lunch - Cat home remedies

1Jun

Frozen English Muffin Mini Pizzas

by admin lunch

Like English muffin pizza? Need a quick and easy snack, lunch or even dinner? These Frozen English Muffin Mini Pizzas are perfect. Make them ahead of time and pop in the microwave for one minute when you want one!

*Originally published 7/20. Updated 6/23*

Hi friends!

I’m sharing these Frozen English Muffin Mini Pizzas today because they’ve been a favorite snack around here for a while now and I realized I hadn’t officially shared them with all of you!

What size is a mini pizza?

To me, a mini pizza is anything smaller than the standard 6″ personal pizza but there’s no strict definition. When we make mini pizzas we typically use English muffins, sandwich thins or mini bagels!

They are so easy to make and super easy to customize as well based on taste preferences. I make a bunch all at once and freeze them and then when you need one you just pop it on a plate and microwave for one minute. Ta da!

These are perfect for food prep! Want to learn more food prep tips and tricks? Check out my course Mastering Food Prep!

Frozen English Muffin Pizza

Easy English Muffin Pizza Ingredients

English muffins

I love the ones from Dave’s Killer Bread or Thomas. If you want something a little bigger, Brownberry sandwich thins work well for mini pizzas!

Pizza sauce

Use your favorite brand! Or try switching it up and using an alfredo type white sauce, bbq sauce or pesto for a fun way to change it up!

Shredded mozzarella

Finely shredded mozzarella works best for us because it melts quickly in the microwave.

Pepperonis

Mini pepperonis work especially well on these mini pizzas. You can also use regular size and cut them into quarters.

Other English muffin pizza toppings ideas

If your kids are more adventurous eaters, try adding things like leftover shredded chicken, sliced chicken sausage, and finely chopped vegetables (peppers, onions, tomatoes, etc)

I also like to add a layer of hummus under the pizza sauce. My kids don’t eat chickpeas any other way so it’s an easy way to add some extra nutrients without altering the pizza taste.

How To Make Mini Pizzas

These mini pizzas are a great snack option. My five-year-old can easily grab one from the freezer to microwave for himself. They’re also great to have on hand for a quick lunch.

To make them, simply place the English muffins on a tray and top with a layer of sauce. Then add shredded mozzarella cheese and any toppings you want.

At this point, I transfer the pan to the freezer to freeze them and then carefully place them in a freezer-safe storage bag.

English muffin pizza: How long to cook? What temperature for English muffin pizza?

The cook time and temp will vary based on the cooking method used.

Can you cook frozen mini pizzas in the microwave?

Yes! This is our favorite way to do it since it’s so quick and easy. When I’m ready to make one, I just pull it out and microwave for 1 minute.

How long to cook frozen mini pizzas in the oven?

If you’d like to use the oven instead, place in a 400 degree F oven and bake for about 15 minutes.

Can you make English muffin pizzas in an air fryer/ Can I air fry mini pizzas?

I would start with 6-8 minutes at 400 degrees F and then check on them. You can always stick them back in for another minute or two!

Easy Mini English Muffin Pizza Recipe

Here’s the recipe for English muffin pizza. Remember that this is more of an idea than a recipe so feel free to customize to your liking!

Frozen English Muffin Mini Pizzas

Print Recipe

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These Frozen English Muffin Mini Pizzas are perfect for a quick, kid-friendly lunch or snack. Make them ahead of time and pop in the microwave for one minute when you want one!

Author: Lindsay

Ingredients

English muffins
Hummus (optional)
Pizza sauce
toppings (sausage, pepperoni, veggies, etc)
shredded cheese

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Break English muffins in half and place them on a plate or baking sheet.
Spread a thin layer of hummus on each one (optional)
Spread a layer of pizza sauce on top of the hummus.
Add toppings.
Add cheese. (I put the toppings under the cheese because otherwise they tend to fall off the frozen pizzas)
Place tray in the freezer until frozen.
Place in a freezer-safe bag.
When ready to serve, place one pizza on a plate and microwave 1 minute.

