In the Kitchen

Simple Holiday Bento Box Ideas

November 2, 2015 by Danielle

My kids have fallen in love with bento boxes (affiliate link). I started making them when I started packing my lunch (even though I work from home) and they look forward to seeing what I’m going to pack them next. Gone are the days of wanting the same thing for lunch every.single.day like before.

Now I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t do elaborate bento boxes for my kids lunches. Instead, I choose one thing to make special or cut up and then the rest just goes with the theme of the bento I’m doing. And I always include foods my kids will actually eat. Because even if the baby eats seaweed, the big kids refuse it.

Luckily coming up with simple holiday bento box ideas isn’t difficult. And when you really get down to basics like I do, you can turn just about any classic lunch into a cute bento idea. Just grab a protein, a snack, some fruit and a few veggies and you’re on your way to an awesome bento lunch for your kids.

You can find these simple ideas featured today on Bentgo’s blog.

How do you add a little holiday cheer to your bento box?

Filed Under: Health & Wellness, Holidays, In the Kitchen, Kids Health, Lunch, Thanksgiving, Uncategorized Tagged With: Bentgo, bento box, bento box ideas, kids lunches, Lunch, lunch for kids, Lunch Ideas, Thanksgiving, Turkey

Easy Dinner Slow Cooker Freezer Meals

October 28, 2015 by Danielle

Since having my third child, dinner is usually the farthest thing from my mind at the end of the day. Between working from home, dropping off and picking up the older kids, and entertaining my baby throughout the day, It’s just not as important as my kids or my work (unless making dinner is work!).

Over the past few months I’ve become a little pro-active in making sure that I don’t have to worry about anything once dinner time arrives by doing a lot of meal prep on the weekends! I’ve been stocking up on various oven and crock pot sauces to help me out and make dinnertime a breeze. All I have to do is remember to grab the right protein, veggie and sauce and I’m on my way to making a delicious meal for the family.

Our current favorite? Cheesy chicken and broccoli. So easy to make in a snap! Almost as easy as our favorite slow cooker freezer meals.

There are quite a few sauces that you can easily incorporate into your freezer meal plan. With these pantry staples you really can make dinner a quick and painless part of the day. And don’t get me started on the delicious oven sauces like the cheesy broccoli chicken featured above.

Today I’m sharing one of my favorites: Tavern Style Pot Roast! Not only is this slowcooker sauce amazingly delicious, it’s something I can keep in my pantry until I need it.

How To Prep Slow Cooker Freezer Meals

To create this simple slow cooker freezer meal all you have to do is gather up a few ingredients. I included a beef roast, chopped carrots, chopped potatoes, and one onion, cut into large chunks.

Then I simply labeled a gallon size freezer bag with the name of the meal and the date I’ve prepared it to freeze. That way I know exactly what meal to grab when I’m looking to start dinner. Once everything is ready to go I add all of the ingredients to the bag and pop it in the freezer for later. For other dishes that are just as simple I do a similar meal prep. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Hawaiian Pork – Add pork roast, green beans (fresh or frozen), and pineapple chunks to the bag. Stock up on frozen rice and serve pork and green beans over rice.

Beef Stew – Add beef, diced potatoes, carrots and, onions (fresh or frozen) to the bag. Serve with a nice salad.

Shredded Beef Tacos – Add beef roast, onions, peppers, kidney and/or black beans and corn to the bag. Use with taco shells or as a filling for burritos or enchiladas.

What’s your favorite freezer meal to prepare?

Filed Under: Dinner, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: campbell's slow cooker sauce, campbell’s oven sauce, easy dinner, Easy Meal Ideas, easy recipes, Frozen Meals, Slow Cooker

Fueling Up To Play: Microwavable Egg Scramble

October 22, 2015 by Danielle

We’re keeping our kids active and continuing to learn how we can Fuel Up To Play with help from our sponsor, California Milk Advisory Board. With this easy microwavable egg scramble we can start our day right with some calcium and protein so that we have the energy to play and learn.

