Does anyone have any good ideas/recipes that are quick and easy for lunch? It's just my 19 month old, 6 year old, and myself. I rack my brain everyday to come up something good, and at least semi-nutritious. Both girls are not very picky eaters. I would appreciate any ideas. - Melinda
Answer
One thing we used to do for a simple, quick lunch was to make "shish-ka-bobs". I'd give each kid a wood skewer, and I'd cut up some chunks of cheese, some ham or bologna pieces, sometimes pieces of fruit (soft, like peaches). Then, they'd make their own kabobs. They really enjoyed it, and ate it because they made it themselves. I served crackers with it. Now, the younger ones needed help with this, and you have to make sure they don't start sword-fighting, of course. - Barb
What I've done are hamburgers (buy some good patties and just cook em real quick. No need for a bun. Serve with some fruit and or salad.) I've also done things like turkey legs (precooked legs can be found by the chicken in most grocery stores) with some fruit or salad on the side. If I'm REALLY lazy, I do sandwiches. Just some kind of good lunch meat (I use fowl of some kind) on dark bread, with a piece of lettuce and a tomato slice. Yogurt for dessert with any of these dishes. You can put cottage cheese on the plate as a side dish, or apple sauce. I've even (*gasp*) been too lazy to do sides and just served chips. But that is a RARE treat here. I do TRY to do hot lunches, but I sometimes find baby needs me TOO much to let that happen. That is when I usually do the sandwiches. I won't carry my 18mo old while I'm cooking. Too dangerous. - Thor
One thing I always liked as a kid and my oldest son likes now is english muffin pizzas. These are fun because the kids can put their own toppings and grated cheese on. Pop them in the toaster (or regular) oven and you've got a really quick lunch. Another thing which sounds kind of disgusting to me as an adult but which my son ate every single day for over two years was what he called cheese toast. This is basically cheese on wheat bread put in the toaster oven until the cheese melts. Also those little baby carrots are a staple in my house. - Beth
My boys are 2 and 4 and are on a PB kick, so I fix them peanut butter and honey sandwiches for lunch. For the 4yo who refuses to drink milk, I grind up Tums (doctor approved) and sprinkle it on the PB before I pour on the honey...he thinks they're neat sprinkles, and I'm happy he's getting calcium. For older kids, you can let them use cookie cutters to make neat shapes with these PBH sandwiches! - StarryNite
What works for my two boys, ages 3 and 6, is I mix noodles with butter and parmesan cheese. It sounds dull but they always ask for seconds. - Trynd
We have made little cherry tomato "boats" and filled them with herbed cream cheese or chicken salad. He loves carving out the inside. We have done celery sticks stuffed with cream cheese or peanut butter, we core and apple and bake them stuffed with granola, butter and raisins. - Burton
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