Fast Family Feasts

Every parent knows that a hungry kid is only a short caloric distance from monster-hood. The only solution is to make food appear on the table in short order. But if you’re worn out from cancer treatment, short order cooking may be a tall order. The temptation is to hit the freezer aisles at the grocery store for kids’ meals that can be zapped in the microwave, but what exactly is in those microwave munchies?  If you check the labels, we bet you won’t want to serve the stuff to your kids. Disodium inosinate and disodium guanylate anyone?

There is a way around going the frozen package route. Whether you’re tired from treatment, or just weary from a long day at work, our easy to prepare, kid-friendly classics can be thrown together quickly, without breaking your energy bank.

Ann’s Tips

If your kids are very young, you’ll be the chief cook. But if they’re older, and well past the stage where their fingers automatically go straight into their mouths, encourage them to help you. Cooking together can be a lot of fun. We’ve found rolling meatballs to be a kiddie pleaser. An added plus: even the most finicky of children will eat food they’ve had a hand in making. And if you happen to create a famous chef, the world will thank you.

Recipe Tips 

Our Chicken Tenders, Fish Sticks, Turkey Burgers, and Chicken Meatballs, even our kid-centric homemade Alphabet Soup (just our minestrone using alphabet noodles), all take under half an hour to prepare. Yes, honest, less than 30 minutes. The best part about all these recipes is that they are delicious, and not just for the wee whiners. You’ll enjoy eating the meals too.