Whether it’s a week day or the weekend, my kids cannot wait to get out of the house and play. In an effort to keep them fueled through the morning, I’ve tried to come up with a few easy breakfasts I can make ahead. But when I run out, I always opt for an easy microwavable egg scramble. Not only is it filled with protein to keep them fueled up, it is a great source of dairy with Real California milk and cheese scrambled inside. Another option to add inside? Some leftover veggies from last night’s dinner!

I’m not the only one trying to keep the kids fueled up for a day of play and learning. With the help of the Fuel Up to Play 60 program, more kids will be encouraged to fuel up and get outside to play. Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by National Dairy Council (NDC) and National Football League, in collaboration with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). As a result of the program, 38 million students are eating healthier by adding nutritious foods like low-fat and fat-free milk and milk products, fruits, vegetables and whole grains to their meals. How awesome is that?

I love that this program is helping so many kids. As a parent I know that I’m not the only influence in my kids lives. When they see others eating healthy and getting out to exercise and play, they’re more apt to get out and make the right decisions too. My son is very much a homebody but when his friends are out playing soccer or throwing a football, he has no problem heading out to join them.

Since having a third child, our family has come even more active than a year ago. We’ve continued to encourage play as a family for at least 60 seconds a day in addition to the play the kids get at school during the day. Even if that means pulling my son from his game of Minecraft to jump on the trampoline with us or go on a family walk after dinner. Family walks are a great way for us to reconnect at the end of the day after we enjoy a meal together. And it gets the wiggles out before we start our bedtime routine.

We are also starting to cook together as well so that we can not only lead by example but teach by example as well. By showing our children how to prepare delicious, healthy meals for themselves, we can instill great life skills they can use as they grow. My daughter helped make the egg scramble recipe (shared below) with me this morning and last night my son helped clean and cut the cauliflower for our dinner. I love that they’re so interested in helping prepare our meals and learn more about becoming more self sufficient.

Microwavable Egg Scramble

2 eggs
1/8 cup Real California milk
1/4 cup Real California cheese, split
1 pre-cooked sausage patty OR 2 pre-cooked sausage links, crumbled
salt and pepper

Grab an 8oz ramekin and spray with nonstick cooking spray or coat in butter. Add eggs, milk and salt and pepper to greased ramekin. Whisk with fork until combined. Crumble sausage patty or sausage links into egg mixture and sprinkle with 1/2 the cheese. Using the fork, combine sausage and cheese in egg mixture. Top with other 1/2 of cheese.

Microwave for 1 minute. Stir. Microwave for an additional 45 seconds to 1 minute or until egg is cooked. Carefully remove ramekin from microwave – it will be hot – and turn upside down onto a plate. Serve hot with a side of fruit, some toast, and a large glass of Real California milk.

What’s awesome about this program, in addition to educating kids and encouraging healthy living, you can encourage your school to apply for this program! Qualifying California schools participating in Fuel Up to Play 60 are eligible for up to $4,000 during the school year and funding eligibility for the 2015-2016 school year is held through a competitive program designed to support schools that implement plays from the 2015-2016 edition of the Fuel Up to Play 60 Playbook.

For schools that would like to apply to receive funding, Fall 2015 Fuel Up To Play 60 grant applications are open to California K-12 schools interested in supporting health and wellness initiatives through November 4, 2015. For more information on Fuel Up to Play 60 and to sign up an eligible school, visit here: http://bit.ly/1Mij4OW

How do you encourage healthy eating and play in your home?

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of California Milk Advisory Board.

