This will be a very quick look at a week or two of lunch for kids at Grit Creek. Everything is simple. First – it makes it easy for Mama. Second – our kids prefer the same, simple, consistent lunches. It has become part of the nap time routine. We also happen to use these awesome fire truck plates from Our Little Cubs, a small business on Amazon.
SNACK PLATE: GOALS
Ideally this is how our plates would look every day. Protein, carb, fruit and veggie. It often has all these elements and the kids do a good job at eating nearly everything. This celery was not a hit – but I am planning to try ants on a log. This is also a good representation of the amount the kids eat at one sitting. We are very light on snacks so they eat very well and relatively large amounts at the table.
SNACK PLATE: REGULAR SPREAD
This is what I would call my go to – regular lunch. Meat, Cheese, Fruit and Carb. This helps me know they are getting energy to move in the day and also won’t be asking for snacks in two hours, maybe they will wait four instead.
PIZZA
Left Over pizza, warm or cold, makes a great lunch for kids and adults that feel like a kid at that moment. It has all the things in one and the kids really like to eat it. So if you have extra pizza – sent it with us! I try often to add a fruit and veggie to the side. It’s not always the case.
SNACK PLATE ANOTHER WAY
One this plate we have food for the little one. Same idea. protein, carbs, fruit and veggie. I have been trying to see how it goes with bigger pieces and I am glad to say there is more chewing and less gagging happening!
SNACK PLATE BUSY DAY
This is what our snack plates looks like on a busy, cranky, just get food on the table immediately type of day. cut off the side of the apple, slap down some protein and check the cabinet for pretzels later. Lunch for kids around here is about making it to nap time and then through a couple hours of play before supper.
MAC AND PEAS
Yes, you have read this correctly Mac and Peas. This is often how we had it at my house growing up and the kids love the noodles with cheese. The peas are just along for the ride. This picture is of leftover day, sides added. The first day we had this I served only the mac and peas. It went over great and everyone was fed, happy and satisfied.
SANDWICHES
We do turn our snack plates into sandwiches fairly often. This looks more like what Mama eats every lunch. The kids love to have smacked bread and chips so this day was a totally hit with them. This is a simple mayo, cheese and meat sandwiches.
MEAL THEORIES
We rarely make expectations for individuals at meals. It is unreasonable and unrealistic to assume that other will regularly cook exactly what you’d like to eat. It is self-centered to assume that the whole family should eat just like mom, dad or brother prefers to eat. That being said we do make easy or reasonable modifications – this makes the kids and adults feel seen, heard and valued. My oldest doesn’t like the sandwich parts together so I put a bread, meat and cheese slice stacked on the plate. The next didn’t like green beans for a while so we added only one green bean to that plate. Cole doesn’t like olives so we don’t often have them in meals. We don’t cook around one person’s preference, we cook what is available in the home.
OTHER RECIPE IDEAS
f you need any breakfast ideas that are great for busy mornings because you can make them ahead – go check out these recipes. Hash Brown Casserole and Baked Oatmeal.
