Peanut Post: Preschool Lunches Part I

You didn't think I was going to pack Peanut's lunch several times a week and not take at least a few pictures, did you?  Psssh, of course not!  For the first time, I'm realizing "the big deal" with packing healthy, easy to eat quickly lunches that can be kept cool with an ice pack for several hours.  It's not as simple as it sounds!  But, never fear, here are a few fun ideas from this Mama's kitchen:
Also, see Part II here!

1.  Leftover pasta salad, whole grain fig bars, grapes (This is one of her favorites)

2.  Turkey/cheese/spinach wrap, whole grain fig bars, strawberries

(and extra leaves by request)

3.  Half PB&J sandwich, hummus with feta and carrots, dried cranberries with almonds

4.  Leftover pizza, spinach/cherry tomato "salad", blueberries, craisins/mixed nuts

5. Chicken/cheese/spinach wrap, cucumbers/tomatoes, grapes, whole grain cinnamon crackers

6. leftover pizza, tomatoes/olives, quinoa bar

7.  whole wheat pancakes/syrup, pecans, grapes

(be sure the syrup part is sealed well... ours was not)

8. apples/celery with peanut butter, cheese stick, almonds/raisins, whole grain fig Newtons.

9. turkey slices, spinach/tomato salad, olive/cheese toothpicks, cheddar bunny crackers

General tips:

- Pack for multiple days at a time and store in the fridge, ready to go.  Pack your own lunch while you're at it to cut down on time in the morning.

- Preschoolers don't eat much of any one thing, so split the wrap/sandwich and use it to make two lunches.  Cuts down on waste and time!

- Try a variety of foods and rotate so your child doesn't get bored or in a routine of eating the same thing.  Once they do, they may not want to try something new.

- Incorporate whole grains, protein, dairy, fruit and veggies, if possible.

- Use leftover lunch food as their after school snack - that way, you know they are getting all of those carefully balanced nutrients you worked so hard to include.  And again, less waste.

- Finger foods are always a bonus for this age.  But it never hurts to send a fork/spoon once in awhile for favorites, such as pasta salad.

- Pack realistic portions for your child's appetite and the time allotted for lunch.

- Not a must, but out of courtesy, try to limit the number of lids/wrappers/containers the poor preschool teachers have to unwrap - remember it could be whatever you send times 20! Practice with your child to see if they can open them on their own.  Sectioned containers work well - at the very least, it's only one lid. (Annalyn has no problem with these containers.)

Peanut Post: Preschool Lunches, Part II

A few more of our favorite school lunches. (See Part I here.) Annalyn is a huge fan of mixed nuts and dried berries, so you'll see a lot of those included in this round! I try to mix it up day to day, but I also only get groceries once per week, so I also try to be efficient!

1.  Turkey/spinach wraps, olive/cheese skewers, dried fruit

2. The ever-popular turkey/string cheese rollup, carrots, berries, and crackers/pea crisps

Pepperoni Pizza Crescent Rolls

This year I've been on a mission to clean, organize, and improve.  Whether it be our house, our diet, or our habits, I've been trying to make a conscious effort to clean it up. This recipe was created in an effort to use what we have on hand before running to the store to buy more ingredients. Peanut and I decided to call them pizza rolls, but since that's already taken, I added the crescent distinction. We added some veggies and called it lunch, but they'd make great appetizers with various dipping sauces, too (BBQ, marinara, ranch, etc.). Here's how Mama makes it:

Pepperoni Pizza Crescent Rolls

Ingredients:

- 1 tube crescent rolls

- 2-3 reduced fat string cheese sticks

- 3 T. mini pepperoni

Directions:

1.  Unroll crescent dough, slice mozarella sticks into 3-4 pieces each.  Place a piece of cheese and a few mini pepperonis on each crescent, roll, and pinch edges to seal.

2.  Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes.  Enjoy!

printable recipe

Strawberry-Banana-Avocado Smoothie To Go!

In a previous post, I talked about how much we loved our latest baby/toddler food pouch/cup discovery, the Sucup.  It's perfectly sized, easy to use, spill-proof, and best of all, even travels well.  Annalyn loves that it fits in the cup holder of her car seat.  Mama loves that she can have a snack or breakfast on the go without risking her making a huge mess in the car.  It's true, we definitely love this cup!  Here's a recipe for a quick and easy toddler smoothie that's been a big hit with Peanut lately and fits perfectly into her Sucup. 

Strawberry-Banana-Avocado Smoothie To Go

Ingredients:  (or double this recipe and store half for later or the next day.  Add a little lemon juice to help prevent the fruit from browning.)

- 1/2 ripe banana

- 1/2 avocado
- 1/4 c. strawberry yogurt

- 1-2 T. milk to thin to desired consistency

Toddler Meals: Chicken & Cheese Roll-ups (with mustard!)