Filed Under: Breakfast, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: Breakfast, breakfast ideas, breakfast recipe, easy recipes, egg, egg dishes, Eggs, Fuel Up and Play 60

Finding Time For Lunch: Useful Tips for Keurig Users

October 20, 2015 by Danielle

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Campbell Soup Company for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

Whether I am working outside the home in an office or inside the home as I am now, one time of day that I almost always forget about is lunchtime. Because of work that has to get done, another customer reaching out for help, or a child sleeping on me, lunchtime hasn’t been a priority for me even though it should be. Luckily with the new Campbell’s® Fresh-Brewed Soup® Broth and Noodle Mix, I can brew up a delicious snack within a minute or so and eat on the go or at my laptop. And with the small noodles and diced veggies, I can also feed my daughter at the same time. Win-win!

Campbell’s new products are almost effortless to use. Simply pour the package of noodle and vegetable mix into a mug, add in a seasoned chicken broth mix k-cup to the Keurig, and brew! Let the soup sit for 1-2 minutes until the noodles are soft and enjoy a nice hot cup of soup. and just in case you were worried, the soup does NOT taste like coffee and their coffee will NOT taste like soup.

Looking to turn this snack into a little more at lunchtime? Consider doctoring up your Noodle and Vegetable soup with a few additions.

Turning Your Campbell’s® Fresh-Brewed Soup® Broth and Noodle Mix Into A Meal

Shred some roast chicken (or other protein) and stir in
Add in some fresh spinach
Add hot sauce or sriracha
Top with sliced green onions
Enjoy!

There are many different combos to add to your @campbells soup to create the perfect lunchtime solution for your busy life.

I love the convinience of having A delicious line of soups made at the touch of a button with your Keurig® brewer. Perfect to enjoy anytime as a satisfying snack! Not only does it save me time, but it’s also easy to prepare even if I only have one hand free.

Need more lunchtime inspiration? Check out these delicious Campbell’s recipes.

What are your quick fix meals for lunchtime?

Filed Under: In the Kitchen, Lunch, Uncategorized

Fall Favorites: Pot Pie + Brussel Sprouts with Bacon

October 14, 2015 by Danielle

This shop featuring our fall favorites including Pot Pies and this delicious brussel sprouts with bacon recipe has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PotPiePlease #CollectiveBias

I have a confession to make. I never had brussel sprouts until two years ago when I had them at a restaurant event. One of their specialty sides was their fried brussel sprouts with pancetta. And oh my word were they good! That’s when I started making brussel sprouts at home. And I’ve finally perfected the recipe. I don’t know why but eating them just feels comforting. Savory, tasty, good.

The best part? They pair perfectly with all of our favorite fall meals. Including our favorite pot pies from Marie Callendar’s. They go with just about every variety too. So when my husband wants to enjoy a delicious turkey pot pie but I want chicken, we can still enjoy the same side dish with our meal. I always keep a bag of brussel sprouts in the fridge and pot pies in the freezer for that last minute comfort food meal.

The best part about keeping a well stocked freezer – with plenty of Marie Callendar’s pot pies – around this time of year are the guests we have stopped by unexpectedly around the holidays. I already know that both my mom and my brother are making their way out here in a two months so instead of planning then when everything will be crazy, I plan now and grab a few extra when we’re at Walmart.

You can find Marie Callendar’s pot pies in the Dinner aisle of the freezer section. They’re super easy to spot next to the other Marie Callendar’s meals in the freezer.

Oh, and a little bonus tip: you can use pre-cooked bacon in this recipe OR regular bacon. Whatever floats your boat. Also? Pancetta is a welcomed substitution as well. Yum! This meal takes a total of 20 minutes to take and that’s more than welcomed around the holidays so we can spend more time with our family instead of in the kitchen.

Brussel Sprouts with Bacon

1/2 onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons butter
4-6 pieces bacon, diced
1 pound brussel sprouts, sliced
drizzle of olive oil

Grab a large skillet and heat on medium high. Add butter and cook until it is browned and smells nutty.

Add onions and garlic. Cook until translucent. Add bacon. Reduce heat to medium and toss in brussel sprouts. Drizzle with olive oil. Let saute for about 15 minutes or until brussel sprouts become golden brown.

Serve and enjoy!

What’s your go-to comfort meal to have on hand in case guests come over during the holidays?

