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My seven year old is very picky and it’s always a struggle to find foods that he will enjoy eating. I know there are tons of kid cookbooks and sites out there but a lot of them are very complex foods that my three year old will eat but my seven year old never dream of.
Recently we had the opportunity to check out an AMAZING recipe book titled, The Best Homemade Kids’ Lunches on the Planet
and I have to say that this title rings true! I have tired numerous recipes in this book and not only did my picky seven year old love them, but even my husband found them flavorful and delicious.
One of my boys daily favorite is the hulk smoothie! It’s such an awesome way to make sure that they get their fruits and a serving of veggies in them. Normally for my three year old he gets his veggies but my seven year old has never been a huge fan, but stick the word HULK in front of smoothie and turn it green and it’s a WIN!!
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| HULK SMOOTHIE |
We all know healthy lunches are vital in keeping kids sharp and at their best all day long, yet recent studies have shown that many school-bought lunches are falling short on nutrition. Homemade lunches are a great way to nourish children with pure and wholesome ingredients while giving us parents a peace of mind of knowing how their food is prepared.
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| BAKED RAVIOLI |
The Best Homemade Kids’ Lunches on the Planet is the perfect counter-top companion for parents who are simply too busy to generate limitless recipes and lunch ideas on their own. This guide contains simple and approachable recipes designed to suit every age and every stage, allowing parents too:
- Bring variety back into your lunch box routine with easy to prepare meals
- use fresh ingredients to add a variety of foods to their child’s diet
- Prep kids’ lunches well in advance
- Makes proper kid-sized portions based on the child’s age and needs.
It was very hard for me to pick one single recipe to share with you so that you can have idea of what to expect from this awesome book. After much thought, I decided on:
Black Bean Quesadillas
It’s a myth that quesadillas need to be hot and the cheese needs to be gooey and melty for kids to
love them. They are excellent at room temperature and the perfect disguise for healthy things—
such as beans.
1/4 cup (25 g) canned black beans, rinsed
2 tablespoons (16 g) frozen corn, thawed
1 tablespoon (9 g) scallions, chopped very small (optional)
2 teaspoons (1 g) fresh cilantro, chopped
1 teaspoon Arriba! Seasoning (page 106)
1/4 cup (30 g) shredded Cheddar cheese
Two 8-inch (20 cm) tortillas
2 ounces (55 g) Homemade Salsa (page 180)
In a large bowl, place the beans, corn, onion, if using, cilantro, seasoning, and cheese. Gently mix until everything is evenly combined.
Scoop the filling and place on top of one side of one tortilla. Top with the second tortilla.
In a warm skillet, cook both sides over medium heat until the tortilla is brown and crispy, and the cheese has melted.
For a school lunch: I like to assemble quesadillas the night before. In the morning, I slowly grill them while I pour myself a cup of coffee. After the quesadilla is grilled, I lay it on a cutting board to cool, usually while I am getting the kids dressed. Then, simply cut and pack them inside the lunchbox.
YIELD: 1 or 2 servings
Kitchen Note
Why not make extra quesadillas and freeze them? Assemble quesadillas and place flat on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Once the quesadillas are flash frozen, about 1 hour, transfer to a freezer bag and store flat.
To reheat: Warm in the microwave, or grill in a skillet on low, so you won’t burn the tortilla and all the ingredients have time to warm and the cheese to melt.
Packed with more than 200 recipes, you will not be at a loss for inspiration with recipes including:
- Ricotta and Jam Pancake Sandwiches
- Cheddar and Pear Quesadilla
- Meatball Dippers
- Homemade Ramen
- Creamy Avocado Pasta
- Blueberry Lemon Smoothie
- Strawberry Shortcake Kebobs
The Best Homemade Kids’ Lunches on the Planet is always on my kitchen counter. It has now become my go-to for meal prepping/planning/preparing for my kids. It’s one of the few recipe books I have found that not only appeals to my three year old because but also my picky eater. Packed full of flavor and simple.
The Best Homemade Kids’ Lunches on the Planet can be purchased on Amazon for $15.80 for Paperback and $11.99 for Kindle.
