Q.
A. What is the occasion?
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The reason I ask the occasion is, if you are preparing for a children's party or are looking for home recipes to serve during the day or if you are sending the lunch to school with the child this information can better help with answering your question.
Are you looking for cold lunch ideas or do you have a kitchen to serve hot meals. The occasion is important to decide the meal. For example, if you know the lunch will be around a group of children, you will probably want to forgo peanuts and other nut products due to the high risk of coming into contact with children who are anaphylactic to these ingredients.
BENTO:
One thing I am sure of is, children love to build their own lunch. I find creating a 'bento style' type lunch (lunch ingredients served in separate compartments) has two advantages. It's fun for the child to pick and choose, and create their lunch and I also find that they eat healthier food choices and don't over eat.
A typical 'bento' I serve my children for their school lunches is: Sliced turkey kolbassa, diced cheese, cut green beans or baby carrots, a cracker selection (low sodium, we all like the premium plus multi-grain crackers) and a fruit selection (includes canned fruit as well). Sometimes I'll add fruit yogurt instead etc... I use reusable containers and try to avoid prepackaged or over packaged foods because they are expensive and often are high in saturated fats and sodium.
ROLLIES AND SHAPES:
You can make all types of sandwiches and again if you want peanut butter, but the child is in a grouped lunche and can't have peanut selections you can use soy butter instead. There is a brand that is called free nut that is quite good. (Make sure you place a note in the lunch box citing the peanut alternative. My son had his sandwich taken away when I forgot to do this and I got a nasty letter home about it). :P
To get away from the same old same old for sandwiches, you could try creating rollies or shapes.
Rollies are made by taking a slice of bread and using a rolling pin, flatten the bread and cut off the crust on three sides (leave the crust on the bottom of the bread) Then like a burrito you add the sandwich ingredients (not too much) then roll them up with the crusted side on the inside. They look like lady fingers, and kids LOVE them! I make about two-three per serving and serve it with veggies, fruit or yogurt.
Shapes are easy, you make the sandwich, and then using a cookie cutter, you cut them out. Again I serve them with veg, fruit or yogurt.
Sandwich ideas:
Ham & Cheese (or choosing another deli meat)
Soy Butter and Jelly
Honey Cream cheese with thin sliced apple
Veggie or Herb Cream cheese and smoked salmon or Imitation Crab (add Shredded carrot for crunch)
Chicken Salad
Tuna Salad
Ground Beef, Shredded Cheese and Lettuce or Alpha Sprouts (with a little bit of ranch dressing)
Roasted Chicken and Chive
Cream Cheese (or if they like it, goat cheese) and Shredded Carrot
HOT LUNCH AT SCHOOL
I cook up chicken fingers or Swedish meatballs sometimes and place them in a sandwich container lined with tin foil. You can get a soup thermos and of course send Mac and Cheese, or other pastas or soups (soups tend to get messy though).
VEGGIE and FRUIT SELECTIONS
Cut green beans, carrots, broccoli, red or green pepper, sugar snap peas...
Strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, mandarin orange, clementines, pomegranate, mango, apples, peaches, pears, bananas...
Anyway. I hope this gives you ideas.
Addendum: Why in the world do I have three thumbs down? Did I say something outrageous here?
------------------
The reason I ask the occasion is, if you are preparing for a children's party or are looking for home recipes to serve during the day or if you are sending the lunch to school with the child this information can better help with answering your question.
Are you looking for cold lunch ideas or do you have a kitchen to serve hot meals. The occasion is important to decide the meal. For example, if you know the lunch will be around a group of children, you will probably want to forgo peanuts and other nut products due to the high risk of coming into contact with children who are anaphylactic to these ingredients.
BENTO:
One thing I am sure of is, children love to build their own lunch. I find creating a 'bento style' type lunch (lunch ingredients served in separate compartments) has two advantages. It's fun for the child to pick and choose, and create their lunch and I also find that they eat healthier food choices and don't over eat.