Filed Under: Appetizers & Sides, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: bacon, brussel sprouts, easy recipes, Keto Friendly, LCHF, Low Carb, Recipe, Recipes

Mom’s Night In: Halloween Inspired Book Club Party

October 9, 2015 by Danielle

Sitting back with friends enjoying delicious glass of wine and some yummy goodies is one of the best ways, I find, to unwind and relax after a long week. There’s something about the conversation with friends and laughter that follows that warms my heart and leaves me feeling relaxed. As I mentioned previously, I hosted a girls night in recently. We hadn’t done a book club get together and it was about time we started up again!

By the way… you don’t actually HAVE to finish (or even start) the book to attend book club. It’s more of an excuse to get out and do something with friends instead of staying at home. But I have found that it’s very motivating to at least try and finish a book before the next meeting. Even when that means reading during nap time, or right before bed while my husband reads my kids stories.

This time of year is perfect for Halloween-inspired books, so if you’re looking for a great book club suggestion, check out the various lists of Halloween books perfect for adults to indulge in and scare the crap out of you.

I may have alluded to the fact that wine is a staple at every book club meet up. While it’s not necessary, it does make the night a bit more fun! Especially as we chat about the happenings around us as well as discuss the books we’ve (tried to) read. I love having both a red and a white on hand to satisfy everyone. I personally love this cabernet sauvignon!

And paired with the wine is the delicious food. I opted to make some “Bloody Fingers” in the form of steak and brie sandwiches with a drizzle of Sriracha sauce on a puff pastry. Literally that simple. 4 ingredients and they pair so well with the cabernet sauvignon. Also served was an artichoke spinach dip (recipe coming soon!) and for a little dessert, the chocolate peanut butter ball monsters I made. It was the perfect amount of food for our little group!

“Bloody Fingers” Steak and Brie Bites

1 sheet puff pastry
1 steak, cooked and sliced thinly
1 wheel of brie cheese
Sriracha sauce

Defrost puff pastry. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a cooking sheet with parchment paper. Grab one sheet of puff pastry and unroll/unfold. Using a knife, cut into half length-wise and thirds on the fold lines. Then cut each third into half. You should have 12 rectangles. put rectangles on baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes.

Once finished, carefully pull baked puff pastry apart into two pieces. Top each piece with steak, a slice of brie, and drizzle with Sriracha sauce. Enjoy with a glass of wine!

I also got a little festive with my chalk markers and the plastic wine glasses I picked up at the dollar store around the corner from our house. Non breakable and easy to decorate! The best part? The designs wiped right off with a baby wipe.

My girlfriends told me that next time they want to decorate their glasses so I plan on making it a thing now to put out the chalk markers and let the guests doodle on their glasses to mark which one is which.

The food spread was simple, wine yummy, and friends amazing. Definitely a night I needed!

What’s the last book you’ve read while enjoying a glass of wine?

Filed Under: Appetizers & Sides, Halloween, Holidays, In the Kitchen, Mom's Night Out, Party Ideas, Recipes, Uncategorized

Chocolate Peanut Butter Ball Monsters

October 8, 2015 by Danielle

This shop featuring a delicious recipe for chocolate peanut butter ball monsters has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SpreadTheMagic #CollectiveBias

Sometimes I just get the urge to bake and create. Nevermind that I’m completely busy and have a very clingy 8 month old (how did that happen??) at my feet or on my hip all day, I can still find time for simple treats. Especially when that involves gifting them to friends. I don’t know why but after having a baby I feel as if my social life goes down the drain.

Oh, wait! Yes, I do know why. It’s because I can’t go anywhere past 7pm because the littlest needs her mama cuddles. And I’m totally cool with that. These moments won’t last for long and I’m enjoying them every single night. But that doesn’t mean that I can shake things up and invite the girls over to my place for a girls night in! And a girls night in means treats.

