As a parent, you want the absolute best for your child. Unfortunately, sometimes what is best for your child is not what your child thinks is best. When it comes to food, most kids will choose chocolate or candy before choosing broccoli or carrots. For parents who want their children both happy and healthy, this can be a difficult dilemma. With the added challenge of parents’ busy schedules, providing proper nutrition in a form children will accept becomes even more daunting of a task.
The beginning of the school year is a time when this dilemma can become more pronounced. Kids go off to school and into the throes of marginally nutritious school lunch options, minimally nutritious a la carte snack options, and peer pressure to want to eat what their friends are eating, which may be additive-ridden and full of sugar.
Parents looking for healthy and convenient options for their children’s school lunches and snacks may turn to microwavable meals or pre-made supermarket options. Many of the school lunch products available on the shelves of stores are more about marketing and money than they are about nutrition. Whole fruits and bite size veggies are healthy, low effort options if your child will eat them. Granola and so-called nutrition bars often contain a large dose of sugar, though some good options can be found.
Going to the deli in hopes that you can put together a complete meal your child will enjoy from the pre-made options is a tall order. Pre-made deli meals rarely include the freshest and most nutritious ingredients. They may include preservatives and unnecessary sugars, and they often lack fresh produce, which is vital to a child’s growth and development. Unfortunately, planning a nutritious menu for the week and purchasing quality ingredients, then finding time to prepare meals is a super difficult feat.
Beyond the supermarket, there’s Foodini’s catering and personal chef service. The chefs here take customized menu requests, prepare meals in their commercial kitchen, and deliver to your doorstep. Fresh, quality ingredients like white meat chicken and locally sourced produce are standard.
An extensive list of kid-friendly meals is provided on the website. From Grilled BBQ chicken breast to spaghetti and meatballs to pot roast and mashed potatoes, the possibilities are plentiful. Paired with vegetable side dishes like fresh veggies and dip, grilled veggies, or vegetable and potato purees, the following kid-friendly entrees become nutritionally complete meals to power your child’s afternoon.
Plain Breaded White Meat Chicken Fingers
Sloppy Joes
Macaroni and Cheese
Chicken Parmesan
Cheese and Vegetable Enchiladas
Meat and Vegetable Lasagna
Here’s to a healthy, happy, nutritious, and convenient back to school experience!