I sure hope you don’t have kids like mine – who hate sandwiches, but also won’t take anything else to school that can’t be eaten in about 5 minutes flat. And no, they won’t eat healthy, easy things like cold chicken either. So how do I send them off with a healthy school lunch?
So, I make them stuff that looks, tastes and feels like a treat, but is actually packed with protein, fruit and veggies. Oh yes, and very important: Don’t let them see you making these, or the gig’s up!
TIP: My kids LOVE the muffins and they say the cookies are “okay”. These recipes are all GLUTEN-FREE.
Raisin Almond Cookies
- 2 1/4 cup almond flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 cup raisins (or choc chips if you prefer)
- 1/4 cup (heaped) butter
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 eggs, beaten
Mix ingredients together, bake at 350 degrees until lightly browned, about 10-15 minutes.
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Banana Almond Muffins
- 3 cups almond flour
- 1/4 cup yoghurt
- 1/3 – 1/2 cup honey (add 1/3 cup if you’re adding sweet raisins or choc chips, but if plain, use 1/2 cup)
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 4 eggs, beaten
- 2 extra-ripe, mashed bananas
- Optional: can add 1 cup of raisins or chocolate chips
1. Mix dry ingredients together.
2. Then add rest of ingredients and mix well.
3. Bake in muffin tins, greased or lined with papers, at 375 F for about 20 minutes
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Zucchini Almond Muffins
- 3 cups grated zucchini (peeled so they don’t see the green and press out the excess water)
- 3 eggs, beaten
- 3 cups almond flour
- 1/3 cup melted butter
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- Optional: If your child is super picky, add 1/4 cup cocoa to really disguise the zucchini and you can also add 1/2 cup of white chocolate or regular chocolate chips, or raisins
1. Mix almond flour, melted butter, honey and zucchini.
2. Add beaten eggs, cinnamon, salt and baking soda. Mix well.
3. Bake in muffin tins, greased or lined with papers, at 350 F for about 20 minutes
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Oh and one last quick ‘n easy winner:
Thermos Hot Dogs
Cook your organic turkey hot dogs (no carcinogenic nitrates!) at home, then tie a string (dental floss also works) around the top and lower the hot dog into a very hot thermos of water. Have the string dangle outside, down the side of the thermos and screw on the lid.
At lunchtime, your child can unscrew the lid of the thermos and lift the hot dog(s) out by the string. Presto – a hot meal ready to go. Serve either plain or with a bun and ketchup. Some kids also like to just dip the hot dog into ketchup (no bun).
Hope that helps you out, and if you’ve discovered any other great healthy school lunch recipes for picky kids, please post them in the COMMENTS section below.
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Jini
[…] can provide you with that “safety net” in the food department is to make some really nutritious muffins and cookies (try to get almond flour in there for protein – see the Recipe Section on this […]