These Chocolate Peanut Butter Ball Monsters are an awesome sweet treat to serve at a Halloween themed party. Not only are they super easy to make (you’re looking at the ingredients below), they taste amazing! Like Heaven in ball form. And? This Peter Pan’s NEW Simply Ground peanut butter gives it the perfect amount of crunch with every bite! Why? Because you have the smoothness of a creamy peanut butter with a hint of crunch. I also needed a container to send leftovers home with the girls so I upcycled the peanut butter container into a cute gift box. Easy peasy!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Ball Monsters

1 jar Peter Pan Simply Ground peanut butter
1/3 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups powdered sugar
green candy melts

Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Place the peanut butter, butter, and salt in a microwaveable bowl, and heat in the microwave for about one minute or until just soft (check and stir the ingredients every 20-30 seconds). Stir in the vanilla extract and confectioners sugar and mix until it has the consistency of a stiff dough (add more sugar if necessary).

Roll the dough into 1 inch round balls. Place on the cookie sheets and refrigerate until firm (several hours or even overnight). You can also place the peanut butter balls in the freezer and freeze until firm (this makes them a LOT easier to dip in the melted chocolate).

Melt the candy melts in the microwave in a microwave safe bowl for 30 seconds. Stir and melt again another 30 seconds. Repeat until melts are completely melted. Dip the balls, one at a time, in the melted chocolate, making sure the entire ball is coated with chocolate. Then, with two spoons or a dipping fork, remove the peanut butter ball from the melted chocolate, allowing any excess chocolate to drip back into the bowl. Place the chocolate covered balls back on the baking sheet. Add a monster eye or two to the balls.

When all the balls have been dipped in the chocolate, place in the fridge until the chocolate has set. Once set, add more decorations to the balls if you’d like. I choose to add hair to a few of mine using black icing. Once done, serve and enjoy. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to two weeks. They can also be frozen but probably won’t last that long.

You can taste a little crunch in each bite!

Upcycled Peanut Butter Container Treat Boxes

Once you’ve made your monsters, let them chill out in the fridge until your guests arrive. In the meantime you can make some treat boxes for the guests to bring some chocolate peanut butter ball monsters home.

1. Grab that empty container (or two) of Peter Pan Simply Ground peanut butter and wash it well with hot water and soap. Using a scraper (or a sponge) take the label off completely and throw it away. You should have a perfectly cleaned, clear jar to work with. LOVE the wide mouth of this container for easy cleaning (and scooping out the PB).

2. Now you just grab some sticker paper OR duct tape in whatever pattern compliments your themed treat. we had some fun sticker paper we picked up at the dollar store a few weeks ago as well as some Halloween themed stickers so we used those.

3. Measure out how wide the strip of sticker paper or duct tape needs to be to wrap around the jar. If you’re using an 8.5×11 sheet of sticker paper, it won’t completely wrap around the jar but that’s ok, it’s nice to get a little peek at what’s inside. Cut the strip after measuring and adhere to the jar.

4. Then grab some twine, stickers, labels, or other decoration and decorate the top of the jar. I simply used the lid as a stencil to cut out a round piece of sticker paper to adhere to the top. Then I cut down one of the stickers to fit and whala!

My little peanut butter monsters have the perfect home to travel with my friends. And I don’t have to stare at peanut butter balls all week every time I open up the fridge. I don’t know about you but my willpower this time of year is pretty low so I like to send home as many treats with my friends as possible. Makes it easier on all of us!

Except I still have a few jars of Peter Pan’s NEW Simply Ground peanut butter in my cupboard. Did you know that it contains no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. And? No need to stir! Plus it comes in a wide mouth jar that makes snacking so much easier. Just open and dip right in! I want to grab a spoon right now.

Check out this coupon for a little savings when you pick a few jars up yourself from Walmart. You can find them in the bread aisle with the other peanut butter.

Do you send leftovers home with your guests after a get together?

