Afternoon snack

I use this with my toddler and preschooler alot!

Air pop or purchase LIGHT butter microwave popcorn

Grape Slices

Cup of water

Basic Stir Fry

Ingredients:

Chicken (or other meat), cut into bite size pieces

Bag of frozen, mixed vegetables

Oil

Seasonings

Rice

Brown Chicken in oil (I usually use Sesame), then add vegetables and seasonings, such as Soy Sauce (or other seasonings as desired).  Cook until vegetables are tender.  Serve over hot, cooked rice.  Round out meal with sliced fruit and milk.

A very simple and inexpensive breakfast

Toast a piece of bread (preferabely, whole wheat).  Spread peanut butter on top, drizzle a little honey and mix in with peanut butter.  Slice up a banana.  Seve with juice.  This is one of my favorite breakfasts!  Quick, simple and nutritious!  :-)

Healty Oatmeal Start

For about $2.00 or less, you can get a big container of generic quick or old-fashioned oats from your grocery store.  Fix a serving (or more) according to the directions on the box.  Then sprinkle with a 1 teaspoon brown sugar and half of a banana cut into small bits.  Round out with a cup of juice or milk.

B.R.A.T.

For when the bug hits your house, remember the B.R.A.T. diet to get things going again.  B.R.A.T. stands for Broth Rice Applesauce Toast.  And don't forget to be sipping (not gulping) down the water!  One of my biggest problems with bug related nausea (and pregnancy too) is taking down the water so fast that it just comes right back up, leaving me more dehydrated (and more nauseated) than I started with!  Bananas, Plain potatoes are also great foods on the next step after keeping down the B.R.A.T.

Tuna Melts

Canned Tuna

Enough mayo to lightly coat

Horseradish to taste

Sliced block cheese

Whole Wheat Bread slices

Mix tuna, mayo and horseradish.  Spread over bread slices.  Top with cheese slices.  Bake at 375 Degrees for approximately 20 minutes (times and degrees may vary depending on oven, altitude and taste!).  Round out meal with carrot sticks, celery sticks and a cup of juice.

Peanut Butter/Honey

Heres's an old, yet nutrition stand-by for lunches!

Peanut Butter Honey Sandwiches:
Whole Wheat Bread (check to make sure first ingredient is whole wheat flour)
Peanut Butter (I use natural peanut butter)
Honey

Spread Peanut butter on bread slices. Drizzle, then mix in honey on top. Cut sandwiches as desired. Serve with apple slices and oranges. Round out meal with a cup of milk.

Black Bean Salad

Black Bean Salad:

Ingredients:
Cooked Black Beans
Shredded lettuce
Diced tomatoes
Shredded Co-Jack Cheese
Organic Corn chips (I get these at Walmart--Corn, sunflower oil and sea salt)

Spread chips on plate, top (in any preferred order) with the warmed beans, lettuce, tomatoes and cheese. This is surprisingly yummy! I had my doubts when I first tried it, but my entire family (including my picky toddler) devoured it! Serve with fruit slices and you got a complete meal!

Vitamin C Reference

It seems during this time a year (Cold/Flu Season) we are all a little more conscience of trying to squeeze vitamin C into our bodies in hopes of preventing or lessening the effects of any sickness.  Here's a quick list of produce items containing vitamin C.  These are by no means the only foods containing vitamin C--but just a quick and hopefully attainable one for you.   Vitamin C is a 'water soluable' vitamin, meaning it needs to be replenished in our body each day!  The body does NOT store it!  Try to get one of these in a day!

Orange

Orange Juice

Other citrus fruit/juice

Kiwi fruit

Papaya

Tomatoes

Cantaloupe

Strawberries

Brussels Sprouts

Broccoli

Sweet Green Peppers

Bell Peppers

Basic Bean Burrito

If you have left over beans from Monday's post here's a yummy favorite in our house!

Ingredients:

Cooked beans (our favorite is Black Beans)

Warm tortillas

Shredded Cheese

Spread 1/4 of beans on a warm tortilla.  Mash beans with a fork and sprinkle with cheese.  Roll up and heat as needed.  Serve with sliced grapes and orange slices.  Round our meal with a cup of milk.

Twice a week for produce!

Tired of getting tons of produce, excited about the wonderful nutrition you'll have for the coming week, only to discover wilting and decomposing fruit and veggies four days later?  You think, what a waste of money!!  Yes!!  Consider buying only the produce you NEED for about three or so days and then doing a second (small) grocery trip during the week for another round of produce.

Healthy Yogurt Snack

Ingredients:

Plain Yogurt

Organic Granola

Blueberries

Mix desired amount of each together!  Yum!

Tips:  I buy generic, plain yogurt for less than $2.00 a tub.  I also buy the generic granola for less than $3.00 a box and will sometimes subsitute raspberries, or bananas for this snack.  Berries are usually better priced in the spring and summer months!

Iron Absorbsency

Looking for ways to boost iron? A great way to encourage iron absorbency is to combine it with a vitamin C. For example, spaghetti is a great because the combination of iron in the ground beef and the vitamin C rich tomatoes enhances iron absorption in your body!

Egg Scramble Meal

Ingredients:
Eggs (beaten)
Shredded cheese (Cheddar, Co-Jack, Monterey Jack, etc.)
Splash of Olive oil
pinch of Salt
dash of Pepper

Splash oil in a skillet (non-stick is preferable). Add beaten eggs, salt and pepper and scramble over medium heat. Add cheese just before eggs are done. Spoon onto plates. Compliment with slice of whole wheat toast, apple slices and grapes. Serve with juice (one part juice, one part water).