Fruit and Rice Warm Me Up.

What You Need:

 

1 1/2 C brown rice, cooked

1 C soy milk

1 banana, sliced

1 (15 oz) can fruit cocktail

1/4 C water

2 T honey

1 t vanilla extract

1/2 t cinnamon

1/2 t nutmeg

 

How to Make It:

 

Place the water, honey and vanilla in a large saucepan over low heat.

Add the bananas and fruit cocktail stirring well to cover with liquid.

Stir in the cinnamon and nutmeg.

Bring to a boil.

Reduce heat to low and allow to cook 8 minutes or until very tender but not mushy.

Stir in the rice.

Pour in the soy milk and stir well.

Return to a boil and cook 10 minutes.

Best if served warm.

Fruit and Rice Warm Me Up.

Chicken Salad.

Ingredients:

1 smoked chicken breast
2 tomatoes
100 grams of pickled mushrooms
100 grams of cheese
50 grams of poppy
1 clove of garlic
3 slices of loaf
mayonnaise
redcurrant

Direction

Chopped chicken breast into the small pieces
Tomatoes and mushrooms chopped, garlic minced.

Stir tomatoes, meat, mushrooms, and garlic. Add mayonnaise
Put in a bowl. Sprinkle with grated cheese and poppy seeds
Toast bread, cut into cubes and put it around the salad
Decorate with green and red currants

Enjoy

Chicken Salad.

Candy With Fresh Strawberry.

Ingredients

- Vanilla yogurt (thick)
- Strawberries
- Chocolate sprinkling

Preparation:

Dip strawberries  into vanilla yogurt then roll in chocolate and freeze.

Children love it!

Enjoy

Candy With Fresh Strawberry.

Brown Bag Lunches for Children.

Taking a lunch from home can save money and provide nutrition not found in fast food or school lunches.

It does require some time but the rewards make it time well spent. Think about who you are feeding and what needs are specific to that person.

For example, elementary age children have different needs than an adult or teenagers. Their lunches need to be small and a bit playful to hold their interest. Since they can’t eat a lot at one time, try to pack something that can be eaten during a different break in their day. Here are some ideas.

Pre-baked dinner rolls cut in half will make tiny buns just right for little hands. Fill with sliced meatballs, ham and cheese, egg or chicken salad. Add a little container of dipping sauce or their favorite condiment. Throw in a snack sized bag of whole grain chips, baby carrots or small pieces of celery with dressing and a 100% juice boxed drink. Let them help you make a home-made trail mix and fill a small baggie with enough to share with a friend.

Spread fresh goat cheese and sliced tomato on rice cakes. Look for small bananas in the grocery. Most children like mandarin oranges so pack a few in a container. Make some pasta the night before and toss with olive oil. In the morning add cheese chunks, snap peas, bell pepper slices or whatever vegetable your child likes. Those little mini bagels can be spread with hummus or peanut butter and paired with string cheese and mini sized pretzels.

And just for fun, hide a note written to them somewhere in the lunch. Assure them that they are loved and thought of even when you can’t be with them. They may not remember the special thought put into their lunches, but they will remember the notes and you will know you did your best to help them grow strong and healthy.

Once your child reaches middle school, their bodies are changing as well as their appetites. Boys will need more of everything because they’re always hungry! Girls, on the other hand, often need to be encouraged to eat. They tend to become self-conscious about everything and will skip lunch all together. You can tell them all day long how their brain needs fuel to function, but, you might have better results if you tell them how the food they eat will help their bodies grow into what they want them to be.

Provide roasted or grilled vegetables dressed with vinegar and olive oil or a small salad with dressing on the side. Add some cheese squares or whole wheat crackers. Wrap up a piece of leftover chicken, a container of coleslaw and a roll. Add a cold drink and lunch is ready. Wrap a piece of turkey around a cheese stick and include a condiment for dipping. Add some whole grain pretzels and a small piece of fruit.

Alternate cooked chicken with raw vegetables on a skewer. Lay on a piece of aluminum foil, drizzle with honey mustard and wrap tightly. Include some sunflower seeds or nuts and a fruit juice drink. Add some grated carrots to a BBQ and send extra sauce in a container along with a bag of chips. Using a hot dog bun, make them a mini-hoagie. Pile on some meat and cheese and top with sautéed peppers and onions. Send a container with olive oil and vinegar to pour on just before eating so the bun doesn’t get soggy. Add a container of fruit cocktail for dessert and a soft drink.

The important thing is to get them to eat so their brain works properly and they can learn as much as they can!

Brown Bag Lunches for Children.

Substitution and Alternative Lunch Ideas for Special Diets.

Children with food allergies which require special diets often feel left out. They may want to enjoy

the same snacks or foods as their friends but they know eating the wrong thing can have dire consequences. The same holds true when they eat lunches prepared by the school cafeteria.

