Quick and healthy Meals kids will eat

Beth - posted on 02/17/2012

One that all my three daughters like (I do it to taste and by eye, so no measurements sorry).



Pasta (twirly/shapes to liking)

Pesto sauce

tomato puree

margarine

parmesan cheese - grated



topping(s) of choice (mine tend to have sliced/chopped up chicken/turkey).



Cook the pasta according to packet instructions and the amount you need.



Mix together the sauce ingredients in a bowl and leave to one side. (For me and my girls it's roughly - 2 heaped tsps of pesto, good squeeze of tomato puree from the tube, small heap of parmesan cheese with about 3-4 heaped tsps of margarine - it varies every time I do it, so do yours to taste).



Drain the pasta and then mix into the sauce until well covered. Add the toppings (if so wish).



To make it more 'appealing' to the girls, it's called 'pasta, blood and slime'. It's one thing that my girls will ask for on a routine basis and I know it's something that all three of them will eat without complaint.

Annemaree - posted on 02/01/2012

mini quiches with pasty helthy and filling good cold or warm

Mrs. - posted on 01/30/2012

1. EASY CLEAN UP & ONE DISH MEALS-

One of the Biggest things that keeps kitchen time to a min after a long day at work would be to make as many one pot dinners , or one dish meals as possible to reduce the cleaning time afterward , That way you don't get discouraged when trying to start your new healthier regime.



2. SOUPS AND STEWS .

Soups and Stews are more filling than their "just on the plate counterparts" via having a liquid to stretch them out ,

folks tend to eat alot less, and reduce calories. For example,

People who eat chicken and rice soup eat less chicken and rice than those who were served the same ingredients on a plate



Chicken and dumplings is a healthy & tasty and can be made in one pot in less than an hour.

You can use lean chunks of chicken breast meat, mushrooms, peas, celery, even variations such as chopped kale or spinach can be so satisfying in a lovely chicken stew , I know the Bisquick box has a fast and well loved dumpling recipe.



3. DINNER SALADS

Salads are another way to enjoy quick one dish meals that are easy on the waistline.

People often think "salad" for dinner and imagine that sad , little tray of iceburg lettuce they sell at mc Donalds or something and feel less than excited to eat one for the biggest meal of the day, But thats just limited thinking! salads can be anything you like to eat in a bowl!



Think of your favorite food, and try and Salad-ize it!

Like, if you Loved philly cheese steak sandwiches , try some red and green leaf lettuce, cut into small strips, some thinly sliced grilled steak, (or if your really in a time crunch some roast beef from the deli section, cut into strips), add some of your favorite cheese, some cherry tomatoes, or pickled jalapenos if you like the heat, raw or sauteed onions, and a warm A1 steaksauce vinagrette, --

and youve just saladized your favorite meal!



You can Do this with any Meal, Except soup maybe! =P

some ideas,



chicken enchilada salad,

cold penne with pesto and pinenuts (pasta salad!)

green curry thai salad

roasted red potatoes and vinagrette salad

BLT salads

taco salad with leftover chili

eggs in salads are FAB for dinner, or poached eggs on a warm salad of kale and bacon!

Trisha - posted on 01/25/2012

Vegetable soup over rice! If the kiddos don't do veggie soup try mixing rice with tomato soup. If they don't do rice, then add elbow macaroni. Very easy!

Kara - posted on 01/24/2012

Love the bacon, egg and cheese biscuit idea! I'm going to try it this weekend. :)

Jennifer - posted on 01/13/2010

Go to campbellkitchen.com - they have a section called quick and easy, pillsbury too! or just google quick and easy dinner recipes -- a found a bunch!

Jennifer - posted on 01/13/2010

6 cups corkscrew-shaped pasta, (rotini), cooked and drained

1 jar (24 ounces) Prego® Traditional Italian Sauce

OR Prego® Italian Sausage & Garlic Italian Sauce

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (about 4 ounces)

1/2 cup Pepperidge Farm® Zesty Italian Croutons, crushed
Easy Cheesy Pasta


1.Stir the pasta and sauce in a 10-inch skillet and heat over medium heat until the mixture is hot and bubbling.
2.Reduce the heat to low. Top with cheese and crushed croutons. Cover and cook until the cheese is melted.

Amy - posted on 01/12/2010

I recently found Kroger has whole grain pasta. I make up a sauce by sauteing onions, then adding a jar of marinara, some mushrooms (fresh or canned, whatever ya got) a can of greenbeans, a can of black beans, some extra garlic and seasonings, and maybe some broccolli. I cook it til the sauce thickens up a bit. Even my husband likes it, and he's the pickiest eater I know!

Jodie - posted on 01/06/2010

my children enjoy a vegetarian version of spaghetti bolognese!!
1 can chopped tomatoes
1 chopped red pepper
1 onion chopped
1 clove of garlic
1 courgette/ zuchinni chopped
teaspoon mixed herbs, teaspoon paprika, salt and pepper to taste!
Fry off all the veg until soft add the tomatoes and dried herbs etc cook and drain some paste mix it all together and serve, my kids love it and it's so quick to make! You can add anything you think will go or that your family love to eat i.e grated carrot, egg plant etc i sometimes even chop bacon slices and add those just for a change!! Good luck!

Jen - posted on 01/05/2010

I make up breakfast biscuits and muffins to send with my daughter to school. I got the idea for the biscuits from Rachel Ray (without measurements).

1. Scramble 6 eggs.
2. Cook up 6 slices of turkey bacon and break into pieces.
3. Prepare biscuit dough using the basic Bisquik Light recipe on the box.
4. Mix the eggs, bacon, and 4oz shredded sharp cheddar cheese into dough.
5. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
6. I use an ice cream scoop to make 3T biscuits.
7. Bake as directed on the Bisquik box (I think it's 7-9min at 450).

I brush the tops of the biscuits when they come out of the oven with melted garlic margarine for added flavor.

They keep for a week in the refrigerator or can be frozen. I just heat them up a little bit in the microwave.

My daughter had her first McDonald's bacon, egg, cheese biscuit and said they taste just like mine so that'll give you an idea of the taste.

For lighter options, 2% or fat free cheese can be used. Egg whites or egg beaters can be used in place of whole eggs.

Samantha - posted on 01/05/2010

My Boys are always looking for something to munch on while I'm cooking dinner so i alway set out a plate full of mixed raw veggies with Ranch!! Then i know even if the meal inset well balanced I know that they got there Veggies!!!



Hope that helps!!!! Samantha