Foods Kids Love

Serving new recipes will introduce children to different cuisines and cultures. Try using foods with bold colors and textures and see the interest it will spark in your children's appetite. If you expose your children to a variety of new flavors and new foods, they will eat healthier and might just grow up to cook dinner for you, and it won't be served in a paper wrapper. Enjoy!

AFTER SCHOOL DRINKS AND SMOOTHIES

YUMMY (AND HEALTHY) AFTER SCHOOL SNACKS

HEALTHY LUNCHBOX IDEAS

Be sure to include a good quality source of protein in your child's lunch and avoid too many sweets.

Instead of white bread try using bagels, pita pockets, raisin bread or whole grain honey wheat breads.
Cold strips of grilled chicken with a honey-mustard dip.
Meat and cheese roll-ups made with low-fat ham wrapped around a mozzarella cheese stick.
Tortilla wraps with shredded cheese, chopped chicken, and cut vegetables
Instead of buying those plastic trays of stacked meat and cheese (which are extremely high in calories and sodium) make your own. Use small reusable plastic containers and include sliced low-fat ham or turkey (even cut into small squares if you would like) and 2% cheese, with a baggie of parmesan whole-wheat crackers and a Hershey Kiss. The kids will love this lunch!!
Tuna or egg salad is a great option if you use a freezer pack to keep it cold. To avoid a soggy sandwich, try spooning the salad mixture into a small plastic container and pack the bread in a ziplock bag. Kids can use a plastic spoon to make the sandwich when they are ready to eat.
Applesauce
Bananas, apples or seedless grapes
Whole-wheat crackers
Cottage cheese
Milk or water (avoid sodas and fruit punch which contain too much sugar)
Homemade trail mix (recipe below)
Yogurt
Graham crackers or fig bars
Air-popped Popcorn
Pudding (fat-free and/or sugar-free)
Homemade Pumpkin Oatmeal Muffins or Banana Muffins

Tasty (and Healthy) Lunch Box Treats

Homemade Trail Mix

Gobbling Granola

Cherry-Almond Crunch

Caramel/Chocolate Oatmeal Squares

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Here is a tasty treat that works great in lunchboxes. It's quick to make, has a healthy dose of almonds and the kids will love it!

Cereal - Almond Brittle

2 cups Cheerios cereal
2 cups Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal
2 cups Oats, dry
1 cup Sliced Almonds
1/2 cup Butter or Margarine
1/4 cup Packed Brown Sugar
1/3 cup Real Maple Syrup
Cooking Spray

Heat oven to 300 degrees. Line a large cookie sheet (17 x 14 inch) with foil; spray foil with cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine both cereals, the oats and almonds; set aside.

In a 1-quart saucepan, heat butter, brown sugar and syrup over medium heat, stirring frquently, until butter is melted and mixture boils. Pour over cereal mixture; stir well to coat. Spread mixture evenly on cookie sheet with rubber spatula until about 1/2 inch thick.

Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until almonds are golden brown. Cool completely, about 15 minutes. Break into pieces with fingers. Store in tightly covered containers.

Memories & Recipes - A Great Project for Kids!

Anyone who enjoys cooking will eventually come across the same problem. What to do with all of those recipes collected from family members, friends and magazine articles? Some have been used so often the edges are a little rough and the smudges can verify the most-loved recipes.

Many favorite memories are those of cooking meals together as you celebrate special occasions with your family. We can all remember a special Thanksgiving or Christmas, a first birthday or even a family reunion, for which we cooked a memorable meal. It might have included your grandmother's famous chocolate cake, your Dad's grilling specialties, or your Aunt Mimi's secret recipe for potato salad.

Before you misplace those recipes, stop and take a few photographs to document those special events and then put them together in a Recipe Scrapbook. Look through your box of photos and pick out the ones that make you smile with happy memories, then match them with the recipes from that day. Your scrapbook of these recipes and special photos will be a great gift for the next generations of family chefs, and make great gifts for a bride-to-be or even a college graduate who is beginning their own life.

So gather up your recipes, some scrapbooking supplies and your inner creativity and create a Recipe Scrapbook filled with cherished memories from your kitchen.