A typical 'bento' I serve my children for their school lunches is: Sliced turkey kolbassa, diced cheese, cut green beans or baby carrots, a cracker selection (low sodium, we all like the premium plus multi-grain crackers) and a fruit selection (includes canned fruit as well). Sometimes I'll add fruit yogurt instead etc... I use reusable containers and try to avoid prepackaged or over packaged foods because they are expensive and often are high in saturated fats and sodium.
ROLLIES AND SHAPES:
You can make all types of sandwiches and again if you want peanut butter, but the child is in a grouped lunche and can't have peanut selections you can use soy butter instead. There is a brand that is called free nut that is quite good. (Make sure you place a note in the lunch box citing the peanut alternative. My son had his sandwich taken away when I forgot to do this and I got a nasty letter home about it). :P
To get away from the same old same old for sandwiches, you could try creating rollies or shapes.
Rollies are made by taking a slice of bread and using a rolling pin, flatten the bread and cut off the crust on three sides (leave the crust on the bottom of the bread) Then like a burrito you add the sandwich ingredients (not too much) then roll them up with the crusted side on the inside. They look like lady fingers, and kids LOVE them! I make about two-three per serving and serve it with veggies, fruit or yogurt.
Shapes are easy, you make the sandwich, and then using a cookie cutter, you cut them out. Again I serve them with veg, fruit or yogurt.
Sandwich ideas:
Ham & Cheese (or choosing another deli meat)
Soy Butter and Jelly
Honey Cream cheese with thin sliced apple
Veggie or Herb Cream cheese and smoked salmon or Imitation Crab (add Shredded carrot for crunch)
Chicken Salad
Tuna Salad
Ground Beef, Shredded Cheese and Lettuce or Alpha Sprouts (with a little bit of ranch dressing)
Roasted Chicken and Chive
Cream Cheese (or if they like it, goat cheese) and Shredded Carrot
HOT LUNCH AT SCHOOL
I cook up chicken fingers or Swedish meatballs sometimes and place them in a sandwich container lined with tin foil. You can get a soup thermos and of course send Mac and Cheese, or other pastas or soups (soups tend to get messy though).
VEGGIE and FRUIT SELECTIONS
Cut green beans, carrots, broccoli, red or green pepper, sugar snap peas...
Strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, mandarin orange, clementines, pomegranate, mango, apples, peaches, pears, bananas...
Anyway. I hope this gives you ideas.
Addendum: Why in the world do I have three thumbs down? Did I say something outrageous here?
Tips for becoming a vegetarian? Good recipes?
Q. I used to be a be vegetarian when I was younger. I was twelve and stayed a vegetarian for about a year. Recently though, I'm interested in becoming one again. I haven't eaten any meat this week and it wasn't that bad. I'm just scared I'll break the habit eventually. I'm doing it for health reasons and because of the cruelity of animals. Giving up meat is somewhat easy but I don't think I'll ever be vegan. I loveeeee cheese. I was wondering if anyone has any tips to sticking to it. Or maybe some recipes? Vegetarian or vegan recipes are fine. I love soy products. I actually prefer soy milk over regular milk. Also, should I try to get some vitamins with iron and vitamin b12? I think my protein intake is fine though. I eat peanut butter and yogurt like crazy. I don't do any sports so I don't need too much any way.
Oh, and I'm seventeen.
Oh, and I'm seventeen.
A. 1. Make vegetarian versions of your favorite meals
There are vegetarian versions of almost every meal you can think of (really!). "Veg up" your favorite recipes simply by replacing the meat. Here are some ideas:
Replace the beef in burritos with beans and grilled veggies, or try vegetarian beef crumbles from Morningstar Farms or Boca.
Top baked potatoes with margarine, vegan sour cream, soy bacon bits (Bacos are vegan!), or salsa.
Make homemade pizza with soy cheese (or just skip the cheese and add extra garlic and spices), meatless pepperoni, and vegetable toppings.
