wilkes

my kids like this...

package of 3 color coleslaw mix
italian dressing (I like Good Seasons and make it with red wine vinegar)
raisins
ramen noodles

mix about 1/4 cup dressing with slaw mix (adjust to your liking, more or less) toss in some raisins and crush up the noodles and mix it all together

serve right away or we like it better to let it sit in the fridge and soak up the flavors

even my pickiest eater likes it

:D

here is something you can modify by reducing the amount of ingredients.

PB&J With Attitude

I used to prepare the following for Head Start meals. This receipe made 60-70 sandwiches...and the kids always looked forward to it...in fact, the headstart director used to tell me that the kids complained if they didn't have it at least once a week.

I used 3 largest containers (I believe they were 48 oz. size) of smooth and creamy peanut butter and 1 quart of grape jelly. I mixed this well until it had the consistancy of fudge and took on a chocolatey look. (If your peanut butter is thin then add more peanut butter) I spread this on bread without crusts and crimped the edges. I know it is peanut butter and jelly; however, it tastes, looks, and smells different. In fact, if this mixture is rolled in finely crushed graham crackers or vanilla wafers and powdered sugar, it looks like rum balls and grown-ups really enjoyed them.

I always kept an order frozen in a vacuum sealed container in the freezer so that in an emergency I could pop them out when the Head-Start folks had a super number of kids and hadn't informed me in advance.

I prepared 100-125 lunches each day for these kids and prepared individual snacks as well. In the summer, the daily prep was usually around 170 per day.

This was done through my catering company (affiliated with restaurant) and was lots of fun and lots of work.

Fruit Treat

Another thing I prepared was cantaloupe and watermelon balls. With a melon baller it was easy to prepare. The novelty of the fruit balls seemed to intrigue the kids. It's inexpensive and relatively easy to do.

Pita Pockets

Buy the small size pockets and stuff with shaved ham, a tsp of chopped lettuce, and a teaspoon or two of grated pizza cheese. They can be wrapped and frozen ahead: (without the lettuce)

Toast either the fresh or frozen pocket--add lettuce if they were frozen-and a dollop of mayonnaise (I used a squeeze bottle for the mayo.)

(If you don't mind the extra fat calories, you can use large slices of pepperoni, pizza cheese, and a dollop of pizza topping for your own pocket sandwich.)

Also, you could fix mac and cheese, add chopped ham or bacon and tomatoes to it. Most kids would eat it! :) There are a lot of different things you can add to mac and cheese...chicken, hot dogs, ham, bacon, peas, tomatoes, mixed veggies, broccoli, corn, carrots, ect. Make your own recipes.

Also, check out kraftfoods.com. They have a BUNCH of good recipes on there. :)

When I was a kid we ate pintos and cornbread.
And macaroni and tomatoes with a pinch of sugar.

1 package of chicken flavored ramen noodles
1 can of chopped chicken
1 can mixed vegetables

Cook noodles as directed. Add other ingredients. Serve. :)

With summer looming I am trying to put together a menu of lunches for my kids. I am looking for relatively simple, kid friendly lunch recipes for my kids. I would appreciate any and all ideas/recipes you have.