Broccoli

This dish takes me straight back to my childhood in Extremadura, Spain. I remember the smell of the sofrito — garlic and onion sizzling in olive oil — just before adding the pimentón de la Vera. It’s rich, smoky, unforgettable.

Now I make it for Lucia. It’s our version of a hug in a bowl.

• Sauté onions, garlic, and tomatoes until soft
• Add sliced carrots, smoked paprika, cook until fragrant
• Stir in green lentils, diced potatoes, broccoli florets
• Cover with veg stock and simmer until tender

Freeze in portions — it reheats beautifully. Serve with: crusty sourdough or polenta chips

2. Broccoli, Millet & Potato Croquetas (Dairy-Free)

Lucia loves anything crispy she can dip. These croquetas are nutrient-dense, soft inside, and golden outside — no cheese needed thanks to nutritional yeast.

• Boil potatoes, steam broccoli, and mash
• Add cooked millet, psyllium husk (binder), nutritional yeast
• Form into logs, roll in panko, freeze flat

Air fry until crispy. We serve them with rice, pasta, or roasted veg.

3. Five-Spice Crispy Tofu Cubes

This is a Lucia favourite. She even helps shake the tofu in a flour mix! It stays crispy outside and soft inside, perfect with rice or veg.

• Drain tofu, cut into small squares
• Mix cornflour with Chinese five-spice & paprika
• Shake tofu in the mix (in a lidded container)
• Store in fridge for up to 3–4 days, ready to pan-fry

Serve with black rice, broccoli and edamame.

4. Homemade Polenta Chips (Crispy & Air Fryer Ready)

I make these every Sunday. Healthier than chips, but still a fun finger food. Lucia eats them with lentil stew or dips.

• Cook polenta in veg stock until thick
• Spread into tray, cool, cut into “fries”
• Freeze flat before storing in bags

Air fry until crispy, with a touch of garlic powder and olive oil.

5. Red Lentil & Roasted Sweet Potato Pasta Sauce

This creamy, protein-rich sauce looks like a typical tomato pasta sauce but is secretly packed with roasted sweet potatoes and red lentils. Great for kids who resist new foods.

• Roast sweet potatoes in the oven at 190ºC for 50-60 minutes
• Simmer red lentils with garlic, basil, tinned tomatoes
• Blend potatoes and lentils together until smooth

Freezes well in individual portions. Serve with: whole grain pasta or black rice.

Why This Works for ADHD Families

• ✅ Keeps us calm during witching hours
• ✅ Fuels Lucia with real, nourishing food
• ✅ Helps me avoid impulsive takeaways
• ✅ Keeps our budget healthy too!

All these meals are organic, plant-based and freezer-friendly — with ingredients sourced from UK organic grocers like Abel & Cole, Riverford, and Well Easy.

Want to know more about ADHD family routines? Read 👉 Our ADHD-friendly weekly food structure.

https://www.additudemag.com/slideshows/adhd-recipes-for-children/?srsltid=AfmBOoqAHYR8tSNhgyJz8oWbWp8oHeozNVQbjNVSGvuLH61yzO9BBSiI

What do you batch cook for your neurodivergent family? I’d love to hear — drop a comment or tag me on Instagram @yourhandle.