Lunch ideas

[LeeAnn]

Hi there just wondering if anyone would like to help me by sharing some lunch and snack ideas. Mostly for toddler age. Thanks :)

[buildingblocks]

home made soup and fresh bread
beans on toast
tortilla wraps

[zillervalley]

baked potato
fish fingers
cottage pie and a veg


mine love aunt besssie potato with nearly everything

ziller

[Sally G]

EGGY BREAD! - a piece of bread soaked in a mixed up egg, then fried in butter or oil! - my daughter calls them daddy pig pancakes!

[rickysmiths]

Fresh fish pie
risotto chicken or veg
chicken korma with sticky veg rice (they had this today)
corned beef hash
fish cakes
meatballs and pasta
pasta with tomato and veg sauce
lamb casserole
beef casserole
cheese/ham/egg/cheese sandwiches with cheese and a variety of fruit
homemade pizza
lasagne
spag bol
sheperds pie
cottage pie
homemade cornish pasties
roast dinners
Fish fingers

Puds and snacks

Yoghurt
Fromage Frais
homemade rice/ground rice/ semolina puddings
cakes usually made by the children
biscuits made by the children like today
toast (snack and b'fast)
fresh fruit



I look after 4 under fives. 3.5yrs to 9mths

[Zoomie]

cheese/ham/egg/cheese sandwiches with cheese and a variety of fruit


Hey, be careful you don't overload the cheese :laughing:

[rickysmiths]

Hey, be careful you don't overload the cheese :laughing:


Oh I did get my knickers in a bit of a twist didn't I.:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

[sweets]

if its light meals you are after what about

Beans or spag on toast
Soup and bread
Various fillings on bread, wraps or rolls
selection of dips and veg sicks to dip!
eggs on toast
crumpets
toasted teacakes
salad
cold or hot pasta in tomato sauce
bacon butties (a favourite with mine)
hot dogs (proper saus not the tinned slimy ones full of C**p)

[It's a small world]

LUNCHES
PLATTERS

selection of meats / cheese / veg sticks / dips/ fruit

PIZZA FACES
Let the children make their own faces using different veggies

HOME MADE CHICKEN OR VEGETABLE NUGGETS

CHEESE & POTATO WHIRLS

HOMEMADE SALMON BITES
Made these last week with ds (5) they were lovely

MEXICAN BEAN BASKETS
Tortilla basket filled with a layer of lettuce(if liked) topped with a bean stew and cheese

HOMEMADE BURGERS
Again can be made with children - depending on age--they love rolling them into balls and then flattening them

SAUSAGE POPOVER (Toad in the hole )

PIE FACES
Children can help add pastry eyes/nose and mouth...OR with childs initial . helps recognise the first letter of their name

SCRAMBLED EGGS ON TOAST

BOILED EGG & SOLDIERS

SNACKS

VEGGIE STICKS & DIPS
Selection of vegetable sticks / tortilla wraps

PANCAKES WITH VARIOUS TOPPINGS

FRUIT /CRACKERS & CHEESE STICKS

CINNAMON RAISIN TOAST

MALT LOAF / HOME MADE FRUIT CAKE


Just a few things I have on offer whe missing n I finally get some mindees....oooooh they don't know what they are missing:p

oh plus what everyone esle has suggested-soup/spaghetti etc..

[LeeAnn]

Rickysmiths (sorry Don't know if that is your actual name:blush: ) do you have a recipe for the sticky veg rice?

Also do you make these in advance and freeze the portions?

At themoment we seem to be stuck in a rut of

homemade soup with bread
baguettes with cheese , ham, cherry toms, cucumber andpeppers
Baked potatoes
homemade macaroni cheese
sandwiches
sausages , mash and peas, sweetcorn or beans
toasties

I seem to have clean forgot what varied thngs I used to give my DD before I had loads to cater for!

thankyou!

[LeeAnn]

also how far in advance should I be planning lunches? should I do a weekly menu?

[rickysmiths]

Hi.
I usually plan at the end of the week for the week ahead depending on weather, if we can get to the Grimsby Fish van on Friday, any outtings planned etc and I do my shopping at the weekend. I must say I usually cook fresh on a daily basis, I have fish cakes and fish fingers, mince and other meat in the freezer. Oh I put the weeks menu on my notice board so the parents can see what they are having.

The Sticky Rice:

Chop a varitety of veg, today I did onion,carrot,celery and brocolli.
I sauted the onions and celery first, then added the other veg with a little water so they steamed for 2-3mins then add shortgrain pudding rice and more boiling water so the rice is covered with about and inch over the top. Simmer until the rice is cooked you may need to add more water. Takes about 20mins. Season as required.

