The start of summer comes with a rush of mixed feelings. Sure I am happy about the break from 7 am school drop-off duties, but what about the constant looming demands of snacks and “what should I do now?”
It's no joke to keep kids busy while restricting their screen time during the holidays.
Therefore, we mothers have to have a load of activities pre-planned or else get ready to face their non-stop boredom wails. Because every two hours, there is a demand for snacks.
And to top it all, things get extremely difficult if your child is a picky eater.
I can’t begin to explain the mental stress a mother goes through if her child is not getting in all the carbs and proteins required for a balanced diet.
One thing I’ve noticed that increases the dopamine level in kids is to have their favourite snack loaded with cheese.
So, why not keep the kids busy and entertained while involving them in preparing some super-easy quick healthy meals?
That will not only keep them busy but also will provide them with their required nutrients.
Monkey Tail Sandwiches (chicken & avocado)
This is one recipe that my child loves, she enjoys the small bite-size sandwiches that resemble a monkey’s tail (kind of).
But not in her wildest dreams does she know that she is having avocado in her sandwiches.
I mash avocado paste before she joins me in preparing this quick healthy meal.
I sometimes make these as regular sandwiches, and sometimes, make monkey tails for days when everything is going wrong.
Ingredients
- 3 slices white bread
- ½ cup boiled shredded chicken
- ½ avocado peeled and mashed
- 1 tbsp ketchup
- 2 tbsp cream cheese
Method
- Using a knife, cut off the edges of the bread. Now, using a rolling pin, flatten the slices of the bread (My child loves the sides, so I serve them separately to snack on).
- In a small bowl, combine avocado paste, cream cheese, and ketchup to form a thick sauce.
- Spread the avocado paste, then spread the shredded chicken over the bread. Roll the bread tightly, starting from one short end to the other. Cut the rolled bread into 4 slices.
- Place the bite-sized sandwiches cut up on a platter and serve.
Finger Fish With Mashed Ps (peas and potatoes)
Yet another quick and healthy meal that not only my child enjoys, but is a family favourite as well.
Instead of serving the regular fish and chips, I serve the fish with mashed potatoes and peas (I avoid serving fried veggies to my daughter).
For a healthier version, you can use an air fryer to fry the finger fish.
Ingredients
- Skinless white fish (cod) - 500g
- Plain flour - ½ cup
- Salt - as per taste
- Crushed red chilli - ½ tsp (optional)
- Black pepper - ½ tsp
- Lemon juice - 2 tbsp
- Large egg - 1
- Bread crumbs - 250g
- Potatoes - 2 (boiled and mashed)
- Peas - 250g (boiled and mashed
- Cream cheese
- Butter
Method
- Slice the fish into around 3 cm thick finger shape. Then marinate the fish with salt, pepper, crushed red chilli flakes, and some lemon juice. Marinate for about 30 mins.
- Take 3 separate bowls for flour, egg, and breadcrumbs. Coat each fish slice first with flour, then dip into the bowl of egg, and finally coat well with breadcrumbs.
- Refrigerate the coated slices for around 15 minutes before frying.
- Heat oil in a frying pan on medium flame. Add the coated finger fish and shallow fry for around 7 - 8 mins. Keep flipping so the fish gets evenly cooked and turns into a crisp golden colour.
- Boil peas and potatoes separately and use a potato masher to mash both vegetables.
- Combine both and season accordingly. Then add some butter and cream cheese to the mixture and serve with fried fish.
Healthy Mac And Cheese With Veggies
Mac and cheese is the ultimate favourite of kids. No matter how fussy the child is, place a bowl of mac and cheese in front of them, and there will be no complaints.
But the worrying fact is, that mac and cheese is not a healthy option for kids, as it has minimum nutritional value.
Hence, once in a while is fine but regularly having mac and cheese is not a good option, unless you cook it my way!!!!
What if I tell you, you can feed this version of mac and cheese to your kid every other day and they will be getting a whole bunch of nutrition?
I prepare mac and cheese with courgette/zucchini and cauliflower and add it to the recipe in such a way that it does not change the actual colour of mac and cheese and becomes a healthy meal.
Ingredients
- Boiled macaroni - 2 cups
- Milk - 1 cup
- Grated Cheese - 1 cup
- Butter - 2 tbsp
- courgette - 2 medium
- Cauliflower - half of a small cauliflower head
- Butter - 2 tbsp
- Plain flour - 2 tbsp
- Fresh cream - ½ cup
- Salt - as per taste
Method
- Peel the courgette and cut it into small pieces (to avoid the puree from becoming green), roughly chop the cauliflower, and steam until the veggies become tender.
- Blend the drained veggies with the help of an electric blender to form a puree. Keep aside.
- Start preparing the white sauce by heating butter in a saucepan.
- Add plain flour and cook it with the butter for around 2 mins stirring continuously with a whisk to avoid forming lumps.
- Add milk, cream, salt, and ¾ cup grated cheese, and let it melt into the sauce.
- Remove from heat when the sauce achieves a thick consistency.
- Stir the vegetable puree into your white sauce and whisk well.
- Add the boiled macaroni to the sauce and mix well.
- Transfer the macaroni to an oven-proof dish, and layer it with the remaining cheese.
- Bake in the oven for around 20 min at 180 degrees until the cheese on top turns into a golden brown colour.
- I am sure your kids will get tricked into eating the veggies and enjoy it whereas you will be one happy mom.
Wrap Up
During the Summer holidays, the demand for new snacks is also a problem. These recipes are nutrition-packed, innovative, and keep children interested in taste and shapes.
The kids will not only enjoy these meals but will also be getting their daily dose of nutrition.
However, make sure to have some me time during the vacations, or else by the end of the vacation you will end up losing your sanity.
