A rich, creamy recipe that combines delicious fall flavors with satisfying pasta.
Ingredients:
12 jumbo pasta shells (about 6 ounces)
1 ¼ cups nonfat ricotta cheese
¾ cup pumpkin
½ teaspoon garlic powder or 2 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tablespoons basil
¼ teaspoon sage
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
½ cup grated parmesan cheese, divided
1 cup pasta sauce
Directions:
Wash hands with soap and water.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Cook pasta shells according to package directions. Drain and place each on a baking sheet to cool.
In a medium bowl, stir together ricotta, pumpkin, spices and all but 1 Tablespoon of the cheese. Reserve the 1 Tablespoon cheese for topping.
Spread pasta sauce in the bottom of a baking dish that holds all the shells in a single layer. Fill each shell with about 3 Tablespoons of pumpkin mixture and place shells close together on top of the sauce.
Cover pan with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil, sprinkle with remaining cheese and bake for 15 minutes more.
Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.
Notes:
Freeze unused pumpkin and add to soup, chili or pancake recipes.
In this weeks blog we would like to quote some great references from: Better Health Channel about Healthy School Lunches; https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/healthy-eating-school-lunches
“School is a time when children start to make independent choices about their lifestyles. School aged children learn quickly and are influenced by friends and popular trends. This is an important time to talk about and encourage healthy food habits.
Involving children in planning and preparing their own lunchboxes gives them the opportunity to learn about healthy eating, and also gives them a chance to make autonomous decisions about what they will be eating during the day.
Involve your Children in Healthy Choices
Tips to help get your kids involved include:
Talk to your children about what they would like to have in their lunchbox. Discuss healthier food and drink choices and decide what will be in the lunchbox together.
Write a shopping list together. Take your children shopping with you and let them choose foods and drinks from the shopping list.
Encourage your children help prepare their lunchboxes. Older children may be able to prepare most of their lunch themselves, and younger children can help with making sandwiches or cutting up soft fruit. It is a good idea to prepare lunchboxes the evening before to allow children to participate.
What to Put in Healthier School Lunches
The six key parts to a healthy lunchbox include:
Fruit – best choices include fresh or tinned fruit. Dried fruit is sticky and high in sugar, so have it occasionally.
Vegetables – try fresh crunchy vegetable sticks with dip or a small container with mixed vegetables such as cherry tomatoes, carrot sticks, and cucumber.
Milk, yogurt or cheese – you can use reduced-fat options for children over the age of 2 years. For children who cannot tolerate milk products, offer appropriate daily alternatives like calcium fortified soy or rice drink or soy yogurt.
Meat or meat alternative foods – try lean meat (like chicken strips), a hard-boiled egg or peanut butter. If your school has a nut-free policy, peanut butter and other nuts should not be included in your child’s lunchbox.
Grain or cereal foods – like a bread roll, flat bread, fruit bread or some crackers (wholegrain or whole meal options).
Drinks – tap water is best
Tips for Healthy Lunchboxes
Cut up large pieces of fruit and put them in a container – this makes it easier to eat, especially if your child has wobbly teeth or if they have less time to eat than they are used to. Send a damp face washer to help with extra juicy fruit.
Consider giving half a sandwich or roll for morning recess, as this is an easy way to get a healthy fill.
In the hot weather, send frozen milk, yogurt or water, or even frozen orange segments. This makes a great refreshing snack and helps to keep the lunch box cool.
Go for color and crunch in the lunch box by offering a variety of colorful vegetables and fruit.”
In conclusion, the choices we make for our children’s lunchboxes can have a significant impact on their overall health and well-being. By prioritizing fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains, we set them up for success both in and out of the classroom. Remember to involve your children in the decision-making process, as this not only educates them about healthy eating but also empowers them to make smart food choices on their own.
As parents, guardians, or caregivers, our role in shaping their dietary habits is instrumental.. So, as you pack those lunchboxes, think about the nutritious and delicious options that can fuel your child’s day and set them on a path to a lifetime of healthy eating.
Here’s to happy and healthy lunchtimes for our little ones!
Resources:
Better Health Channel. (n.d.). Healthy Eating – School Lunches. Retrieved from https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/healthy-eating-school-lunches
National Health and Medical Research Council, Australian Dietary Guidelines, Australian Government.
Looking for a kid-friendly, nutritious snack that’s perfect for when you’re on the move? Give these Peanut Butter Cereal Bars a try! Whole grain oats, peanut butter, and dried fruit make a crispy, chewy treat.
Ingredients
½ cup honey (see Notes)
1 cup peanut butter
2 cups rice cereal
2 cups quick-cooking oats
1 cup raisins or other dried fruit
Directions
Wash hands with soap and water.
In a saucepan, bring honey to a boil.
Reduce heat to low and stir in peanut butter.
Add cereal, oats and raisins; mix well. Remove from heat.
Lightly grease an 8×8-inch baking pan. Press mixture into pan. When cool, cut into 16 bars.
Store in an airtight container for up to a week.
Notes
Try this recipe with 4 cups of unsweetened cereal flakes instead of the rice cereal and oats.
Honey is not recommended for children under 1 year old.
To avoid peanuts or peanut butter, try sunflower seeds or sunflower seed butter.
Photo and recipe credit: https://foodhero.org/recipes/peanut-butter-cereal-bars
Combine the flours, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Mix well.
Add raisins and mix lightly.
In a small bowl, combine melted butter and buttermilk. Add liquid ingredients to flour mixture; mix gently.
Spoon dough into 9 equal mounds on a greased baking sheet.
Bake until well browned, 18-20 minutes.
Serve hot or at room temperature. Best eaten the same day you bake them.
Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.
Recipe Notes
Substitute vegetable oil for the butter to reduce saturated fat.
Try other dried fruit.
Sprinkle with cinnamon before baking.
Try mixing in 1 1/2 teaspoons grated lemon or orange zest (grate the outer colored part of the peel).
No buttermilk? Place 1 Tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar in measuring cup and fill to the 1 cup line with milk. Stir and let set to thicken slightly.
Whole-wheat flour can be replaced with all-purpose flour.
Trim the ends of the Brussels sprouts and cut them in half, lengthwise. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and blanch the sprouts for 2 minutes, drain and set aside.
Using a melon baller or Tsp. measure, core the sprouts, set aside the shells and roughly chop the scooped cores.
Add olive oil to a medium sauté pan over medium heat. Add bacon and sauté until almost crisp. Add the chopped sprouts and garlic and sauté for a 3-4 more minutes until the sprouts have softened.
In a bowl, mix together the goat cheese, milk, salt (optional), black pepper and parmesan cheese. Add the sautéed bacon and sprouts and mix thoroughly.
Divide the filling mixture evenly among each sprout core (about a rounded Tsp.). Lay sprouts on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes or until the filled sprouts are a golden brown. Serve warm.