Create a Mexican dip for tortilla chips with refried beans, salsa, guacamole, and diced peppers and onions.
Make spaghetti with marinara sauce and add roasted vegetables or veggie meatballs (try Nate's brand or Gimme Lean sausage-style).
The possibilities are endless—check out our Everyday Eating page for more easy vegetarian meals.
2. Explore thousands of delicious vegetarian recipes.
We have thousands of kitchen-tested recipes to choose from! You'll be amazed by the variety of tasty vegan options, from classic American dishes to Italian to Creole.
If you'd rather thumb through a cookbook, check out some of our favorite vegetarian cookbooks, or you can borrow a cookbook from the library. There are vegetarian cookbooks for people who don't like to spend more than 10 minutes preparing dinner, and there are vegetarian cookbooks for gourmet chefs, so no matter how experienced a cook you are, it's easy to make great-tasting vegetarian meals.
Also take a look at our two-week sample menus, and our vegetarian shopping guide.
3. Try some tasty faux meats and dairy alternatives.
You can find faux meat products—including veggie burgers and hot dogs, faux turkey deli slices and chicken patties, and meatless barbecue riblets—at almost every grocery store. Dairy alternatives like soy milk, vegan cream cheese, soy yogurt, and nondairy ice cream are also widely available.
As the interest in humane, healthy food has grown, the popularity of these foods has soared—sales of mock meats in the last decade have skyrocketed and now constitute a billon-dollar industry. Not only are these foods delicious and cruelty-free, they are also usually high in healthy plant protein and low in saturated fat, and they contain zero cholesterol. Some of the most popular brands include Boca, Gardenburger, Yves, andMorningstar Farms.
4. Sample vegetarian microwaveable meals and convenience foods.
Always eating on the run? There are tons of vegan microwavable meals and convenient snacks available everywhere—here's a tiny sample:
Amy's Black Bean Enchilada With Spanish Rice
Fantastic Foods' Vegetarian 3-Bean Chili
Yves' Thai Lemongrass Veggie Chick'n
Any of the vegetarian soups by Progresso, Amy's Organic, or Campbell's (like lentil, tomato, split pea, and hearty vegetable)
Basics like fresh fruit and PB&J
Tofurky Jurkey (vegan jerky)
Silk Live! soy yogurt smoothies
Tofutti Cuties (soy ice cream sandwiches)
Oreos (yep, several flavors are vegan!)
Check out full lists of all our favorite convenience products and quick-and-easy vegetarian snacks.
5. Search online for the best vegetarian-friendly restaurants in your area.
Whatever your budget and wherever you live, you can enjoy great vegetarian meals. Burger King, Ruby Tuesday, and Johnny Rockets are just a few of the national chains selling tasty veggie burgers and other meatless options. Locally owned restaurants around the country are also selling an exciting array of vegetarian meals to please every palate. Browse reviews of some of the hottest vegetarian-friendly restaurants in the country and get links to the best online restaurant guides in our Dining Out page.
If you find yourself dining at a behind-the-times restaurant that doesn't have decent vegetarian options on the menu, ask the server if the cook can prepare a vegetarian dish without eggs or dairy. Restaurants are glad to accommodate special requests, and most chefs get bored making the same menu items all the time, so they love the chance to get creative and make something new! Of course, you can always call ahead to ask about vegetarian options if you want to choose where to eat before you leave home.
6. Explore the amazing variety of meat-free ethnic foods
There are vegetarian versions of almost every meal you can think of (really!). "Veg up" your favorite recipes simply by replacing the meat. Here are some ideas:
Replace the beef in burritos with beans and grilled veggies, or try vegetarian beef crumbles from Morningstar Farms or Boca.
Top baked potatoes with margarine, vegan sour cream, soy bacon bits (Bacos are vegan!), or salsa.
Make homemade pizza with soy cheese (or just skip the cheese and add extra garlic and spices), meatless pepperoni, and vegetable toppings.
