It's really difficult for me to see the things that go on in school lunch cafeterias these days (pink slime, contaminated burgers, etc) and not feel sad for all of the kids that are forced to eat the junk we're currently serving. Unfortunately, I was one of those kids—and I paid the price by becoming more over and more overweight every year when I was a teen. Luckily, though, your kids don't have to face the same problem—all you have to do is make them lunch! But I know you don't have a ton of time, so I've gathered the 3 best super-easy, very portable and, most of all, healthy Latin recipes that your kids will love and you'll love for helping make them healthier.
Read more ¿Qué más? More gross food news: kid's lunch school burgers and airplane snacks not safe.
Healthy Cuban Sandwich (recipe courtesy of Lil Sugar)
Ingredients (Sandwich):
1 Multi-grain baguette
2-ounces Yellow Mustard or to taste
10 slices low-fat deli ham
10 slices low-fat deli turkey marinated in Cuban Vinaigrette
6 slices Swiss Cheese
2 dill pickles, sliced thinly
2 tsp low-fat mayonnaise
Ingredients (Cuban Vinaigrette):
2 tbs olive oil
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt and Pepper to taste
¼ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp onion powder
¼ tsp cumin
Directions:
Toss turkey in Cuban Vinaigrette. Slice baguette lengthwise. Build sandwich with yellow mustard on bottom piece of bread, layering ham, turkey, Swiss cheese, and pickle. Cut the sandwich into 4 equal portions. Lightly spread low-fat mayonnaise on outside of bread then place sandwich in Panini maker or follow the instructions below to build your own. Cook 3-4 minutes in Panini maker or 3-4 minutes on each side in the "build-your-own" version until golden brown. Once golden brown, remove from Panini maker and slice sandwich diagonally.
Build your own Panini maker:
Using a large non-stick skillet for the base, heat the pan over medium-high heat. Place sandwich in pan. Top with a heavy cooking pot (or two medium sized pots) to weight the sandwich down. The weight of the heavy cooking vessels will provide the "press."
Fruit Tacos, when they don't like salad (recipe courtesy of Super Healthy Kids)
Ingredients:
4-6 whole wheat tortillas (8 inch or smaller)
1 cup whole almonds
1/2 cup chopped strawberries
1/2 cup blueberries
1 cup shredded romaine lettuce
1/2 cup chopped peaches (canned if not in season)
1-3 tablespoons yogurt
Directions:
Take one cup of almonds and grind in a high powered blender or food processor, just until it is in the crumb stage. Assemble tortilla with crumbled almonds, fruit, and lettuce. Top with yogurt. Fold like a taco.
Latin Potato Salad with Avocado, Mango and Chicken (recipe courtesy of Live Well Network)
Ingredients (Potato Salad):
4 cups red boiling potatoes skin-on and diced
1/2 cup celery, diced
3 Tablespoons scallions, diced
1 mango, diced
1/2 cup diced red pepper
1 lb. cooked diced chicken
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
Avocado buttermilk dressing
Ingredients (Avocado Buttermilk Dressing):
1 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 ripe avocado, skin and pit removed
3 Tablespoons lime juice
1 minced jalapeno chile, some of the veins and seeds removed (for a spicier dressing, you can leave in all the veins and seeds)
1/2 teaspoon Cumin powder
1/4 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
Directions:
1. To prepare the dressing, place all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth.
2. Cover potatoes in cold, lightly salted water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until soft. Strain potatoes and run under cold water to chill.
3. In a bowl, combine all ingredients including the cold potatoes. Serve immediately or let marinate in the refrigerator for several hours before serving.
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What kind of lunch do you give your kids for school that's still easy and healthy?
Images via Lil Sugar, Super Healthy Kids, Live Well Network