Filed Under: Desserts, Halloween, Holidays, In the Kitchen, Recipes, Uncategorized

Planning Ahead: Meal Delivery Service For Busy Weeks

October 2, 2015 by Danielle

After recovering from gallbladder surgery last week and this week, there’s one thing I was grateful for. Ok, two. My mother-in-law and husband’s help AND Charlie’s Classic Cooking meal delivery service.

I love to cook. I love to eat. I love to watch my family enjoy what I eat. But after going through surgery, or even just having a super busy week schedule, having pre-made meals in the fridge that I know are going to be delicious just takes a huge weight off my shoulders. And when it’s food as good as Charlie’s? Well… lets just say my family was very happy.

We first heard about Charlie’s Classic Cooking when my son and I took two awesome classes a few months back with Stone & Glass as part of their Fire and Fettucini classes. Perfect for just about any coupling you could think of – mother son, father daughter, significant others, girlfriends, “bros” … hahaha – Stone & Glass paired with Charlie’s Classic Cooking to bring together a glass making class and a cooking class. I did the glass making class and Ethan made some amazing fettucini for us to enjoy together after the class ended. I’ve been thinking about that fettucini ever since.

Meal Delivery Service From Charlie’s Classic Cooking

The meals were delivered to our door step and my husband was able to take them inside and put them in the fridge. Each one was labeled with what was inside and we were given our menu with reheating instructions. This made it easy to plan which meal to make on what day depending on what the kids and my husband had going on each night.

Here’s a peek at our menu:

Lime and cumin grilled chicken with tomato-corn relish and fresh green beans;
Fettuccine alfredo with carrots, broccoli, red peppers and mushrooms;
Swiss steak with egg noodles and baby carrots; and
Sheppard pie with mashed potatoes and spinach salad.

It was hard for me to choose a favorite as I already LOVE Chef Charlie’s fettucini, but the lime and cumin grilled chicken was so juicy and flavorful that it won me over! And I was able to turn leftovers into chicken enchiladas a day later. YUM! My husband, however absolutely loved the Sheppard pie and swiss steak.

At Home Prep | Enjoying Our Meals

Once the meals were delivered, all we had to do was store them in the fridge and pull whenever one we wanted to enjoy that night out and follow the directions. It was easy enough to simply leave the choices in my husband’s capable hands, give him the menu with reheating instructions, and let him prepare the meals for the family. He literally had to look at what temperature the oven had to be at and heat up the meals. And if pinched for time, we could use the simple microwave instructions.

What I loved, besides the ease in which these meals came together, was the fact that I could still customize them to my family’s liking. Take the Swiss Steak for example. My daughter does not eat most meats (besides bacon, salmon, and chicken nuggets) at dinner. So my husband simply set aside some carrots and noodles for her to heat up seperately. Even my choosy eaters were able to pick and choose what parts of the meals to enjoy.

These home delivery meals start at $175 for a family of four, receiving four dinners for four people weekly. The weekly meal service allows you to have chef prepared meals weekly. The meals are delivered right to your door (home or office) weekly and monthly menus are sent via email or on their website as a weekly reminder of what’s for dinner each week. You can check out the Charlie’s Classic Cooking website or email charles@charliesclassiccooking.com for more info!

What would you love to taste from Charlie’s Classic Cooking?

*** This giveaway is now closed ***

Congrats to Linda Appleby!

Chef Charlie doesn’t just want my family to enjoy a good meal, he’s also giving one away to one lucky reader on the Simmworks Family Blog!

One winner will receive a dinner-for-four delivered right to your door (a value of $75).

Open to US only, 18+. Must live in San Diego County. This giveaway ends October 16th, 2015 at 11:59EST.

Mandatory Entry
Please comment* below with what you would love to taste from Charlie’s Classic Cooking. Take a look at this sample menu of what others are being delivered in their weekly meal service drop offs.

Thank you and good luck!

