Keeping Our Kids Fed With Good Food
If you are a busy parent working from home and now home-schooling your kiddos, the thought of preparing three meals a day for your whole family might be super overwhelming. Showing your kids how to make their own lunch is a valuable way for you to ensure that they are eating something healthy and delicious each day, and hopefully giving you a bit of a break.
Below you will find yummy snack recipes, and sample menus for a few lunches that you can prepare with your children. Because we are in Arizona and we LOVE local, you will see many AZ specific products on the list. Most of the ingredients called for can be picked up from Arizona producers at Farmers Markets, from a CSA, or ordered online to avoid a trip to the grocery store and get the most nutritious foods possible.
Snack Time with Myrlin
Check out some fun snack recipes that kids can make themselves for Snack Time with local artist, Myrlin Hepworth.
Healthy Lunches for Healthy Brains
Many of the items can be prepared ahead of time (and make a fun weekend activity!) and simply packed by your kids each morning or at lunchtime. You can mix and match the main and side dishes to keep each day and each meal new and exciting!
Day 1
Main: Nopalito Tacos
Side 1: Grapes
Side 2: Apples w/ Peanut Butter Americano
Dessert: GF Zucchini Pecan Agave Muffins
Day 2
Main: Zucchini Corn Fritters
Side 1: Beet hummus w/ Hayden Flour mills crackers
Side 2: Carrots
Dessert: Tepary Bean Brownie
Day 3
Main: Zucchini Spaghetti w/ Arugula Pesto
Side 1: Sonoran Verdolagas***
Side 2: Watermelon-Feta-Mint Salad****
Dessert: Mesquite Fig-Newtons
***Verdologas, a.k.a. purslane, grows wild throughout Arizona. You can find it at your local farmers market, or you can harvest it yourself!
****For this recipes we used a canary melon because they were in season, but you can use any fruit you can get your hands on! Citrus and strawberries are plentiful!