Summer Lunches for Kids

[barbszy]

My kids are really missing the "hot lunch" option they got at school all year 'round, now that they're home for summer vacation.

I decided we'd try to make a list of some hot lunch choices, and have one hot lunch choice a day, plus the option of a PBJ or tuna sandwich. They already listed a few of their favorites, but I'd like to widen the options a little.

So--any simple, healthy lunch options? I'd like to have my Big Kids learn to help make the lunches, if possible.

[DeBora4BobbyL]

My kids love Hoagie sandwiches. I take Kaiser rolls. I spread a little mayo on each side. Then I add 2-3 types of sliced lunch meat, like ham, turkey, or roast beef and 2-3 types of sliced cheese like provalone, cheddar, or swiss. I layer a couple of slices of each. Then, I add one onion and one tomato slice. I season with salt and pepper. Wrap each in foil. Bake in the oven in 350 degree oven for about 15-20 minutes. Let it sit for 15 minutes so that the flavors will marry. The cool thing about this is that the kids can help in making these.

What about pigs in the blanket? I wrap bisquit dough (the kind you pop open from a can) around a little smokies weiner. I add a chunk of cheese and a bit of mustard. Seal so the everything is inside the bisquit and bake until golden brown according to the directions of the bisquit manufacturer.

If I think of any others, I will share them. It's been a long day. I remember those days with my kids.

[ajrsmom]

There's

bagel, english muffin or tortilla pizzas

shredded meat or taco cups--made by putting a biscuit in a muffin tin and filling it--I should have a recipe for this if you need it....

grilled cheese

chopped veggies and dip w/ chunks of cheese

graham crackers with yogurt and fresh fruit

Tortillas filled with anything--I make them ahead of time and freeze them.

Make calzones out of jumbo biscuits, roll out and fill with sauce, meats and cheese

Homamade French Toast dipping sticks

[cat lover]

What about doing some "fancy" sandwiches? The kids could assemble them with some help and it would be a "fun" cooking lesson. You could do pinwheel sandwiches; you trim the crust from a unsliced sandwich bread; cut into 1/4" slices horizontally. Spread each slice with 2 tbsp of margarine and 1/2 cup of either creamy cheese spread,deviled ham spread or golden cheese spread*. Cut each slice crosswise in half. Beginning at the end you roll it up like a jelly roll and secure with toothpicks. Wrap and chill it and cut each roll into 1/2 " slices.
*Golden cheese spread-2 cups shredded cheddar cheese,1 pkg. (3 oz) cream cheese,softened,1/4 cup mayonnaise,1/2 tsp worcestershire sauce,1/8 tsp each onion salt,garlic salt, and celery salt. Stir all together.
deviled ham spread-1 can (4 1/2oz) deviled ham,1/4 cup sour cream,2 tbsp sweet pickle relish,drained,1 tbsp grated onion, dash red pepper sauce. Stir all together.
creamy cheese spread-2 pkg. (3 oz each) cream cheese, softened,1/2 cup margarine, softened,2 tsp paprika,1 tsp anchovy paste,1 tsp instant minced onion,1 tsp dry mustar; Stir all ingredients together.

You could also do open face sandwiches or ribbon sandwiches. I'll have to look up some of my "hotkid meals" and get back with you later on those.

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Tami, my kids loves the pizza made on English muffins.

What about spaghetti or spaghetti and meatballs? Kids love this. You could also serve garlic bread. I like to put a little shredded cheese on top of my garlic bread.

[cat lover]

How about a hot sandwich; the kids can prepare them ahead of time, they can be frozen and heated when needed!

Strombolis

1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tbsp grated Parmesan
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp oregano
1 pkg. (8 oz) hamburger bunsa or 1 loaf Texas toast bread
8 slices mozzarella cheese

Brown beef and drain fat. Add tomato sauce, ketchup, parmesan cheese, garlic powder and oregano to skillet. Mix well. Place meat mixture on buns or bread and top with bun or another piece of bread. Wrap each sandwich in foil and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. (Sandwiches can be frozen after wrapped and then thawed to room temperature before baking.)