As I've mentioned several times before, Annalyn is obsessed with mustard.  So I decided to use that to my advantage to get her to eat more (it's true, my once food-obsessed baby has become an I'm-too-busy-playing-to-eat toddler).  She is still pretty accepting of most foods and doesn't refuse it completely, it just seems like she eats so much less than she did, say, a year ago even.  But then I look at those perfectly chubby cheeks and thighs and remember that she's not starving herself.  Nonetheless, easy to make healthy, Peanut-approved lunches are becoming more of a struggle, so when this one was a big hit, I decided to share.  It's funny because I ate similar things while pregnant with her, mustard and all.  Here's how Mama makes it:

Chicken & Cheese Roll-ups



Ingredients:

- 1 tortilla (whole grain preferred, but I only had regular)

- 1/3 c. shredded cheese (I had mozzarella and tossed in a slice of gouda we were snacking on)

- 2-3 slices lunch meat (we had chicken, but turkey/ham/etc. works fine, too)

- your toddler's "dip" of choice - ranch, mustard, etc.
- additional add-ins:  black beans, spinach, shredded carrots, chopped cucumber/tomato, any veggie you would like on a wrap! (we kept it simple this time just to see how she'd do, but I figure I'll jazz it up a little next time)

Directions:

1.  Lay tortilla flat on a microwave safe plate.  Sprinkle with cheese, then lay lunch meat over the top.

2.  Microwave for 30-40 seconds until cheese melts.  Roll the tortilla starting at one end and place seam side down.  Cut in half and serve with condiment of choice.

printable recipe

fingers are also good dipped in mustard

but don't fill up little bellies as well!

Family Friendly Cooking: Tamale Muffins

Here's an exciting family friendly recipe that makes a great make-ahead toddler meal.  Freeze in foil lined muffin liners for an easy meal in a pinch.  Inspired by one of my favorite Mexican dishes, it's interesting, flavorful, and so easy to make - sure to be a croud pleaser!  It takes about half of a batch of taco meat, so you can use leftovers from the night before, or make tacos and taco salads with the extra from this dish.  Here's how Mama makes it:

Tamale Muffins

Ingredients: (makes 12 muffins)
- 2 boxes Jiffy cornbread mix
- 2 eggs
- 2/3 c. milk
- 1 lb. ground beef or turkey
- 2 T. taco seasoning (or taco packet in a pinch)
- 1 can kidney or pinto beans
- 1 can sliced black olives
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 1/3 c. water
-  1/3 c. shredded cheese
serving suggestion:  top with salsa (we used a peach version of this salsa)

(8 WW pts per muffin)

My Baby's Done With Purees, Now What? Our Top 10 Favorites!

I've been asked to give advice about good baby/toddler finger foods a few times lately, so I decided to write a post about it.  Granted, I am no nutritionist, I am just a mama of an eating machine.  I remember the questions I had when Annalyn first started really wanting to feed herself, and honestly, there's no perfect answer.  Like any parent, I did what I felt was best for my kiddo, including lots of trial & error (after all, she is our "practice kid" as Michael puts it... aka first born).  We have our go-to meals/snacks, but now that she's eating table foods, we try to give her what we're eating, just cut into manageable pieces (at first, about the size of a pea).  This is a list of some of Peanut's favorites, but again, don't hesitate to give baby what the rest of the family's eating, too.  It's important to introduce him/her to the flavors you normally cook with so you don't end up with a super picky eater later on.  It's not all inclusive, but here's a few of our go-to toddler meals/snacks:

bring on the real food!
(I love throwback Peanut pics!)

Peanut Post: Prune Banana Avocado Smoothie with Oatmeal & Flax

Another yummy smoothie/puree for Peanut!  We just can't get enough of these nutritious, easy smoothies.  I love that I can make up a big batch and have her snack or breakfast covered for the whole week.  This one sneaks in all kinds of goodies:  prunes for sweetness and to promote regular bowel movements, avocado for healthy fats and smooth texture, bananas for sweetness and potassium, yogurt for calcium and creaminess, ground flax for omega-3 fatty acids that promote brain and overall development, and lastly fortified baby oatmeal for added iron.  Maybe it's the pharmacist in me that makes me write recipes according to nutrients, but I like to think it's just the mother in me.  Here's how this nutrition-conscious mama makes it:

Prune Banana Avocado Smoothie with Oatmeal & Flax

Ingredients:
- 1 ripe banana
- 1 ripe avocado
- 5-6 dried plums (aka prunes)
- 6 oz. vanilla or plain yogurt
- 1-2 t. ground flax seed
- 1/4 c. baby oatmeal (iron fortified, for extra nutrition!)
- 1/2 c. whole milk or water, plus more as needed to thin consistency