Notes

You can wrap the pizzas in saran wrap before putting in a bag if you want.

See what I mean? So easy! Make as many or as few as you’d like.

Frozen Mini English Muffin Pizzas FAQs

Can you freeze English muffin pizzas/ Can I freeze mini pizzas?

Yes! That’s the best thing about these. You can make a whole batch and freeze them to have on hand for quick snacks and meals! Be sure to freeze them flat first, then transfer to a bag so they don’t stick together when frozen.

What goes with English muffin pizzas?

The easiest way to round out this meal is to serve with fruits and veggies! But serve whatever you like! I always try to include at least one fruit or veggie and an additional protein source if possible.

Are English muffin pizzas healthy?

They are! Especially if you add some protein as a topping. You could even use a pizza sauce with roasted veggies pureed into it to add some extra nutrients. Also remember that this doesn’t have to be the only thing they eat. You can pair with fruits and vegetables and other protein sources for a more balanced meal.

Are English muffins healthier than bread?

Not necessarily. They are smaller in size so they may contain fewer calories, carbs etc but a lot depends on what type of bread you’re comparing it to. English muffins may be higher in sodium or have more added sugar. Bread could be higher in fiber if using a whole wheat variety. Read the labels to determine what’s best for your nutritional needs.

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

LEARN HOW FOOD AFFECTS YOUR BODY.

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23Aug

A Month of Packed Lunch Ideas For Kids

by admin lunch

Need kids packed lunch ideas? I’ve got you covered in this guide with a month of packed lunch ideas for kids(with photos). I also include lunchbox recommendations, a lunch packing cheat sheet and nut-free snack ideas if needed.

Hi friends!

I am so excited to share my newest resource with you! For years you’ve been asking me for packed lunch ideas and I never really felt qualified because I wasn’t packing lunches every day when my kids were younger.

Well, now my oldest is in first grade and we’re fully into lunch packing territory so I wanted to help! I put together this PDF to give you lots of ideas and help you quickly and easily pack balanced lunches your kids will love!

Kids Packed Lunch Ideas

Here’s what’s included:

Product recommendations – I share my favorite lunch boxes.
Prep ahead tips – A few tips for things you can prep ahead of time in the fridge and freezer to make lunch packing easier.
Lunch Packing Cheat Sheet – lunch ideas divided into protein, carbs, vegetables, fruits and snacks so you can mix and match from each category to pack a balanced lunch quickly.
24 lunch box photos – full-color photos of bento-style lunch boxes showcasing different lunch item ideas
Nut-free product recommendations – If your school is nut-free, here are some peanut/tree nut-free snacks you can pack for your kiddos.

If recipes included are on the blog I’ve included clickable links and we designed this so it could be easily viewed on mobile phones that you can pull it out while you’re packing lunch if you need some inspiration.

I can’t wait for you to get your hands on it!!

Click here for a month of easy packed lunches for kids

As an update, I’ve added a bonus PDF that’s available to all purchasers! With your purchase, you now receive a PDF that shows real-life photos and descriptions of the first 30 lunches I packed for my first grader this year!

Be sure to pin it for later to help spread the word!

Let me know what you think!
–Lindsay–

LEARN HOW FOOD AFFECTS YOUR BODY.

Get my free Table Talk email series where I share bite-sized nutrition information about carbs, protein, and fat, plus bonus information about snacks and sugar!

15Mar

50 Packable Lunch Ideas

by admin lunch

Here are 50 packable lunch ideas that are quick, easy and healthy! Perfect for kids and adults if you’re tired of packing the same thing every day!

*Originally published Sept 2012*

Hi Friends!

Let’s chat about packable lunch ideas. Whether you’re looking for packed lunch ideas for adults or kids, lunch ideas for work, cold lunch ideas or healthy lunch sides, this post has you covered! I don’t follow strict lunch packing rules, but I do always try to include:

-Fresh fruit
-A whole grain
-A protein source
-At least some vegetables

I think a lot of people feel like they have to make their packed lunch with one big dish and some sides. I rarely do this. I generally pack 3-4 healthy lunch sides so I can enjoy a little bit of a lot of things. More fun to eat that way!