*Important: By completing any entry in our giveaways, you agree to ALL of our giveaway terms and conditions. Comments such as “Thank you for the giveaway” “I want to win” etc will not be counted as the mandatory entry and will be deleted along with all corresponding bonus entries. Please be aware that comments are moderated and may not appear right away. Make sure you use a valid email address so we may notify you if you’ve won! Giveaway winners will receive their meal directly through the sponsor. Winner must provide mailing address within 48 hours to receive their meal.

Filed Under: Dinner, In the Kitchen, Reviews, San Diego, Uncategorized Tagged With: Charlie's Classic Cooking, home delivery meals, meal delivery service, Meal Planning

Easy Weekend Lunch Ideas

September 25, 2015 by Danielle

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Campbell’s Soup Company . All opinions are 100% mine.

Weekend meals can be tricky. While the kid aren’t heading to school, there are a ton of different activities planned over the weekends. Some planned and some spur of the moment. I like to have a great list of lunch ideas handy so that lunch time on the weekends is easy and simple. Luckily, Campbell’s makes that easier for me with their delicious soups.

Now that the kids are older, I’ve simply expanded on our quick toddler lunches to include additional items like Campbell’s Organic soups and fuits or veggies to create the perfect lunch time meal. And most times all I have to do is set out the ingredients and let the kids make their own plates up. Then I serve them the soup when they have everything else on their plate. This is even more helpful when we have last minute guests, like when the kids cousins come over to play.

Campbell’s® Organic Soups are crafted from certified organic ingredients and no preservatives. These soups are perfect for a heart-warming, healthy lunch or dinner. Plus there are nine delicious varieties. My daughter’s favorite? The Frozen noodles. She goes crazy over the fun Frozen-themed shapes and will actually eat her soup (instead of just the noodles) when I serve it up. The boy cousins eat it begrudgingly because they enjoy the soup. Their request? A minecraft version!

Easy Weekend Lunch Ideas

Quesadillas + Soup

Quesadillas are awesome. You can put just about anything in them and by taking the flavors of the kids favorite Cambell’s soups, we can make complimentary quesadillas. My daughter opts for the classic cheese quesadilla but will add a little grilled chicken when enjoying chicken noodle soup. Plus it’s the perfect cold weather meal with the warm soup and quesadilla.

Sandwiches + Soup

What’s great about sandwiches are they’re so versatile. You can serve them hot in cold weather and cold in warm weather. We always keep some lunch meat on hand along with a few cheeses for the kids to fix up their own perfect sandwich creation. Then we’ll make paninis if the kids request it.

Wraps and Roll Ups

Grab tortillas, pitas, or other flat wraps and grab the same ingredients you’d put in a sandwich or quesadilla! By just changing how the kids eat their food, they can get quite experimental with what they put inside. Add a hummus spread or some avocado to give a little added flavor to your child’s wrap.

Soup + Salad

Don’t knock a good salad bar when you’re serving kids. You’d be surprised at how many kids will choose to eat salad when given the option to make their own. Just put together a good list of toppings and a few different dressings and be amazed at the kids who will start munching on their greens.

Don’t forget to check out these Delicious Campbell recipes for more great ideas on what to enjoy at lunch time with @Campbells.

What easy weekend lunch ideas does your family serve up?

Filed Under: In the Kitchen, Lunch, Uncategorized Tagged With: Campbell's, Campbell's Organic Kids Soup, Campbell's soup, Healthy Lunch, Lunch, Lunch Ideas

Tips For Serving The Rainbow: Healthy Breakfast Options For Picky Eaters

September 17, 2015 by Danielle

Today we’re talking about delicious and healthy ways to help our kids taste the rainbow. I include a few healthy breakfast options for picky eaters that are easy to change up depending on your child’s tastes and pair perfectly with our sponsor, 100% Florida Orange Juice.

Since my kids started school and we found ourselves rushing around during the mornings just trying to get everything ready to start the day, I’ve found that it gets harder and harder to make sure the kids leave the house with a healthy breakfast. So I’ve been trying out different ideas and asking others what they do to keep healthy foods in front of their kids.