While no state law requires that school systems cater to all children with special diets, they are encouraged to provide foods which are safe for these children to eat. Most children with special dietary needs will bring lunches from home to ensure they don’t accidentally eat foods for which they have an allergy.

What types of foods can you use as substitutes or alternatives for children with special diets? Here are some options to consider:

Vegetarians or vegans can be provided with soy-based foods. Soy protein can be seasoned to taste similar to most other protein sources as well as shaped to look similar. This will enable the child not to feel too different from their friends while providing the foods they can eat.

Many people are highly allergic to peanuts. If this is something your child has, you know how serious a peanut allergy can be. Perhaps your child would like sesame seed, almond or cashew butter instead. Keep in contact with your child’s school to determine days where peanuts won’t be used so your child can join their friends for lunch in the lunchroom.

One of the most recent allergies to be recognized is an allergy to gluten. Look on the grocery store shelves and you’ll see “gluten-free” this and “gluten-free” that. Schools may be more able to cater to students with gluten allergies as more and more people are finding they do have intolerance to gluten.

For children with an egg allergy, look for foods which do not contain eggs. Those having issues with dairy can look for non-dairy items. Both of these should be relatively easy to find in grocery stores but may not be offered as alternatives in your child’s school.

As a parent you have every right to be concerned about the foods your child is served at school. Establish a good working relationship with the head of your child’s cafeteria. They understand your concerns and may be able to make substitutions or alternative food available for your child with a food allergy. Just remember, you never know what is possible until you ask.

Substitution and Alternative Lunch Ideas for Special Diets.

Breakfast-On-the-Go Ideas.

Families live fast paced lives these days. It seems there aren’t enough hours in the day to do everything and so you may find yourself skipping breakfast more often than you’d prefer. The following are some breakfast-on-the-go ideas you may want to use to encourage your family to eat breakfast each day.

* Mix up a healthy trail mix of your family’s favorite ingredients. You can use a variety of nuts, raisins or other dried fruit, carob or chocolate chips, dried coconut and seeds such as pumpkin or sunflower. Place the mixture in individual serving bags and have them ready to grab and go when needed.

* Always keep fresh fruit around the house and near the door you exit each day. Bananas, apples and oranges are the usual types of fruits you may think of. However, if your family doesn’t like these fruits, you can always slice melons or other in-season fruits and have them available in the refrigerator.

* Create breakfast biscuits the night before or on one of the days you have extra time. You can purchase frozen biscuits for a couple of dollars at most stores. Scramble some eggs and place on the prepared biscuits. Add a slice of cheese and whatever your family’s favorite breakfast meat is. There you have it! A complete breakfast ready to eat on the run.

* Make breakfast burritos using flour tortilla shells. These can be made ahead of time and frozen or you can make them a day or two ahead of time and keep them refrigerated. Scrambled eggs with sausage is what one fast food restaurant makes so why can’t you follow their lead? Use items you know your family will enjoy. Add salsa to give it some extra zip. Take them out of the refrigerator, pop them in the microwave to warm them up and you’re good to go!

* Hard boiled eggs are a good alternative if you want something that is easy to take with you. Pre-cook and peel them so all you have to do is take one out of the fridge and head out the door.

* Pre-cook or prepare as many food items as you can. Celery sticks with peanut butter, single size servings of cottage cheese or yogurt, turkey bacon slices, sausage patties are all things which can be prepared and kept in the refrigerator for a couple of days.

There really is no reason anyone should skip breakfast. While it may be true that you don’t have time to fix a traditional meal, there are so many options to choose from to ensure your family has a good start to their day. Look at these options for breakfast-on-the-go and see which ones your family will enjoy.

Breakfast-On-the-Go Ideas.

Lunch Storage and Cooling Ideas.

You know it is important to keep your children’s food safe if you send lunches with them to school.

Sometimes accomplishing that safety isn’t easy to do. And depending upon the foods they have in their lunches, it may seem almost impossible. These lunch storage and cooling ideas will help you maintain the safety of your children’s school lunches.

One of the easiest ways to keep food safe is by using a thermos. Prepare a thermos meant for hot food by heating the inside with hot water prior to adding the hot food, and pre-cool with ice water when it will be used for cold food. This will allow you to keep the hot food hot which means bacteria can’t begin to grow in it. A thermos can also keep cold foods cold enough you can send frozen fruit sorbet and be confident it will still be frozen when your child gets to it.

Freeze bottles of water, juice boxes or other containers overnight and place them in your child’s lunchbox in the morning. The frozen liquid will thaw over time and keep your child’s food cool and safe. Ice packs will also perform this same function but using a frozen beverage means there will be more room for other healthy choices.

Purchase one of the new insulated lunch boxes or bags. These contain cold gel packs which will keep the food at the proper temperature. They come in all shapes and sizes; some come in ‘blankets’ of smaller packets which can be cut apart to fit the lunch container your child has.

