New Ideas for Breakfast and Lunch

Here are some websites other moms have given me, the first I found on my own and love and use the most.

www.allrecipes.com

www.epicurious.com

www.cooks.com

www.foodtv.com

www.menus4moms.com

Chef James Ehler at http://www.foodreference.com/html/recipes.html
http://www.cookingclub.com/Recipes_Reference/Library/Main...
http://www.cookingclub.net/default.asp?p=6
http://www.foodnetwork.com
http://www.arcamax.com
http://www.pillsbury.com/Default.aspx
http://www.jamesbeard.org/recipes/
http://www.cooksrecipes.com/index.html
http://www.todaysmodernwoman.com/recipes.htm
http://www.tailgatershandbook.com/recipes.htm
http://www.cdkitchen.com/
http://chinesefood.about.com/library/bllamb.htm
http://recipes.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Main_Page
http://www.recipezaar.com/

Also some recipes posted by other moms:

FRUIT AND YOGURT SHAKE

Ingredients:
2 cups frozen sweet cherries or other frozen fruit
2 cups plain yogurt
1 cups pomegranate juice or orange juice
16 ounces crushed pineapple in juice, drained
2 bananas
Puree all ingredients in blender until smooth.

BASIC CREPES

Ingredients:
1 cup flour
2 tsp sugar
¼ tsp salt
1 cup milk
½ cup water
2 tsp melted butter
2 large eggs

Mix ingredients until smooth with wisk. Pour ¼ cup batter into skillet over medium heat. Quickly tilt pan in all directions so batter covers pan with a thin film. Yield = appoximately 13 crepes

you can put anything in the crepes from fruit to scrambled eggs or lunch meat.

Also quesadillas are easy to make, and pita bread stuffed with sandwhich makings is easy and different.

Hi T.,

When your son is home for these meals, try making fruit smoothies. Just buy some frozen fruit, some light yogurt (for the protein), some fruit juices and blend. Add ice if needed, but frozen fruit is usually icy enough. Add some banana slices for extra creaminess. If there's extra, pour into ice-pop molds and freeze for later snacking. Omlettes and breakfast biscuit sandwiches are also a favorite in our house.

Also, for lunch, my kids enjoy ritz craker sandwiches - pb&j, ham & cheese, chicken salad, etc. Also, with cooler weather coming, try a variety of soups with grilled cheese. You can add ham or turkey or bacon to the grilled cheese to jazz them up - or use different kinds of cheese. Also, try tossed salad with sliced lunch meat or chicken fingers and some fruit on the side ("chef" salad). Another favorite is the mini boboli pizzas kids can add topping to themselves.

Hope this helps. I have 2 teens who are always looking for fun food. We had the "chef" salad last night and plates were clean!

S.

I know buying all the frozen food gets expensive so usually on the weekends my daughter and I would spend the morning in the kitchen making up pancakes, waffles, homemade biscuits, bacon, sausage and such then package them up and freeze them. when she wanted on all we had to do was pull it out and pop it in the toaster oven or microwave. Also I buy regular oatmeal, and fruit flavored baby food. when she wants flavored oatmeal she can add in the baby food bananas, apples, peaches whatever flavor she feels like. she also adds in brown sugar with the oatmeal while cooking it and then adds in maple syrup when done to make the flavor like you buy. I also bought the big cookie cutters and would cut her sandwiches in different shapes. Now that she is older we buy sub rolls and several different kinds of meat with lettuce pickles banana peppers and such I would make her a sub sandwich and wrap it in wax paper with a toothpick to hold it shut. everyday she takes it the next day I have to make 2 one for her and one for her friends.

Hi,

Let him tell you what he would like and see if it makes sense to you.

I have a 10 year old and she loves to make her own breakfast in the mornings and lunch on the weekends. Since we are running in the mornings, I buy, frozen waffles and pancakes, breakfast sausage, breakfast biscuits (ham and cheese / sausage and cheese), breakfast sausage corndogs, PB&J, and cereal. All things she can fix herself. For the weekends, I have frozen pizza, hot dogs, fruits and veg. w/ dressing and the must have CHICKEN NUGGETS!!!! and chicken drumettes. Plus, whatever she may sugguest (if it's healthy and sounds ok).

However, I do cook and we have a hot meal for dinner at least three nights a week and on Sundays.

Make sure he drinks plenty of water and not too many sodas.

Best of luck,

Jackie

T.,

I know that my son loves to eat what he makes. We have a Cookbook for Kids that is by Better Homes & Gardens (I think) that you may want to look into.

I found some new mini pan cakes that are oh so yummy! My 11 month old LOVES them, I do too! ;) I would venture to guess you have tried things like cereal, grits, frozen waffles, french toast sticks, yougart with granola cereal, cereal bars, pop tarts...

Lunch, I suggest spicing up his sandwiches. Try making them on a bun rather than regular bread. Put a "surprise" in his lunch.

My son doesn't want breakfast. I guess b/c they serve lunch around 10:15 in the morning. My son used to not like Pb&J and now he wants one all the time. My son is 5 and he likes lunchables... but he does enjoy buying his lunch at school, I guess for the variety they have at school. Sorry not much help.

S. :)

Hi T.,

I think if he is 11 years old you should take him grocery shopping with you - as a single mom I know you don't have a lot of time for stuff - but, take him with you and get an idea of what sounds good to him. Lunch too! Then, compromise. Let him have two to three (depending on how healthy his choices are) meals of his choice and then what you want to cook depending on efficiency. If he likes macaroni and cheese - once or twice a week is not bad! Even going to the frozen section for breakfast ideas is not bad. I have 16 1/2 month old twins and they got bored with breakfast. I added whole grain leggo eggos to their morning menu and they LOVE them! Now, the typically eat the other meals I give them because they are not bored.

So, let him in on the decision and you will figure out what he likes by seeing him choose them at the store! You can make McDonald's breakfast stuff for real cheap at home and quickly too!

Hope it helps. Would love to see how it works out!

S. - mom of boy and girl twins!

Hi T. -
Just a thought: is he on any medication? Antibiotics, ADHD meds, vitamins, over the counter allergy stuff, etc.? Sometimes medications change appetite. If so, talk to your dr.
Good luck!
nj

I'm wondering if he is overweight or sees himself as "fat". This is the age when boys really start worrying about their bodies and what others think of him. Is he eating well at dinner? Is he snacking in the afternoon? Is he involved in any activities where weight is a concern, such as wrestling, gymnastics, etc. Have him checked out by a doctor. Healthy 11-year-olds do not stop eating because they are bored with the cuisine. Thats why they sell so many "Happy Meals".

I was also going to suggest letting him prepare the meals (or at least help). My nieces and nephews LOVE coming to our house because we teach them how to make something new everytime. Because they made it, they're willing to try all sorts of new things, and they seem to eat more of it, too. They also request these simple meals at home, which my sister loves.