Create a Mexican dip for tortilla chips with refried beans, salsa, guacamole, and diced peppers and onions.
Make spaghetti with marinara sauce and add roasted vegetables or veggie meatballs (try Nate's brand or Gimme Lean sausage-style).
The possibilities are endless—check out our Everyday Eating page for more easy vegetarian meals.
2. Explore thousands of delicious vegetarian recipes.
We have thousands of kitchen-tested recipes to choose from! You'll be amazed by the variety of tasty vegan options, from classic American dishes to Italian to Creole.
If you'd rather thumb through a cookbook, check out some of our favorite vegetarian cookbooks, or you can borrow a cookbook from the library. There are vegetarian cookbooks for people who don't like to spend more than 10 minutes preparing dinner, and there are vegetarian cookbooks for gourmet chefs, so no matter how experienced a cook you are, it's easy to make great-tasting vegetarian meals.
Also take a look at our two-week sample menus, and our vegetarian shopping guide.
3. Try some tasty faux meats and dairy alternatives.
You can find faux meat products—including veggie burgers and hot dogs, faux turkey deli slices and chicken patties, and meatless barbecue riblets—at almost every grocery store. Dairy alternatives like soy milk, vegan cream cheese, soy yogurt, and nondairy ice cream are also widely available.
As the interest in humane, healthy food has grown, the popularity of these foods has soared—sales of mock meats in the last decade have skyrocketed and now constitute a billon-dollar industry. Not only are these foods delicious and cruelty-free, they are also usually high in healthy plant protein and low in saturated fat, and they contain zero cholesterol. Some of the most popular brands include Boca, Gardenburger, Yves, andMorningstar Farms.
4. Sample vegetarian microwaveable meals and convenience foods.
Always eating on the run? There are tons of vegan microwavable meals and convenient snacks available everywhere—here's a tiny sample:
Amy's Black Bean Enchilada With Spanish Rice
Fantastic Foods' Vegetarian 3-Bean Chili
Yves' Thai Lemongrass Veggie Chick'n
Any of the vegetarian soups by Progresso, Amy's Organic, or Campbell's (like lentil, tomato, split pea, and hearty vegetable)
Basics like fresh fruit and PB&J
Tofurky Jurkey (vegan jerky)
Silk Live! soy yogurt smoothies
Tofutti Cuties (soy ice cream sandwiches)
Oreos (yep, several flavors are vegan!)
Check out full lists of all our favorite convenience products and quick-and-easy vegetarian snacks.
5. Search online for the best vegetarian-friendly restaurants in your area.
Whatever your budget and wherever you live, you can enjoy great vegetarian meals. Burger King, Ruby Tuesday, and Johnny Rockets are just a few of the national chains selling tasty veggie burgers and other meatless options. Locally owned restaurants around the country are also selling an exciting array of vegetarian meals to please every palate. Browse reviews of some of the hottest vegetarian-friendly restaurants in the country and get links to the best online restaurant guides in our Dining Out page.
If you find yourself dining at a behind-the-times restaurant that doesn't have decent vegetarian options on the menu, ask the server if the cook can prepare a vegetarian dish without eggs or dairy. Restaurants are glad to accommodate special requests, and most chefs get bored making the same menu items all the time, so they love the chance to get creative and make something new! Of course, you can always call ahead to ask about vegetarian options if you want to choose where to eat before you leave home.
6. Explore the amazing variety of meat-free ethnic foods
Kid friendly recipes?
Q. My 8 year old is getting interested in the kitchen. Does anyone have any good starter recipes or advice for him? Thanks
A. He's still young, so you probably don't want him using sharp knives or doing the actual cooking.
Have him be your helper, that way you can teach him how to prep food and about healthy meals.
Stuffed Shells- He can mix up the cheeses and stuff the shells for you.
Garlic Bread-He can spread the Garlic Mixture on the bread
Pizza-You can make boboli,pillsbury or even english muffin pizzas with him.