I’ve found that having a balance of make ahead recipes and some quick grab-and-go options have helped us full when we head out the door to start our day. Plus the kids aren’t as hungry when snack time rolls around at school. By planning ahead a little and prepping a few things, I’ve been able to offer the full rainbow to the kids and can battle the “I don’t like that” phrase I hear often from the two of them.

Research reports that many children fall short of meeting their daily fruit intake recommendations. One quick way to start the day off is to drink 8 ounces of 100% Florida Orange Juice (it counts as 1 cup of fruit!). Based on the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPlate, citrus fruits and 100% fruit juices (including 100% Florida Orange Juice) are considered a fruit serving. Serve it alongside these delicious breakfast options for a great start to your child’s morning!

In the morning I love being able to have a variety of foods for the kids. But sometimes there’s just not enough time. So I’ve started to prep breakfasts on the weekends and in the evenings before I go to bed. What I try and do is include at least one food the kids love. For example, my daughter loves strawberries and blueberries, so when I make muffins I tend to include those in the mix. My son is more of an egg fan so I choose some veggies to add to egg cups or a quiche and he’s a happy camper.

By giving them one thing they love at breakfast, they usually tend to try other things I offer. It’s the same trick I use at dinner when we enjoy family meals at the dinner table. I always have at least one side, or entree, that they love so they can eat one thing for dinner. If they don’t try anything else, that’s ok. As long as it’s offered.

Planning Ahead: Recipes To Make On The Weekend For Weekday Breakfasts

Egg Cups –

Egg cups are an awesome way to get some protein and veggies into the kids. Plus when you make them ahead on the weekend, all you have to do is heat them up in the toaster oven or microwave in the morning.

Egg Bake/Quiche –

Quiche is just a larger version of the egg cup. But sometimes it’s easier if you have a larger family to just make a quiche (with crust or without) ahead of time to heat up individual portions throughout the week. Plus you can throw just about any veggies or cheeses inside.

Muffins –

Muffins are an awesome way to sneak in fruit. These blueberry muffins are one of my kids favorites but I’ve also been known to add strawberries, mangos, apples, and more fruit to muffins. I’ve even thrown in a few veggies.

Quick Bread –

Just like with eggs, instead of muffins, you can also make a quick bread too and incorporate fruit or veggies into the batter. This zucchini bread is super tasty and tastes great on its own or toasted up with a little butter.

Planning Ahead: Preparing Breakfast The Night Before

Smoothies –

My son’s favorite breakfast is a smoothie. We use a base of 100% Florida Orange Juice and then I let him choose the fruits he wants to add in. Finish off with either some ice, or some ice and yogurt, and you have a delicious drink that you can take on the go. Plus? Sometimes you can sneak in some spinach.

Parfaits –

Parfaits are another favorite in our home. We grab some berries or bananans, layer them with yogurt and granola, and can put them in various reusable containers to eat quickly as we make our way to schoool.

Overnight Oats –

Now I love cereal for breakfast but this year I’ve been a little obsessed with overnight oats. They’re so quick to make the night before AND are already in a jar ready to go for hte monring. Plus they’re very versatile.

In addition to these great make-ahead ideas for breakfast and learning more about healthy breakfast options, I was also able to sit down with Dr. Jen Arnold and ask her a few questions about life, kids, and how to stay healthy and active while balancing life and kids.

You can probably tell I was completely nervous in the beginning because… hello! I’m talking to Dr. Arnold of The Little Couple! I may or may not have had a small fan-girl moment and freaked out a little. She was fabulous to talk and I appreciated that i could get a pediatrician’s opinion as well as her own personal experirence as a mom. You can watch our interview below:

For more information on how you can start your day off right with 100% Florida Orange Juice, visit here!

Do you find it difficult to get in a good breakfast?

Filed Under: Breakfast, In the Kitchen, Parenting, Recipes, Uncategorized Tagged With: 100% Florida Orange Juice, Breakfast, breakfast ideas, Dr. Jennifer Arnold, The Little Couple

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