In summertime, many of us moms feel like the kid in "Home Alone"--or at least we feel like making that face! The kids are hot, hungry, and tired, and so am I! What do I feed them that is healthy and quick. It only adds to the drama if you're at work and you have teens at home alone or a babysitter with limited cooking skills. Everyone will smile with these simple and easy healthy lunches for your tots, pre-teens and full-blown teenagers that eat like adults (I have three of those myself!). Bonus: Most of the meals can be made ahead and changed slightly to yield a new lunchtime menu. Get your summer kitchen ready and organized!
Chicken Taco Bowls: Chop green leaf lettuce and toss with shredded cheddar cheese, black beans, salsa, and leftover cubed chicken. Put each ingredient in a separate container and stack together in the fridge for easy prep work. Chicken Penne Salad: Combine cooked whole-wheat pasta and leftover cubed chicken with a basic salad dressing. Place shredded and diced vegetables, drained and rinsed canned beans, and shredded cheese in storage containers so kids can customize their salads. Loaded Baked Potatoes: Bake (or microwave) big batches of potatoes or sweet potatoes at night. Pair with drained and rinsed white or red kidney beans, shredded cheese, chopped broccoli, cubed chicken, and light sour cream. Flatbread Veggie Sandwiches: Place any leftover vegetables from dinner in clear containers with a bag of reduced-fat shredded cheese, some whole-wheat flatbread, and a package of lean deli meat nearby. Kids can build the sandwiches and eat them cold or warm (by microwaving for 30 seconds). English muffin pizzas: Keep a bag of whole-grain English muffins in the bread box, plus a bag of shredded cheese and a jar of sauce in the fridge. Chop up a bunch of veggies the kids like and place them nearby, along with cooked chicken or turkey pepperoni. The kids can build their own pizzas and microwave or bake them with the help of a grown-up Fun pasta: Cook up a box of small pasta in a fun shape, such as stars or the alphabet. Puree a jar of chunky veggie sauce and a few handfuls of fresh spinach, then add to the pasta. Add ground turkey seasoned with Italian spices, and this will replace the kids' favorite canned pasta. Souped-up Smoothies: Over the weekend make a batch of your favorite granola and store in a clear container on the countertop. Stock the freezer with all kinds of frozen fruit: blueberries, strawberries, diced mango, sliced peaches, or cubed cantaloupe. Stock your refrigerator with plain Greek yogurt and skim milk, and the kids can make healthy "milkshakes" topped with granola for a quick meal or snack. Savory stuffed waffles: Over the weekend, make an extra batch of waffles stuffed with lean meats. Fill the bottom of the griddle with 1/2 of recommend batter, then 2 ounces of turkey or ham, and top with remaining batter. Cook, cool, then freeze in plastic bags. Kids can reheat in a toaster oven for a fun alternative to a sandwich. Remember, when all else fails, there's always the good ol' PBJ with a cup of milk! What is your favorite healthy, easy summer lunch for kids? Want more healthy recipes from me and fellow SparkPeople members? Be sure to subscribe to SparkPeople's Recipe of the Day email. Click here to sign up! Did you know SparkRecipes is now on Facebook? Click here to "Like" us! Like this blog? Then you'll love "The SparkPeople Cookbook: Love Your Food, Lose the Weight." |
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