Avoid foods which are unsafe in warmer temperatures. Mayonnaise and dairy products are generally considered unsafe unless you can guarantee they remain below 40 degrees. Raw fruits and vegetables may seem like a good idea but peeling and cutting these items may allow them to spoil more easily unless they are kept very cold.

Cherry tomatoes and whole fruit are good choices for warmer weather. You can also pre-freeze canned fruit and allow it to thaw in your child’s lunch. This will act much the same as the frozen beverages by keeping other foods in their lunchbox cold.

If your child will take items which could break such as baked chips or whole wheat crackers, find small plastic containers which will fit a serving and pack those in your child’s lunch. This will keep these items whole and make them more appealing to your child.

Remember to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold to ensure your child’s safety while preparing their lunches for them. Get your child to help you choose the items to pack but ensure their choices are healthy.

You can find a lot of good Lunch Boxes for children here.

Lunch Storage and Cooling Ideas.

Peach and Almond O J Smoothie.

What You Need:

 

1 C orange juice

1 C frozen peaches

1 frozen banana, cut into small chunks

2 TBSP toasted slivered almonds

 

How to Make It:

 

Pour the juice into the blender.

Carefully add the peaches and banana.

Add the almonds.

Blend until smooth.

 

Pecans also work well in this smoothie.  For a little different taste, use pineapple juice in place of the orange juice.

Peach and Almond O J Smoothie.

Test Post from Healthy Meals for adults and children

Test Post from Healthy Meals for adults and children http://www.myhealthymania.com

How to Get Children Involved With Meal Planning.

If you’ve ever wondered how to get children involved with meal planning, chances are you have

either a fussy eater or A Kid Who Loves “Junk Food” Too Much. 

And, then again, there are always the parents who will do anything to keep their high-octane balls of energy entertained.

One other reason to get kids involved with meal planning and prep:  Experts such as researchers from the National Institute of Health say children are far more likely to eat healthy foods if these involve dishes the children themselves have helped prepare.  But when it comes to involving your children in meal planning, do remember that children’s palates are not as finely developed as adult palates. 

And be prepared to re-discover your worn-out imagination! 

Ten Tips to Planning Food with Kids Success
 
* Listen to their ideas — Ask for your children’s input when planning your grocery shopping, and applaud them for their answers (even if their suggestions sound revolting to you!) 

* Make it fun — Children take their tone from you.  Make it a game: Let your child physically make the shopping list (on a special, colorful notepad); then take her grocery shopping with you and ask her to find the items.

* Think outside the box — Kids love things that aren’t “everyday”, so be prepared to jump right in when your child suggests you buy peanut butter to put in her celery sticks.

* Plan ahead — There are some wonderful cookbooks out there specially designed and tested to appeal to children’s palates and imaginations.  Get one, and get into the habit of going over recipes together before your shopping trip.

* Think and buy in miniature — Children are often enchanted by anything that’s more in scale with their tiny fingers than yours.  Dolls’ tea sets, tiny drinking glasses, mini marshmallows, baby bananas or miniature knifes and forks all go a long way to making eating feel like play.

* Combine fruit and vegetables — Let your child pick an array of fruits and vegetables (set a limit, if you’re on a budget!)  Ask her to think up the most whacky combinations she can. 
Make sure, once you get home, you set aside time for both of you to prepare the foods you’ve chosen. 
Add a healthy, yogurt dip (a hint of raspberry juice helps enhance fruit or veggies alike) and watch your children eat raw foods with gusto

* Make or buy a special apron for your child — Nothing “cues” a child more easily than donning a special apron.  You can even involve your child in making the apron, if sewing is your thing:  Get him or her to choose the color, the fabric, the trim.  Make a mini-BBQ apron, if your child is male.

* Create a routine — Create a special time during the week for together-time food planning — and prep.  Every Saturday lunch, the afternoon snack, Friday after school and Sunday morning brunch are all occasions to consider.  Whichever time slot you pick, however, go with your child’s natural rhythm — don’t try to make your child get excited about planning menus over breakfast, if he’s just not a morning person! 

* Make your own “take out” food — There are plenty of places on line to find recipes for your child’s favorite fast foods:  Look these up with your child. One added advantage to creating it yourself — you can substitute lower-fat ingredients.

* Prepare a picnic — Even if you go out to the deck to eat it.  Remember to include the “special” touches such as a cheerfully-flowered or checkered plastic tablecloth (you can get these at any dollar store); or little paper umbrellas for your drinks or fruit salad).  Planning involves allowing your child to think up items like paper plates or pick that flowered tablecloth.

To find more information  click here.

How to Get Children Involved With Meal Planning.

Test Post from Healthy Meals for adults and children

Test Post from Healthy Meals for adults and children http://www.myhealthymania.com