Help - -I can't feed my family this crap!

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ndblades
ndblades Posts: 233 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I was at the grocery store after work today, with my list of healthy, well balanced items for our family meals at home, and at the same time buying "lunches" for my kids that go to grandpas during the weekdays while I'm at work. We live in the country, so I am fortuneate my father-in-law is in town and able to let the kids stay there during the day as they bike to summer activities and the pool. Each time I buy food for his house, I have a harder and harder time trying to find healthy options they will eat. Seems like I always end up with processed, convenience food: Pizza, mac-n-cheese, chicken patties, etc. They are good at granola bars, peanut butter and such for snacks, but the lunches are just killing me! How can I feed that crap to my children! So I am looking for two bits of advise:

1) A good source to know WHAT kids need for nutrition--- how much protien, carbs, etc., one that is easy to understand, so they can take part in it.
2) What are good (and quick) foods that I can make for them for lunch or they can make themselves at grandpas? Of course with 4 of them at grandpas (one still at daycare), they don't like the same veggies or fruits -- and it seems a lot of good food doesn't get eaten.

Thanks for your help! I don't want my kids to end up with my bad habits!

Replies

  • Isaanne
    Isaanne Posts: 41 Member
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    I think there are a lot of good resources for this online.

    Not sure how old your kids are and what they are capable of making for themselves.

    I have a 10 year old and 6 year old. The 10 year old can make sandwiches and heat up soup. (he LOVES soup). He can also make eggs but that is more for breakfast. The six year old not so much...

    Sandwiches of different kinds seem pretty heathy - at least in comparison to the really processed stuff. My kids get meat and cheese sandwiches alternating with PB&J. Can they make those themselves?

    If they happen to like tuna salad or chicken salad or I would make that to bring and spread on bread or eat with crackers.

    Cheese and avocado works (when we have the avocado) and also hummus which my little one likes but we have always eaten stuff like hummus, feta, cucumbers, grape tomatoes and olives which they like.

    Nut butters (peanut and sunbutter) are good for dipping fruit, veggies and sturdy pretzels.

    Lots and lots of fruit and trail mix is good too.
  • mycrazy8splus1
    mycrazy8splus1 Posts: 1,558 Member
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    depends on the age of your kids. We did a lesson on food and the kids watched "Forks Over Knives", "Food Inc", and "Supersize Me". They are huge believers in our new healthy eating style after that lesson! My kids (at home) are 13,12,10, 9, 7, 4, and 10 months

    My kids love pita sandwiches. We normally do egg or chicken salad and red leaf lettuce in them. Nicoise salad is another favorite. wrap sandwiches (rolled in a tortilla) are a winner. You can put just about anything in those.
    check out thes sites too:
    homemade fruit snacks http://www.loveumadly.com/2012/04/100-pure-love-for-100-real-fruit-snacks/
    popcorn cauliflower (love these with BBQ sauce) http://www.mrsdash.com/recipes/Cauliflower-Popcorn/721
    pizza from cauliflower http://www.fatgirltrappedinaskinnybody.com/2011/06/basil-cauliflower-pizza/
    tortilla pizzas http://haesslyhouseofinsanity.blogspot.com/2012/05/tortilla-pizzas-very-easy-to-change-up.html
    baked eggplant and zucchini slices (one of my kids favorites) http://haesslyhouseofinsanity.blogspot.com/2012/05/baked-slicesbaked-zucchini-slices-prep.html
    zucchini chips http://urbanveganista.com/?page_id=1774
    Sweet potato chips http://www.therecipediva.com/recipe/Sweet-Potato-Chips-88591

    as for nutritional guidelines these are some of the sites we used when we did our nutrition lesson:
    http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/nutrition/
    http://www.livestrong.com/article/275153-nutrition-guide-for-children/
    http://www.everydayhealth.com/kids-nutrition/essential-nutrition.aspx
    http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/nutrition/
  • AZKristi
    AZKristi Posts: 1,801 Member
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    Sandwiches are super easy. Peanut butter has lots of healthy fats and lunch meats and cheese have plenty of protein (although I try to choose brands with the least sodium).
  • mabug01
    mabug01 Posts: 1,273 Member
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    Try AllRecipes.com for ideas and search for lunchbox ideas and make-ahead meals.
    I would cut up chicken breasts into strips and bake them the night before, seasoned with rosemary, paprika and black pepper; or poultry seasoning, or Mrs. Dash. Also, you can bake some sweet potato wedges with rosemary (toss lightly in oil). These things keep well overnight. Good luck!
  • mommab23k
    mommab23k Posts: 35
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    nutrition.gov is a great site, all sorts of resources there. daily caloric needs based on age/activity level, nutrients needed, things to avoid, recipe links, food facts, etc. it's a good place to find lots of info and links.

    i try and take the "snack" approach to lunch when kids are picky. my three pretty much eat the same stuff, but they'll go thru phases when they don't. cut up a bunch of different fruit/veg, send nuts, cheese slices, crackers (whole grain, not processed junk, try ak-mak), air popped popcorn, celery/peanut butter sticks, dried raisins or fruit, hard boiled eggs, pretzels, home baked cookies or granola bars, etc. give them a "buffet" style option where they can pick and choose what they want, then g'pa isn't the heavy and they get what they'll eat. maybe if you are worried they won't eat enough, pack them a sandwich or wrap that you know they will eat and then several different options they can choose. you can have g'pa leave it there at the house for the week, and that is what they'll have to work with for that week. you can rotate stuff in and out as needed or if it doesn't get eaten. that way you also aren't having to pack stuff each day, but once a week or just the sandwiches daily and the rest is already taken care of.
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,326 Member
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    i think people give their kids too much choice. who's the parent? who's buying the food and preparing it?

    when i was younger i would have loved to eat nothing but cheeseburgers, candy, pizza, pot pies, fish sticks and donuts, and have my own personal chef cook everything i wanted the way i wanted and cut the crusts off. but i had to eat what my mom cooked or i didn't eat. my mom was busy so it was that simple. i could pout and cry all i wanted but those were the rules. if i didnt eat, went to bed hungry and woke up hungry the next morning, guess what was for breakfast? YUP that yucky liver i didnt want to eat the night before.

    when i got old enough to make stuff for myself it was different, but before then my mom was too busy and wasn't going to cater to my pickiness :smile:
  • ndblades
    ndblades Posts: 233 Member
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    This is all great advise everyone! THANKS! My kids are 14, 11, 9, 6 and 4. I agree, I tend to give them too much reign over what they eat for lunch (they aren't so lucky for supper).... we did talk about this on our way to town today, and they agreed to come up with a list of "healthy" options. My oldest is big into internet researching, so she said she look up all thse ideas
  • mycrazy8splus1
    mycrazy8splus1 Posts: 1,558 Member
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    with those age kids I would totally look into those videos. My 13, 12 and 10 years got the most out of our health food lesson but even the younger ones learned from them too. They love to go the farmer's market with me and look for new things we have never tried (that is why I am researching Kale recipes right now! LOL). If you'd like to friend me go ahead. I also have a big family (8 kids, my 18 year old has already moved out but the other 7 are still at home).

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