If you need more packable lunch ideas for kids, I have a whole guide! Find it here: A Month of Packed Lunch Ideas for Kids.

Packable Lunch Ideas

Another benefit to packing my lunch for me personally is eating more vegetables. When I have the whole fridge and pantry to choose from, I typically avoided veggies and chose other things. Now that I have to eat whatever I bring with me, I just make sure to include veggies in my packable lunch ideas for the week and then I eat them! Simple as that!

Here are 50 packable lunch ideas to inspire you to pack some fun new lunches! Within the list, ‘ve included links to recipes from the blog if I have them but those are by no means the only recipes you should try! Check out the general ideas and then do your own searches for those types of recipes that fit your taste preferences!

Healthy Lunch Ideas for Work

Protein-Packed Salads
Strawberry Chicken Spinach Power Salad
Steak Cobb Salad
Crunchy Kale Salad with Couscous

Hummus with Dippers
Greek Hummus Topping

Tuna/Chicken/Chickpea Salad and Crackers
Curried Tuna Salad with Apples

Meatballs
Thai Chicken Meatballs
Apple Cheddar Turkey Meatballs
Paleo Turkey Sweet Potato Meatballs
Carrot Pineapple Turkey Meatballs

Burgers
Avocado Chicken Burgers
Thai Peanut Salmon Burgers

Muffins or Bars
Lentil Banana Muffins
Carrot Applesauce Muffins
Banana Carrot Muffins
Sweet Potato White Bean Bars

Soup
White Chicken Chili
Instant Pot Sweet Potato Chicken Soup
Sweet Potato Chicken Chili

Roasted Chickpeas
How To Roast Chickpeas
Roasted Chickpea Snack Mix

Pasta Salad
Maple Mustard Roasted Veggie Pasta Salad
Broccoli Pesto Pasta Salad

Frozen Smoothie (freeze in mason jar to thaw in lunchbox)
Silken Tofu Berry Smoothie
Kid-Friendly Smoothie Recipes

Pancakes/Waffles with Nut Butter or Yogurt
Green Smoothie Pancakes
Banana Flax Waffles
Sweet Potato Waffles

Wraps or Sandwiches
Egg Wraps
5 Ways To Make Sandwiches More Fun
Homemade Whole Wheat Tortillas

Loaded Sweet Potato
Pulled Pork Loaded Sweet Potatoes
Top a baked sweet potato with leftover taco filling or chili

Protein or Granola Bars
No Bake Protein Bars
Healthy Store-Bought Granola Bars for Kids

Mac & Cheese
Stovetop Mac & Cheese w/ Sausage & Peas

Healthy Bars/Cookies
Gluten-Free Pumpkin Yogurt Bars
Sweet Potato Protein Cookies

Popcorn
Sweet & Spicy Popcorn Snack Mix
Healthy Microwave Popcorn

Pudding
Chocolate Avocado Pudding
Peanut Butter Banana Chia Pudding

Vegetables
Easy Spinach Balls
Maple Bacon Roasted Carrots

Tacos
Turkey Walnut Taco Meat
Ultimate Hot Taco Layer Dip
Curried Sweet Potato & Black Bean Tacos

Noodles (Good Warm or Cold)
Instant Pot Asian Peanut Noodles
Chicken Pad Thai
Sweet & Spicy Shrimp With Soba Noodles

Seafood Cakes
Tuna Quinoa Cakes

Lettuce Wraps
Asian Lettuce Wraps

Egg Cups/Baked Eggs
Paleo Breakfast Casserole
Egg Waffles

Energy Balls
Lemon Energy Balls
Mint Chocolate Energy Balls
12 Kid-Friendly Energy Balls

Roll-ups
Baked Ranch Chicken Taquitos

More Simple Ideas
Fruit + Greek yogurt
Overnight oats
Hard-boiled or deviled eggs
Raw veggie sticks
Homemade trail mix
Apples or celery + peanut butter
Peanut butter + crackers
String cheese
Spiced roasted nuts
Cottage cheese + Tomatoes
Chips + Guac or Salsa
Leftovers
Sushi
Jerky
Homemade ramen noodles
Spring rolls
Burrito bowl
Fruit or Veggie chips
Sweet potato + Almond butter
Steamed edamame

Do you pack your lunch?
I’d love to hear your favorite packable lunch ideas!

