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Mixed Vegetables

Make School Lunches Healthy and Fun for Your Kids

While this can sometimes be difficult with the temptation of pizza and hot dogs doled out in the school cafeteria, it is important to make healthy lunches a priority. October 13-17 is National School Lunch Week, dedicated to improving the quality of school lunches. In recent years, schools have made serious efforts to reduce trans fats and sodium levels, and introduce more lean protein, fruit and vegetables into lunch menus.

 

Take charge of your child’s nutrition – make a homemade lunch and introduce healthy eating habits from a young age. Here are some healthy and fun lunch options that revamp the typical school lunches.

 

Confetti Tuna Rice Salad

 

When food is visually appealing, kids get more excited to eat it. Instead of the quintessential tuna salad sandwich, pack a colorful (and healthy!) alternative like our Confetti Tuna Rice Salad. Packed with Libby’s® Sweet Peas, Organic Black Beans and Whole Kernel Sweet Corn, this flavorful entrée will ensure your kids are eating a wholesome and filling lunch.

 

Lunch Box Pasta Salad

 

Put an Italian spin on lunch with this classic recipe, minus the mayonnaise. Use Libby’s® Mixed Vegetables and Whole Kernel Sweet Corn. The whole wheat pasta also adds a healthier alternative to your kids’ lunch.

 

Southwestern Black Bean Salad

 

Image via Snack the Planet

Most healthy cafeteria lunches feature salads made with iceberg lettuce, which has little nutritional value. This dish takes a healthy twist on that old standby. Use Libby’s® Organic Black Beans and Whole Kernel Sweet Corn to add some fiber to the dish. Romaine lettuce serves as the base for this nutritious side salad.

 

What changes would you make to your child’s school lunch? Share your thoughts and revamped recipes on our Facebook page

Score a Touchdown at Your Big Game Party

In two weeks, families all across America will gather around television sets for the most watched sporting event of the year. While two teams of professional athletes anticipate the biggest game of their lives, you can prepare a big game party worthy of your own victory dance. Sketch a Game Plan While the pros diagram plays down in New Orleans, where this year’s game will be held, make your own game plan for a touchdown-worthy celebration. Send invitations, by traditional mail or email, with enough time for guests to respond. Tackle your menu plan ahead of time and create a timetable for the day so all your food is ready by the time the guests arrive. Map out a space big enough for all your guests to have a clear view of the game and easy access to the food. Avoid a Food Fumble Your snacks will take center stage during commercial breaks and halftime. While the big game is the main focus of the gathering, we suggest creating a buffet table so guests can grab food whenever they like. Score an extra point with your guests by preparing fun party dishes like Libby’s Corn and Mac Casserole and Southwestern Chicken Quesadillas. Fill the Viewing Arena with Team Spirit Even though your camp will be watching the big game from the comfort of your home, you can still amplify the spirit and excitement as if you were viewing it live from the stadium. Construct easy and fun centerpieces, like football floral arrangements, and hand out pom-poms in your team’s colors to create an electrifying atmosphere. Practice Good Sportsmanship Sometimes we forget that major sporting events are held to bring groups of people together, foster tradition, and entertain. As the party host, it is up to you to create an atmosphere that promotes good sportsmanship, no matter the outcome of the game. Offer prizes for all your party attendees, not only those rooting for the winning team, and make sure each of your guests leaves full and happy!

Multitask Your Cooking: Get Wise With Your Kitchen Time

These days, it seems like we are juggling work, family, chores and errands 24/7. For this East Coast gal, during the summer, I don’t want to spend any more time indoors in the kitchen than I have to. So, here are my tips to deliver healthy and tasty meals to the table faster and easier. (I definitely need to practice what I preach more often – i.e. planning!)

Plan Ahead
Consider the biggest time saver of all: creating a monthly menu plan. It seems daunting but by dedicating a few hours, you can save yourself an entire month of wondering, “What’s for dinner?”
Simplify by:

    1. Using an online menu template.
    2. Relying on recipe favorites and repeating some throughout the month. Check out this month’s Chicken Fiesta Rice + more CANvenient recipes here.
    3. Making batch dishes on weekends and freezing extras.
    4. Scheduling a few nights for leftovers, “breakfast for dinner” or ordering take-out.

Smart Staples – By keeping some basic food items at hand, you can whip up a last minute meal for those days you don’t have time to plan ahead. My typical freezer and pantry stockers are ground meat and chicken, frozen shrimp, broth, pasta, rice, canned vegetables & fruit, peanut butter, canned tuna, canned tomatoes, olive oil and cereals.

Cooking Techniques that Simplify – My favorite hot weather tool, the grill, is also a fantastic multi-tasker. We often cook an entire meal outside while keeping the kitchen cool and clean (I’ll post more on grilling next month!) I use my microwave daily for speed – for defrosting or steaming foods. Also “no cook” meals such as cereal, salads and sandwiches are always easy yet nutritious time-saving options. We probably do cereal night almost every week!

Slow Cooker to the Rescue – Nowadays, there’s a gadget for every possible kitchen task, but the trusted Crock Pot® or slow cooker is a true time saver. Besides cooking a variety of meals ahead of time, you can use to reheat leftovers, cook oatmeal or even bake bread.

Here’s to summer and less stress in the kitchen!