When mealtime starts, kids tend to throw a lot of tantrums, especially when they don’t like the food they are served. Aiming for well-balanced and tasty meals that excite kids, and at the same time keeps them focused during school time may sound like a mission impossible.
From Sunday to Thursday, we got you covered with 7 healthy, tasty, easy-to-make after school meals that take the stress of cooking out, and guarantees your kids will enjoy mealtime and ask for more.
1- One-pot veggies with minced meat
This kid-friendly healthy midweek lunch is the perfect way to introduce more vegetables and meat to your little ones and helps keep them full for a long time. To make a one-pot minced meat veggies, season your meat with salt and pepper and cook it over medium heat till it browns, then add your kids favorite veggies like potatoes, carrots, zucchinis, bell peppers and celery. Cover the mix and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Serve it on toast, bed of rice, or as a puff pastry stuffing for a delicious pie.
2- Pasta with pesto sauce and pine nuts
Fight the pickiness of your kids’ appetite and pair their favorite type of pasta with a delicious, nature-inspired pesto sauce and some toasted pine nuts for a lovely crunchy texture. Made of basil and garlic, pesto is packed with antioxidants, while pine nuts are rich in magnesium, iron, zinc, and protein.
3- Baked jacket potato
Potatoes are appetizing in all shapes and recipes. Jacket potatoes, in particular, give you room to blend up infinite ingredients that give a flavor burst. To prepare jacket potatoes, preheat the oven to 180°C and pierce potatoes all over with a fork. Rub it with oil and season generously with salt and pepper. Bake potatoes for up to 1 hour and a half or until you can easily pierce them with a fork. Top it with your kids’ choice of sour cream, yogurt salad, red beans, shredded cheese, bell peppers, and serve it with a tasty home-made creamy hummus dip to jazz things up.
4- Tuna pasta salad with honey mustard
Loaded with Omega-3 and vitamin A that enhances immunity and growth, tuna is a popular favorite choice for most kids. Prepare your little one’s favorite pasta and season the tuna with cumin, sea salt, thyme, and mint, then top it all with a generous amount of honey mustard sauce and watch your kids as they enjoy their meal to the last bite.
5- Chicken, halloumi and vegetable skewers
A delicious, simple and healthy after school meal, your kids will go nuts over this one here. Cut chicken into cubes and marinade with lemon juice, oil, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper. In a separate bowl, mix your kids’ favorite veggies and halloumi cheese with olive oil and salt. Stack the chicken, cheese, and veggies onto a skewer and grill for 6-10 minutes per side. The result is a light and delicious treat!
6- Sautéed spinach pocket pies
Spinach is a super food filled with iron and fibers. You can either prepare your own pie dough at home for a hand-crafted taste, or get ready-made puff pastry packs. Just sauté onions with olive oil, salt and sumach, then add the drained spinach and mix. Brush the top and bottom of the pie with egg wash, then place them on a sheet pan in the oven for 25 minutes for a handmade pie or 5-10 minutes for puff-pastry. This magical recipe will surely sweep away spinach’s notorious reputation.
7- Crispy chicken roll-ups
When lunch escapes you amidst the hustle and bustle of the day, these fried chicken roll-ups are guaranteed to satisfy your kids’ cravings. Just cover the chicken breasts with a slice of cheese and turkey and roll up tightly. Then dip chicken in eggs and bread crumbs until evenly coated on all sides. Fry chicken on all sides until it becomes golden and crispy. Serve with mashed potatoes on the side, or fries and ketchup.
When school starts, meal planning is usually left for the last minute. These recipes give you plenty of healthy, nutritious, and tasty after-school meals that require minimal preparation, but will surely excite your children about homemade food.
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