[cat lover]

How about some easy soft tacos?


1/2 cup uncooked instant rice
1 can (15 oz) chili with beans
1 tsp taco seasoning
12 fl;our tortillas (6"), warmed
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Cook rice and combine with chili and taco seasoning in a microwave safe bowl. Cover and microwave on HIGH 2 - 3 minutes or till heated through. Spoon rice and chili onto tortillas and sprinkle with cheese. Fold up over filling. 6 servings

[Coll]

The easiest is pb&j sandwiches, apple slices and chocolate milk.

Coll

[cat lover]

Along with those apple slices you can open a jar of caramel ice cream topping to dip the apple slices in~yum yum!

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Barb, would BLTs qualify as a "hot lunch?" You could also add some soup with it.

[cat lover]

This is two for one! A PB&J sandwich cooked like French Toast



PB & J French "Toastwich"

1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup milk
1/8 tsp vanilla
2 tbsp creamy or crunchy peanut butter
1 tbsp jelly
2 slices whole wheat bread
1 tbsp butter



In a shallow bowl or pie pan, beat egg, milk and vanilla till blende and set aside. Spread peanut butter and jelly on bread to make a sandwich. Melt butter in a skillet over medium-high heat anddip sandwich into egg mixture then grill until golden brown on both sides. Serve immediately. Makes 1

[melstar]

My kids love nachos for lunch. I spread a little vegetarian refried beans on each chip then top with cheese and pop under broiler or in microwave until cheese is melted. Top with any of these... salsa, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sour cream, or avacado/guacamole.

You could do the same thing with a flour tortilla then top with the cold toppings, and cut like a pizza... voila, mexican pizza.

YOu could also start with ramen noodle soup and add any veggies or diced meat to make a soup.

I also make pork and beans and add diced turkey dogs to it, and I serve it with steamed broccoli.

Another trick I do is to always have frozen broccoli or green beans in my freezer. It takes only minutes to microwave them for a healthy side dish to add to any lunch!

Hope these help.

[DeBora4BobbyL]

Melstar, I LOVE your ideas!

[Sammi1961]

I give my kids the options of frozen pot pies, burritos or lean pockets and we always keep a variety of soups on hand. We also do English muffin pizzas. One thing I also do is I have sectional plates with covers. If there are leftovers from dinner, I divide the leftovers and save them in the sectional plates so there is a complete meal in each one. I sometimes make sure to make extra things like pasta, mashed potatoes, pot roast etc. just to make up these plates. I also keep the fridge stocked with fresh fruits, yogurts, cheese sticks etc. so they have healthy options if they don't feel like making a big lunch.

[Hummingbird_0331]

Very Very Nice Ideas here, i will have to try them out!!

[Barb]

I freeze bananas to have on hand, and when I make a peanut butter sandwich for the gds one of them love to have bananas on hers. so I put the frozen ones on top and she loves it that way.

deli trays
I cut up 2 or 3 kinds of lunch meat, cheese, and give out crackers with fruit


egg samdwiches
boiled eggs
salads

[cat lover]

White Chicken Pizzas

6 English muffins, evenly split
1 cup creamy garlic Alfredo sauce
1 to 2 tsp dried leaf basil
1 can (4 ounces) sliced ripe olives
4 green onions, thinly sliced
1 small tomato, diced
8 oz cooked chicken chunks, cut into small pieces
1 1/2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese

Heat oven to 375 degrees.Place English muffins on a cookie sheet lined with nonstick foil or a silicone baking mat. Spread sauce over each half and then sprinkle with basil. Top with some of the sliced ripe olives, sliced green onions, diced tomato, and chicken pieces. Mound shredded Mozzarella cheese on each pizza. Bake for 10 minutes or till hot and cheese is melted.
Makes 12 mini pizzas.


This recipe is from about.com. I have made these for DH, but think they would be a good quick "hot" meal for the kids in the summer too!