Meal and snack ideas for kids

[wife2lt]

I am going to start babysitting for a few kids this summer. Their ages are 8 to 10 y/o.
I am looking for frugal meal and snack ideas, so I can start planning a menu.
I knew you folks would be able to help me out!

[IntlMom]

well, it doesn't get much cheaper or easier than store brand mac and cheese

(not exactly the best stuff for you, but the kiddos will love it!)

[McD]

cheese quesadillas-- sprinkle some shredded cheese in a tortilla, fold in half, microwave for 30 seconds!

[druthb00]

If the kids like it, I vote hummus. It's sooo cheap to make yourself. Garbonzo beans are .69 a can down here and I bet you can get them cheaper at Aldi/SaveALot. Think pretzels, celery sticks, carrots, bell peppers, and pita bread to dip into it.

Anything wrapped in a tortilla: Ham and cheese melted in the microwave, peanut butter and banana.

[Libby]

Hot dogs, hm version of boxed mac & cheese (buy a bag of elbows and some cheese powder and make according to your taste preference), plain pasta w/tomato sauce or just margarine/butter & parmesean. Mini meatballs, chicken drumsticks, cut up fruit, veggie sticks, pb & j or h sandwhiches, grilled cheese, rice cakes with melted cheese on top or used to make mini pizzas - you could use pitas to make mini pizzas. And this one is kinda way out there but grilled veggie kabobs or cold fresh fruit kabobs - food on a stick is just 'fun'. Egg salad, chicken salad sandwchiches cut into fun shapes using a cookie cutter.

Just ideas off the top of my head. HTH

[lwlynch]

okay, this question is in my bounds of expertise..lol..
i have babysat for years..
some our favs are
elbow pasta with butter, with hotdogs that look like octopus;
homemade corndogs (bits of hotdog diced and put in a cornbread mix and then cooked in a sandwich maker to make minis)
chili and crackers;
quesidas with cheese and bacon bits (real bacon bits in the salad section)
grilled cheese with bacon (same bacon bits);
mac and cheese in the box with cut up hotdogs;
salad (mix ranch, croutons and bacon bits)
chili tator tots:
Pizza made on pita bread;
fried rice and small fried wontons
tacos (i make a big batch and go from there)

for the sides usually 1/2 peeled apple, 1/2 fruit, green beans, brocolli and cheese

for snacks the all time fav here is a mix (which is all the kinds of cereal, fruit loops, cheerios, choc chips, pretzels, cheese crackers, goldfish) that gets about everyone;
tortillas and salsa;
tortillas and refried bean dip;

[lwlynch]

my sandwich maker makes things quick and small, i also do pancakes, pancakes with sausage, pizza pockets, pigs in the blanket, they also make really cute cakes for snacks.

the waffle stick maker does a cute grilled cheese.i also make waffle sticks too...

hope some of these help

[sunshine]

homemade chicken nuggets/french fries (even done in the oven)

just about anything dipped in ranch dressing (chicken strips, veggies, etc)

for snacks - homemade cookies (we did a lot of snickerdoodles), popcorn (flavored and plain), microwave s'mores, homemade pudding and fruit pops (puree fruit that's starting to get overripe, sweeten to taste and freeze in molds or small cups)

[Ali Lee]

More than food ideas, my suggestion would be... put a poster up with meal times & snack times. They are old enuff to read & understand. When they say they want a snak..say it's @ 2p. Kids are doing too much grazing..

[mamamia]

Adding to the great ideas already posted is pizza done several ways. In my house I could never "miss" with these ideas >>

English Muffin Pizzas- Bake EMs in oven till slightly crisp. Take out, add cheese and sauce. We always make mini meatballs because the kids love making them. I'd place them on a sheet, and let cook at about 350 till done,,,about 15 minutes or so.

Mini bagel pizza- about the same recipe as above

When I have stale hamburger rolls, italian bread, etc., we make it with that too.

Another way to please them, is to pick one day a week for them to be the "little cooks", even if it's just assembling a sandwich or something, they'll just love it.

And alot of the "old regulars" that are fun to eat again, are so because of the way you "present" them. Like lwlynch's mentioned about "octopus" hot dogs. Believe me, it changes EVERYTHING. My kids love it when I put out french-fries on a chip and dip plate. I pour the ketchup in the dip bowl part, and surround it with mountains of fries in the "chip" part. Their eyes light up LOL!

My guess is that they won't take too long to let YOU know what they like anyway. Have a fun time with your little friends!

Theresa

[wife2lt]

Thanks for all your ideas. I knew I could count on all of you!

I know a while back I think it was lwlynch, she had posted a bunch of recipes done in the sandwich maker. Well I kept them on my other computer and it shot craps. Did anyone else save these? That would be great if someone did.

[lwlynch]

hey i found the sandwich maker thread and posted on it.. hopefully it will bring it back up for you to get..