Peanut Post: Overnight Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal

Equal parts of oats, milk, and yogurt give this dish is creamy, delightful texture and taste with minimal effort.  Granted, oatmeal is not an extremely labor-intensive dish to begin with, but anyone with a kid/pet/job/spouse/life will agree that an extra 15 or so minutes each morning is a huge deal.  Besides, who doesn't love waking up to breakfast already made for them?  I know this mama does!   Here's a toddler friendly version of this delicious breakfast staple:

Overnight Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal



Ingredients:
basic overnight oats:
- 1/4 c. rolled oats
- 1/4 c. milk
- 1/4 c. vanilla yogurt
suggested add-ins:
- 1/4 c. unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 t. cinnamon

Toddler Meals: (Semi-Homemade) Cheesy Chicken & Broccoli Rice Casserole

This little gem is a Mama's kitchen original, created out of the need for more make-ahead toddler meals.  As we've gotten away from making so many purees, we've really started to miss the ease of heating up a few ice cubes and seconds later having dinner ready.  I find myself seeking more and more creative ways to have delicious and nutritious make-ahead meals that can be easily reheated and served.  This one's different than some of my usual ones in that it uses a lot of shortcuts to make it quick, easy, and doable for this working mama's busy schedule.  It uses several pre-cooked and/or microwavable ingredients and the only kitchen appliance needed is the microwave - talk about simple!  Here's how Mama makes it (and fast!):

Cheesy Chicken & Broccoli Rice Casserole

Ingredients:

- 1 (8.8 oz) package brown Ready Rice (or microwaveable frozen rice)

- 1 c. frozen broccoli, cooked and chopped

- 1/2 c. pre-cooked chicken, finely chopped

- 1 (10 3/4 oz) can broccoli cheese soup

- 1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese

- 1/2 - 3/4 c. milk, as needed to thin

Toddler Meals: Avocado Chicken Cheese Spread

Here's one of Annalyn's latest favorites.  It's great for so many reasons!  First of all, it's super easy to whip up for lunch or a quick snack.  Peanut likes it best when spread on toast and cut into bite-sized pieces.  When she was younger, I fed it to her from a spoon like a puree.  It's also good with crackers/chips for older kids.  And on top of all that, it's well-rounded and healthy!  Gosh, what more can a mama ask for? Oh yea, and it lasts for more than one meal - usually like 4 or 5!  Here's how Mama makes it:

Avocado Chicken Cheese Spread



Ingredients:

- 1 ripe avocado

- 1/2 c. small curd cottage cheese

- 1/4 c. cooked chicken, finely chopped

- 1/4 t. garlic powder (because toddlers have taste buds, too!)

**serving suggestion:  toast, crackers, chips, tortillas

Toddler Meals: Pasta with Chicken & Avocado Pesto

A toddler-friendly version of my chicken linguine with avocado pesto, this dish is fun, healthy, and delicious.  Instead of a mostly basil pesto, I made an avocado and spinach pesto with just a few basil leaves so it wasn't overpowering for my Peanut.  I also added some green peas to the sauce for some added greens and smooth texture.  Instead of linguine, choose a smaller pasta, such as stars, alphabets, or even rice.  Here's how Mama makes it:

Pasta with Chicken & Avocado Pesto

Ingredients:

- 1 lb. ground chicken

- 1/2 c. spinach, cooked

- few basil leaves

- 1 ripe avocado

- 1/2 c. cooked green peas (I used frozen)

- 1/2 c. cottage cheese

- 1/2 t. lemon juice (prevents avocado from browning)

- 1 1/2 c. small pasta, uncooked



Toddler Meals: Pasta with Beef & Veggie Sauce

As Annalyn gets older and starts eating table foods, I'm starting to explore the world of "toddler meals."  Now don't get me wrong, in general, she eats what we eat, just cut up smaller.  But occasionally (especially for lunch or on days that I work), we need healthy, easy to make meals on hand for her.  Much like her purees, I freeze them in small containers so they can be reheated quickly or set in the fridge the night before so it's thawed for the babysitter the next day.  I especially like those little 4 oz. dressing containers that come in the Rubbermaid sets... it seems to be a good amount for her lately.  Here's a recipe that I love because of the nutrition (2 greens & 2 orange veggies!) and she loves because of the taste. 

Pasta with Beef & Veggie Sauce

Ingredients:

- 1/2 lb. ground beef

- 1 T. unsalted butter

- 1/2 c. chopped onion

- 6 oz. can tomato paste

- 1 c. diced sweet potato

- 1 c. green peas, frozen or fresh

- 1 large carrot, grated

- 1 t. minced garlic

- 2 c. water

- 1 1/2 c. kale, washed & chopped

- 1/2 t. italian seasoning

- 1 c. uncooked small pasta, such as stars or alphabets (can also use spaghetti broken into small pieces or rice)