Happy Packing!

–Lindsay–

LEARN HOW FOOD AFFECTS YOUR BODY.

Get my free Table Talk email series where I share bite-sized nutrition information about carbs, protein, and fat, plus bonus information about snacks and sugar!

12Sep

School Lunch Packing Tips

by admin lunch

Looking for some school lunch packing tips? Here are 10 tips and tricks from a Registered Dietitian mama of 3 to help make it a little easier to quickly pack your kids a lunch they’ll love!

Thanks to Horizon Organic for sponsoring this post.

Hi friends!

We’ve already been back in school for a couple of weeks here in Ohio, but I know some of you out there are just getting ready to head back so I wanted to pop in today to share a few school lunch packing tips. As you guys know, we have one more year until we start kindergarten over here so I’m not doing daily lunch packing yet, but I did get my fair share of practice this summer running my son around to various camps and activities all day long.

So, I’ve teamed up with my friends over at Horizon Organic and compiled a list of some of my best tips and tricks to help make your lunch-packing life a little easier. Horizon believes “real” is what matters and they’re all about powering up kids with the goodness of protein, vitamins and calcium without artificial colors or flavors. They help make packing protein-packed lunches so easy with their cheese sticks and milk boxes (Psst….both are also great for no-mess car snacks on the way to daycare, soccer practice, etc)

Before we start- a quick reminder about the #HorizonConfiDANCE campaign that’s running until the end of this month. Use the tips below to pack a quick, easy lunch without stressing and then celebrate that little life win with a quick dance. Post it on social media with the hashtag #HorizonConfiDANCE by September 30th and Horizon Organic will donate $5 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (up to $200,000).

The lunchboxes we’re currently using are these Bentgo Boxes (affiliate link) And now here we go! 10 school lunch packing tips:

1) Think beyond sandwiches! Yes, they’re easy to make but kids will get sick of them quickly if you pack one every day. Change things up by occasionally offering things like quesadillas, tacos, deli meat roll-ups, kabobs, snack plate style lunches, or even their favorite breakfast foods like pancakes or waffles.

2) Teach your kids the formula early! When I pack a lunch, I always try to include a carbohydrate, a protein, a fruit, a veggie and a snack/choice item. Bonus points for working a healthy fat into the equation! I always try to pack lunches when my kids are around. When they were younger, they just watched, but now (at ages almost 5 and almost 3) I’m pretty darn proud of their lunch packing abilities. The other day I asked my 2-year-old what she wanted for lunch and she rattled off hard-boiled eggs, blueberries, soft (roasted) carrots, crackers with hummus and skittles. Boom! Ask for their input early and often. Make lists of foods in each category (use pictures for younger kids) so they can easily follow your formula and choose what they want. And let them help assemble the lunches as well!

3) Make a snack food station- As much as I like to think my kids think seeing carrots in their lunch is fun, I know that’s not always the case. So, I always like to include something they’re genuinely excited about seeing – a granola bar, jerky, cookies, crackers, etc. Keep all of these items in a specific spot in the pantry so kids can easily go to that basket or bin and pick what they want. If the snacks come in bigger boxes, portion out a few servings into reusable bags at the beginning of the week. In case you didn’t know, Horizon Organic milk boxes are shelf-stable, so you can stock up your pantry for easy grab and go, too. They’re made with special packaging that locks in the great taste and nutrition of real organic milk, without artificial ingredients or preservatives.

