July 22
Keep Dinner Simple
All bets are off when it comes to feeding kids during the summer
months: who knows what foods will be appealing on super-hot days and
who will even be at the dinner-table at a time of year when schedules
tend to get tossed out the window on a regular basis? Here are some
suggestions that are high in kid-appeal and ways of taking the stress
out of mealtimes during what should be a fun and low-stress time of
year.
1. Keep it fresh.
Take advantage of the wide availability of farm-fresh produce while
it's in season. Foods like blueberries aren't just delicious: they're
also rich in nutrients and high in kid-appeal.
2. Get your kids in on the meal-planning act.
They’ll be less likely to gripe about what shows up on the dinner-table
or go into great theatrics about how there’s “nothing to eat” in the
house if they had a role to play in planning meals, drawing up the
grocery list, or—better yet—helping you choose some fresher-than-fresh
produce at the local farmer's market.
3. Stock up.
It can be hard to predict ahead of time how many extra kids will show
up at your dinner-table during the summer months. And be sure to stock
up on foods that can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere: cheese cubes, hard-boiled
eggs, bagels, homemade muffins, and the like.
4. Get ahead of the game.
Do some food preparation ahead of time or look for items in the grocery
store that can save you time on the food preparation front (e.g., salad
in a bag, mini-carrots, etc.). Prepare foods as soon as possible after
arriving home from the grocery store or the farmer's market. That way,
your kids will have plenty of healthy foods to snack on when the
munchies strike.
5. Plan meals that require minimal preparation and very little clean up.
Think grilled meat or fish or vegetarian protein; a baked potato; some
fresh vegetables (grilled, raw, or made into a salad); and some fresh
fruit. Hint: If you throw a few extra pieces of meat on the grill,
you’ll end up with some tempting leftovers for meals and snacks the
next day.
6. Go for quick and easy menus.
Look for websites and cookbooks that feature recipes that can be whipped up quickly
and easily. (Ask other
parents and your local bookseller to recommend their favorites.)
7. Beat the heat.
Aim for no-cook meals at this time of year or meals that avoid very
little oven time preparation (to avoid heating up the kitchen).
8. Batch cook.
Make at least one extra meal on the weekends, either by cooking that
meal all by itself and popping in the freezer, or by making “doubles”
of one of your family’s weekend meals (e.g., a double batch of
spaghetti sauce or lasagna) so that you can have leftovers during the
week.
9. Have leftover night or make-your-own-dinner night at least once a week.
It’s a great way to clean out the refrigerator, give yourself a break
from cooking, and allow your kids to make themselves something they’ll
really enjoy. It’s a win-win situation all around.
10. Schedule family picnics on a regular basis.
Even if your kids try to convince you that they’re too old for picnics,
encourage them to join in the fun anyway. Summer tends to whiz by in a
flash: who wants to spend it being holed up in a kitchen?
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