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

The Vegetarian's Beginner's Guide 30 Day Course Review

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