4) Add some fun but don’t stress daily – We’ve all seen the Pinterest-worthy lunchboxes on social media. As much as I want to be that fun mom that cuts vegetables into flowers and sandwiches into fun shapes every day, I recognize that I likely won’t always have the time or energy. But that doesn’t mean I can’t do it occasionally! Buy a couple of cookie cutters and little food picks. If it’s fun for you, use them daily. If it stresses you out, aim to use them once a week on a night when you have a little extra time! Those adorable food picks in the picture are by Nutridashe.

5) If packing lunches is a struggle, plan ahead. Some people (like me) don’t stress about throwing lunch together on the fly. I just do it without really thinking too hard. But if it stresses you out, plan out what you’ll pack in lunches every day just like you might plan out dinners for the week. Sit down with your kids and do it together so you can get their input and ideas.

6) Pack at night- No matter how tired you are, just do it before you go to bed. It’s one less thing to worry about in the morning when things are crazy and you’re rushing out the door. I try to pack mine as I’m cleaning up the kitchen from dinner since things are already a mess anyways! Then all you have to do in the morning is add an ice pack and go.

7) Make a lunch packing area- Choose a drawer, cupboard, bin, cart, etc. to keep all lunch boxes, packing supplies, utensils, reusable bags, and more together. You’ll always have a place to put clean stuff when it comes out of the dishwasher and you’ll always know exactly where to look to grab stuff when you go to pack lunch.

8) Take photos. Even if you don’t share them with anyone, snap a photo of each lunch you pack. Then, when you get stuck in a rut in a few months, let the kids revisit the pictures and tell you what they liked!

9) The less packaging the better. Kids don’t get a ton of time to eat so by pre-peeling what you can and partially opening packages, etc, they can spend more time eating and less time fumbling around and getting frustrated. Sometimes I’ll unwrap Horizon cheese sticks – available in Mozzarella and Colby – and cut them into pieces. They’re an easy snack packed with 7g of protein.

10) Add a note! It’s such a simple thing and it literally takes 10 seconds to write a sweet word, a joke or quote, but your kids will love it and look forward to it (even if they would never admit it to you!)

What are your best lunch-packing tips?

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

LEARN HOW FOOD AFFECTS YOUR BODY.

Get my free Table Talk email series where I share bite-sized nutrition information about carbs, protein, and fat, plus bonus information about snacks and sugar!

30May

Fun Sandwich Ideas For Kids

by admin lunch

Try these fun sandwich ideas for kids to change things up and make lunch or dinner more fun if you find yourself stuck in a rut! Simple twists on your favorite classics.

Thanks to the Grain Foods Foundation for sponsoring this post.

Hi friends!

Let’s talk about lunch today, shall we? Specifically kid lunches. I don’t know about you but for me, lunch is the easiest meal of the day for me to get stuck in a rut. My family loves breakfast. We all have our favorites and we happily eat them each morning. Dinner is when I tend to flex my creative muscles in the kitchen and I rarely have trouble coming up with dinner ideas.

But lunch? Whew. I don’t know if it’s the time of day or what, but I struggle with lunch ideas every single week. So I decided it was time to do some brainstorming and come up with some new, kid-friendly ideas for you. And guess what they all include? Bread!

This post is part of the #yestobread campaign and when the Grain Foods Foundation reached out to me about participating, I immediately jumped on board. It really couldn’t be a more perfect fit for me. I know low-carb, paleo and keto are all the rage right now but if you know me at all, you know that for me, carbs are life. And I hate that will all these new diet trends, carbs, and more specifically bread are getting a bad reputation. So many people are decreasing their bread consumption because celebrities and influencers are telling them it’s one of the main reasons they are gaining weight, feeling bloated etc.

As a Registered Dietitian, I’m here to tell you that for most people, bread can most certainly be part of a healthy, balanced diet. Especially if you ENJOY eating it! Can bread cause discomfort for some people? Sure! But you don’t have to live your life on an extreme diet that “doesn’t allow” bread just because someone else is telling you that you should. You also don’t have to eat bread all day every day. Aiming for a well-balanced diet is a much more enjoyable (and sustainable) way to live! And for me that means saying #yestobread!

