Healthy Kids (fun recipes)

My last post (Pizza?) motivated me to find some great kiddie recipes. Sometimes I know it can be hard for the mommies of the world to get their little monsters to eat all the foods they need for their healthy growing bodies. I have been searching around to find a list of recipes and/or sites with helpful ideas that our kids will love!

Watermelon slush

Find here

 I found this recipe on Pinterest, but it came from the Food Network. It is just plain fresh Watermelon, no sugar, nothing extra, and we love clean eats!!

DIRECTIONS: The night before your picnic, puree 6 cups chopped seedless watermelon in a blender until smooth, pour into a shallow airtight container and freeze. Bring the frozen watermelon on your picnic (it'll double as an extra ice pack) and let thaw slightly, then mash with a fork and spoon into cups.

Sweet potato steak fries

borrowed from

2 pounds sweet potatoes, cut into 1/4-inch-thick x 3/4-inch-wide strips $

1 tablespoon olive oil $

1 teaspoon dried oregano

3/4 teaspoon salt

Cooking spray

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 450°.

2. Combine first 4 ingredients in a large bowl; toss well. Arrange potatoes in a single layer on a large baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Bake at 450° for 18 minutes or until lightly browned.

for your toddler: Cut the fries into bite-sized pieces, or let baby pick them up whole.

Note:

 www.choosemyplate.gov

Meatloaf in a mug

borrowed from

***another fun version of my "Mini Meatloaf Muffins" post from July 1st.***

1 pound extra-lean (92% lean) ground beef $

1/2 cup quick-cooking oats

1 large egg $

1 (5 1/2-ounce) can vegetable juice (we used V-8) $

1/4 cup finely chopped green onions

1/4 cup finely chopped carrot $

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/4 cup ketchup $

Preparation

1. Stir together first 8 ingredients in a big bowl. Divide mixture evenly into 4 portions. Shape each portion into a ball. Place each ball into an 8-ounce microwave-safe coffee mug.

2. Line the bottom of the microwave with a big sheet of wax paper in case juices from the meatloaves bubble out. Place mugs in a circle on top of wax paper. Cover mugs with another big sheet of wax paper. Microwave at MEDIUM-HIGH (70% power) 11 minutes. Cut into meatloaves with a knife and fork. If any are still pink inside, microwave them 30 seconds more and recheck for done-ness. Carefully remove each mug from the microwave using oven mitts.

3. Spread 1 tablespoon ketchup over each meatloaf; cover with wax paper, and let stand 2 minutes

Grilled peanut butter and banana sammich

borrowed from

Heat a skillet or griddle over medium heat, and coat with cooking spray. Spread 1 tablespoon of peanut butter onto one side of each slice of bread. Place banana slices onto the peanut buttered side of one slice, top with the other slice and press together firmly. Fry the sandwich until golden brown on each side, about 2 minutes per side. 

Chicken and melon stuffed shells

borrowed from

***This may be on the Mom wish list, but it seems like a great kid idea!***

Ingredients:

1/2 medium cantaloupe, halved and seeded

4 dried jumbo macaroni shells

3 ounces chopped cooked chicken breast

1/4 cup diced honeydew melon

2 tablespoons plain fat-free yogurt

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh chives

1/2 teaspoon Dijon-style mustard

  Fresh thyme sprigs (optional)

Directions:

Cut the cantaloupe half into thirds; cover and chill two of the wedges. Peel and dice remaining wedge; set aside. Cook macaroni shells according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water. Drain again; set aside.

In a small bowl, combine diced cantaloupe, chicken, honeydew, yogurt, lemon juice, chives, and mustard. Spoon about 1/4 cup of the mixture into each pasta shell. Arrange two filled shells and a chilled cantaloupe wedge on each of two serving dishes. If desired, garnish with thyme sprigs.

Nutrition Facts: (Chicken-and-Melon-Stuffed Shells)

Per serving: 176 kcal cal., 2 g fat 26 mg chol., 55 mg sodium, 28 g carb., 2 g fiber, 14 g pro.

Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

I feel it is so important for us to try and feed our babies the best foods possible...even if you can't go organic, at least you can try for no added sugars, preservatives, or chemicals. Enjoy!

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"Pizza?"

This was something I ate often when I was little and it's a kid friendly, healthy version of pizza. It's full of flavor, super quick and ready in the amount of time it takes to melt cheese in your oven. With very few ingredients you can have fun with the kids and teach them how to love good food.

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 7-10 minutes

Ingredients:

1 slice of bread (I used shepherd style sourdough)

sliced tomatoes

2 slices of Swiss cheese

sprinkle of cheddar or any fine grated cheese

Mustard

sliced (thin) onions

Basil

Pepper

Directions:

Spread mustard on your bread and layer first your Swiss cheese, tomatoes, onion, cheddar(fine grated), and pepper. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, and on a foil lined cookie sheet place your "pizza" in for 7- 10 minutes, or until the cheese melts. Add the basil at the end for a bright, and fresh flavor!

**The best part about this great snack even more than it being a healthy alternative is that you can make it for less than $2.00.....wow!

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Mini Meatloaf Muffins

I used a simple meatloaf recipe and packed it into mini muffin cups. I spiced the meat up with sauteed onions, garlic, mushrooms and fresh parsley so I could add less salt, and also used a GLUTEN-FREE "bread" crumb to bind it. Then I piped a dollop of mashed potatoes on top of each mini muffin and added a sprinkle of parsley. Tyler poured a little BBQ sauce on each one of his, and we paired it with a little avocado, tomato and cucumber salad.

Prep. time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 35 minutes

Servings: 4-6

Ingredients:
1 lb. of ground turkey
2 eggs
2/3 cup of gluten free panko or GF bread crumb
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 8 oz. pkg. of mushrooms chopped
1/3 cup onions chopped
1 Tbs. garlic minced
2 Tbs. chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp. dried parsley
3 cups of mashed potatoes
cooking spray
salt
lemon pepper

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Peel, dice and boil your potatoes. Saute onions, garlic, and mushrooms, in olive oil. Set that aside to let it cool down and grab a large mixing bowl. Combine the meat, eggs, about a 1/2 tsp(approx.) of lemon pepper, and when the onion mushroom mixture is cooled add that the parsley and bread crumbs. Mix by hand lighting incorporating all the ingredients, but be careful not to over mix or the meat will become tough when it's cooked.

Spray your muffin tin and roll approx. a Tbs. worth of the meat mixture and plop one into each mini muffin spot. You can lightly pressed down to create the "muffin shape." Once your oven is done preheating place the muffin tin in, uncovered, and set the timer for 20 minutes.

Drain your potatoes and whip them until they're creamy. Add a little salt and pepper. I used a sandwich bag to pipe the potatoes onto the finished mini muffins. Fill a sandwich bag to the tip of one side and cut the tip off, about the size of a dime. Set the potatoes to the side until the meat loaf muffins are finished.

When the muffins are done they should slide out pretty easy, arrange them on a tray or large plate, take your mashed potatoes and slowly in a circular motion pipe them into a little mound on top. I garnished each one with a sprinkle of dried parsley, but you could also spoon a glaze of BBQ sauce like my boyfriend did!

These are a fun little idea to mix up dinner night, for a party, or BBQ.