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches- He can put the cheese and bread together.
Salads- pasta salad,potato salad, tossed salad etc. He can put all the ingredients together that you set out.
You can also have him help make desserts like fruit parfait,cookies or No-Bake Pies.
Here is a recipe for Italian wedding soup that he can roll the meatballs and learn about adding all the different flavors together.
Italian Wedding Soup
A delicious and healthy soup full of veggies, mini-meatballs and pasta.
(Serves 4 - 6)
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 carrots, peeled and diced
2 ribs celery, washed and diced
1 small onion, small dice
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
12 ounces ground chicken or turkey
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup plain bread crumbs
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated or ground nutmeg
Salt and pepper
5 cups chicken stock or broth
1 cup water
1 cup dried small pasta
Small bunch fresh parsley leaves, finely chopped or
2 cups fresh spinach, chopped (optional)
Directions:
In a deep pot over medium heat add oil, diced carrots, celery and onions. Season with salt and pepper. Cover pot and cook veggies 5 or 6 minutes, stirring occasionally. While the veggies are cooking:
Prepare meatballs: combine the ground chicken, egg, grated cheese, bread crumbs, salt, pepper and nutmeg in a large bowl. Mix well until the mixture forms a ball.
Take teaspoons full of mixture and roll into small balls. Set aside.
Uncover the soup pot and add broth and water to the pot. Increase heat to high and bring soup to a boil.
Reduce the heat to a simmer and drop the meatballs carefully, one at a time, straight into the pot. The meatballs will cook in the broth.
Add the pasta to the soup and stir. Cover and simmer soup for 10 minutes or until the pasta is cooked.
Stir in chopped parsley (or spinach at this time if desired). When spinach has wilted into the soup, the soup is done and ready to serve. Adjust your seasonings to taste.
Hope I have helped =)
**Added a link you might find useful
Have him be your helper, that way you can teach him how to prep food and about healthy meals.
Stuffed Shells- He can mix up the cheeses and stuff the shells for you.
Garlic Bread-He can spread the Garlic Mixture on the bread
Pizza-You can make boboli,pillsbury or even english muffin pizzas with him.
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches- He can put the cheese and bread together.
Salads- pasta salad,potato salad, tossed salad etc. He can put all the ingredients together that you set out.
You can also have him help make desserts like fruit parfait,cookies or No-Bake Pies.
Here is a recipe for Italian wedding soup that he can roll the meatballs and learn about adding all the different flavors together.
Italian Wedding Soup
A delicious and healthy soup full of veggies, mini-meatballs and pasta.
(Serves 4 - 6)
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 carrots, peeled and diced
2 ribs celery, washed and diced
1 small onion, small dice
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
12 ounces ground chicken or turkey
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup plain bread crumbs
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated or ground nutmeg
Salt and pepper
5 cups chicken stock or broth
1 cup water
1 cup dried small pasta
Small bunch fresh parsley leaves, finely chopped or
2 cups fresh spinach, chopped (optional)
Directions:
In a deep pot over medium heat add oil, diced carrots, celery and onions. Season with salt and pepper. Cover pot and cook veggies 5 or 6 minutes, stirring occasionally. While the veggies are cooking:
Prepare meatballs: combine the ground chicken, egg, grated cheese, bread crumbs, salt, pepper and nutmeg in a large bowl. Mix well until the mixture forms a ball.
Take teaspoons full of mixture and roll into small balls. Set aside.
Uncover the soup pot and add broth and water to the pot. Increase heat to high and bring soup to a boil.
Reduce the heat to a simmer and drop the meatballs carefully, one at a time, straight into the pot. The meatballs will cook in the broth.
Add the pasta to the soup and stir. Cover and simmer soup for 10 minutes or until the pasta is cooked.
Stir in chopped parsley (or spinach at this time if desired). When spinach has wilted into the soup, the soup is done and ready to serve. Adjust your seasonings to taste.
Hope I have helped =)
**Added a link you might find useful
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