Simple & Healthy Kids Lunch

Who said Doritos aren't healthy?
Okay, okay . . . but in this small portion, you betcha.  I think it's important to remember "all things in moderation."  My kids love tuna on wheat sandwiches.  And my daughter loves strawberries, while my son enjoys carrots.  Here's the rule of thirds that Megan pointed out: sandwich, fruit, and chips.  And 100% juice to drink.  They devoured it - I mean look at the picture...my daughter couldn't wait to eat her sandwich before I took the picture.  And actually I let her take the picture - she's an Eat Your Veggies Peas blog cook in-the-making. :)

Helpful Tip...
Also in doing this challenge I've found an easy way to ensure my lunches have at least one, if not more, healthy items.  After I've come home from doing my grocery shopping and getting all my fruits and veggies, I immediately rinse, cut, slice, or peel them.  Then I stick them in Tupperware stacks in my fridge.  This way when lunch (or dinner) rolls around, I can reach in my peeled and cut carrots Tupperware and throw them on our plates in less than five seconds.  Not to mention, dice them up real quick and throw them in my Tortellini Soup for dinner.

Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos and Sweet and Savory Coconut Rice

**these both from the new Best Bites Cook Book with my alteration in italics**


*Note: The taquito recipe as listed is sort of a healthier option because these are baked instead of deep fried taquitos. Other options for making it healthier, you can use Greek yogurt, or plain yogurt instead of cream cheese.

Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos

Ingredients
1/2 c (1/2 stick) cream cheese, at room temperature
1/4 green salsa
1 T lime juice (I also grated the rind)
1/2 t cumin
1 t chili powder
1/2 t onion powder
1/4 t granulated garlic (not so sure what this is, so I used 2 chopped up garlic cloves)
3 T chopped cilantro (used a lot more, you can add to taste)
2 T chopped green onion
2 c shredded chicken (cooked first of course)
1 c shredded pepper jack cheese (I am pretty sure I always use way more cheese than recommended)
Corn tortillas
2 T canola oil
Non-stick cooking spray
Salt
I also suggest tooth picks

Instructions
Mix cream cheese (microwave for about 20 seconds if it isn't at room temperature) with green salsa, lime juice and peel, cumin, chili powder, onion powder and garlic. Then add chicken, cilantro, green onion and cheese.

VERY important - wrap 3-4 tortillas at a time in a damp paper, or cloth, towel and microwave for about 15-20 seconds. This way they won't crack as you roll them (see the taquito on the far right of the photo above - that one wasn't microwave, thought they were fresh enough).

Scoop a couple tablespoons of the chicken mix onto the tortilla - but on the edge, not in the middle. Roll the taquito and place a toothpick in the taquito to keep rolled up. Repeat and roll taquitos until you have used all the chicken mix.

Also VERY important - spray the cookie sheet very well (I thought of using one of my silpats, but forgot to try). These little guys stick big time, even with a fair amount of spray.

You can then spray the tops of the taquitos or brush them with the canola oil (this helps them crisp in the oven. ) You can also sprinkle with salt.

Bake in the oven at 425 for 15-20 minutes (I did 15). Allow to cool for about 5 minutes before eating.

*I mixed 1/2 cup of green salsa with sour cream (again you can use yogurt) for a dipping sauce.

Sweet and Savory Coconut Rice

Ingredients
2 c rice (white or jasmine)
1 - 14oz can coconut milk
2 c water
1 t salt
Splash (1-2 t) white vinegar
2-3 t sugar
1/4 c chopped green onions
Black pepper, to taste

Instructions
(I cooked in the rice cooker)
Combine rice, coconut milk, water, salt, vinegar and sugar in sauce pan. Bring to boil and then lower heat to low and cook for 20 minutes. Allow to stand before serving. Top with green onion and pepper.

Enjoy!

{market streets} clam chowder

THIS IS AMAZING!! i'm not even kidding i could eat the WHOLE pot!!

6 Tbsp melted butter

1/2 cup flour

2 C. diced potatoes

1/2 C diced celery

1/2 C. diced onions

1/2 C. diced green pepper

2 cans (61/2 oz) snow's chopped clams with juice

1 1/4 tsp. black pepper

2 1/2 tsp. slat

1 1/4 tsp italian seasoning

3 bay leaves

1/2 tsp tabasco sauce

6 Tbsp white cooking wine

1 C. water

2 C. half and half

2 C. heavy whipping cream 

Combine melted butter and flour in oven proof container and bake @ 325 for 30 min (turns light golden brown and is kinda crumbly). Simultaneously, in large saucepan combine remaining ingredients except half and half and whipping cream. bring to a boil and simmer until potatoes are thoroughly cooked. Remove bay leaves and stir in butter-flour mixture. stir until thick. Mixture will be slightly less thick then cookie dough. Remove from heat, stir in half and half/whipping cream until blended. heat to serving temperature, stirring occasionally. 

*this chowder is pretty thin. 

Delicious in sour dough bread bowl!

Strawberry Walnut Salad

I didn't mean for my Live Longer Lunch challenge to first be a typical salad.  But here we are.  It was tasty - so thought I'd share. More to come... :)

ingredients

spring mix salad

cut up fresh strawberries

feta cheese

walnuts

shredded chicken

strawberry vinaigrette dressing

toss together and enjoy!



grown up grilled cheese/ ariel's favorite panini.

lately at my house we've been obsessed with using the george foreman grill. i always forget about my small appliances, and i'm glad i dug this one up from the depths of my cupboards! one of my favorite things to make on the geo.fo. is paninis. i've done a whole lot of experimenting and this is by far my favorite combination:

sourdough bread
pesto
mozzarella cheese
brianna's blush wine vinaigrette

i like to use bread from an unsliced loaf so i can cut it as thinly as i like. lightly butter the bread on the outsides, pesto & shredded mozzarella on one side, 1-2 tsp vinaigrette spooned over the other side, a couple of minutes on the geo.fo. and voila! best panini ever! you seriously need to try it.

{i'm not putting this in the "live longer lunch" category unless you feel like the sides make it a super healthy meal...}