Of course, not all bread is created equal and I recommend choosing 100% whole grain bread in most cases. It is a great source of:

Fiber, which aids in digestion.
Complex carbohydrates that provide energy and fuel for workouts and daily life.
Important nutrients like iron and B vitamins.

It also pairs well with all sorts of foods including fruits, vegetables, meat, cheese, eggs etc to help you create nutritious, balanced meals.

Since my kids are fairly burnt out on boring, traditional sandwiches, I came up with a few more creative ideas for you!

Fun Sandwich Ideas For Kids

Waffle French Toast PB&J

Peanut butter and jelly is a go-to favorite around here but everybody gets tired of their favorites now and then. With just a few simple tweaks I revived this old favorite and made it fresh and exciting again! Start by turning the bread into french toast! And if you’re not thrilled with the idea of standing around flipping it on a griddle or in a skillet, just throw it on a waffle iron. So easy. Then add your peanut butter or nut butter of choice. And take advantage of berry season by replacing jelly with freshly smashed berries. My kids love doing the smashing and I love that there’s no added sugar!

Fruit and Veggie Face Avocado Toast

My two year old is actually not that crazy about sandwiches. There’s something about the top piece of bread covering up whatever is inside that she doesn’t like. But give her the exact same thing on two open-faced pieces of bread and she is ALL FOR IT. She’s a huge fan of avocado toast and both my kids love using whatever fruits and veggies we have on hand to make silly faces on top. We call it monster toast. If your kids don’t like avocado, you could try hummus!

Turkey Sandwich Kabobs

Sometimes with kids, it’s all about novelty. If I gave my four-year-old a turkey, cheese and apple sandwich, there’s about a 50% chance on any given day that he would eat it, depending on his mood. But if I take that same sandwich, cut it into pieces and thread it on a skewer, the odds of him eating the entire thing go up to about 90% every time.

I don’t like to use my giant metal grilling kabob skewers for this so I use straws. Sometimes I use a strong stainless steel straw to poke the holes, then thread everything onto a paper straw so I can trim the ends.

Egg in a Hole Grilled Cheese

This is basically just two classics combined into one. Egg in a hole and a grilled cheese sandwich. My kids LOVE cutting out the circle, cracking the egg into it and then eating the circle while I make the grilled cheese. If you’re feeling fancy, add some avocado and red pepper slices. Or some turkey or pulled pork!

So there you go! Hope this post sparked a few new ideas for ways you can say #yestobread! For more reasons to love bread, click here!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

LEARN HOW FOOD AFFECTS YOUR BODY.

Get my free Table Talk email series where I share bite-sized nutrition information about carbs, protein, and fat, plus bonus information about snacks and sugar!

26Sep

Omelet Spirals

by admin lunch

These Omelet Spirals are a fun, kid-friendly twist on egg wraps. Add your favorite mix-ins and whip up a batch in just a few minutes. Perfect for school lunches, breakfast and snack time!

Hi friends!

Just popping in today to share these little Omelet Spirals. These are an easy twist on one of my most popular blog recipes – these Easy Egg Wraps. I’ve been making the egg wraps for a few years now and love making a batch ahead of time and then quickly filling them with combos like guacamole and turkey or hummus and veggies for a quick lunch. My kids love them with pepperoni and cheese.

These Omelet Spirals are a fun twist because they’re quick and easy to make, with all the same goodies you’d get while eating an omelet. I think they’re a little more kid-friendly and you could definitely whip some up quickly the night before and pack in a lunch box! Plus they’re easy to customize – just pick your favorite protein and veggies.

You don’t really need exact quantities for these because it all depends how many you want to make. Each wrap has one egg and I typically slice each one into 4 spirals.

Omelet Spirals

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 1 review

These Omelet Spirals are a fun, kid-friendly twist on egg wraps. Add your favorite mix-ins and whip up a batch in just a few minutes. Perfect for school lunches, breakfast and snack time!

Author: Lindsay