It should be sticky and hold the veg I find this way the little ones find it easier to eat themselves with a spoon. Good cooking!

Got to go the first of the babies has just woken up!

[TheBTeam]

Taramasalata or houmus and pitta bread
Cheese on toast,
tuna and pitta or wraps
chicken and wraps

[LeeAnn]

Kerry Louise and sweets, just wanted to say sorry! when I read earlier on I must have been typing while you guys were replying!

Some amazing ideas from everyone! Thankyou so so much! I am excited to get working on next weeks menu!

And am also so thick :rolleyes: I have baked loads with the kids but never "cooked" think I might make fish cakes or burgers or something next week they would love that!

[sweets]

my mindees love making fish fingers, dipping it into the flour, egg and breadcrumbs, very messy but good fun!

[mushpea]

mine all love making homemade pizza , we make the dough in the bread maker then they get to knead it and roll it and put their own choice of topping on which can be surprisingly healthy choices.
for lunch we have things like
sausage rolls
sandwichs
wraps
crumpets
crackers with various toppings
cold pizza slices

with things like
grapes,rasins, satsuma
crisps
cheese strings/babybels

followed by
yougurt rasins
yougut
ice-cream
cakes made by the children
fruit and icecream
jelly
chocolate or strawbery moose

[gegele]

today i did a salady kind of thing : I put steamed potatoes, beetroot and boiled egg, a bit of lemon juice, olive oil and voila!! PINK POTATOES!1

mindee doesn't eat veg but couldn't resist pink potatoes and their red bit!!!:laughing: :laughing:

[Pauline]

Hi there just wondering if anyone would like to help me by sharing some lunch and snack ideas. Mostly for toddler age. Thanks :)

Check out the main websites recipes:

http://childmindinghelp.co.uk/recipes/

All recipes sent in by childminders, tried and tested!

(Link is permanently at the top of the Forum if you forget or lose this thread :))

[LeeAnn]

you are all fab :thumbsup: writing out some listsetc just now :D

kerrie louise, do you happen to have any recipes for these things

CHEESE & POTATO WHIRLS

HOMEMADE SALMON BITES
Made these last week with ds (5) they were lovely

MEXICAN BEAN BASKETS
Tortilla basket filled with a layer of lettuce(if liked) topped with a bean stew and cheese


thet dot have to be too detailed, just a rough idea of ingredients and stuff , thankyou

[It's a small world]

you are all fab :thumbsup: writing out some listsetc just now :D

kerrie louise, do you happen to have any recipes for these things

CHEESE & POTATO WHIRLS

HOMEMADE SALMON BITES
Made these last week with ds (5) they were lovely

MEXICAN BEAN BASKETS
Tortilla basket filled with a layer of lettuce(if liked) topped with a bean stew and cheese


thet dot have to be too detailed, just a rough idea of ingredients and stuff , thankyou

So sorry LeeAnn

Just seen your post and don't think Ive replied so have added below:

Cheese & Potato Whirls
I normally make this with jus-rol puff pastry, kids love them.
• 200g potatoes
• 1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
• 2 tbsp milk
• 1 egg, beaten
• a pinch of English mustard powder
• 100g cheese (Edam or Cheddar, grated)
• 1 level tbsp finely chopped parsley
• 1 pack of puff pastry

Make cheese & potato as you would for cheese & potato pie:
Cook the potatoes until tender then drain and mash.
Fry the onions in a drop of oil until soft and then add to the potatoes.
Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.
Season to taste.

Then roll out your pastry (depending on how many you want to make you could halve the pastry and make pasties for yourself as well).
When you have rolled out your pastry, spread your cheese & potato mix onto the whole of the pastry just leaving a little space on one end.
Roll your pastry so you have what looks like a swiss roll, put a little milk along the last edge to keep in place. Then cut your swiss roll width ways into slices.

Place on baking tray and cook at gas mark 7 until golden.
You can then freeze and cook again to warm them up when you like.
These can be served with what ever you like


MEXICAN BEAN BASKET:
Basically onions / red pepper/courgettes/kidney beans / chopped tomatoes/ tom ketchup/ tortillas/ various spices

bascially fry the onions in oil add peppers/courgettes then add spices and beans/tomatoes and ketchup cover and simmer/ brush tortillas both sides with oil place each one in in heatproof bowl shaping like a basket place bowls on baking tray for 9 mins until crisp then divide bean between basket.

This idea came from a fab book my mum bought my ds m&s £5.00 Lets Cook with kids (by Nicola Graimer) Got some ace recipes in....popcorn/cheese sticks and jammy drops a favourite of ours.

HTH If you want I can scan it and send you all info for Mexican Bean Baskets