A Fast Food Hater Gets Busy...

How We Feed Little Boys on Busy Nights, 

Without a Drive Through

No no no, ick ick ick,

I didn't think we'd be this busy until they were in middle school, but a few weeks ago we caved to the pleas of our seven year old, who wanted desperately to try out wrestling (along with its three nights a week practice requirement.) As little brothers do, Our five year old fell in love with the rough and tumble and soon joined too. Our two year old would, if they had a wrestling class for paperweights.

The rough-and-tumble go and get-um has been perfect for their energy level in the winter, but the schedule has taken some getting used to. Some nights we have faith formation classes at our local church right before wrestling, some nights we have cub scouts right after. It all translates to a slap-dash dinner time that, for my sanity and their metabolisms cannot be put off until bedtime.

This is why lately we've been eating out of bags, but not fast food sacks, Ziploc bags. 

Fast food is essentially disgusting to all of us. My kids do not like it, and it gives my husband and I heartburn and a healthy dose of regret. So, when necessary, we cop a squat outside the elementary gym, sit together in a circle, and pass around bags of different goodies so everyone can have something before practice, and we plan a good snack for at home afterword.Sometimes we just eat early and quick at home when time allows.

Fast and Nourishing Dinners that can be eaten our of Ziplocs:

Focaccia Bread:

Focaccia is a staple in our home, its quick, its filling, it travels and you can add anything to it. For one practice night this week I added freshly grated Parmesan, baby spinach, and garlic, baked it, cut it in squares and tossed it in a bag in less than an hour. Accompanied by slices of apples and salami, it was quick, delish, and NOT McDonalds!

Focaccia Recipe:

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup all purpose flour

1 packet active dry yeast

1 teaspoon garlic salt

1 tablespoon dried herb of your choice (we like basil and thyme)

1 cup warm (not hot) water

1 tablespoon chopped fresh garlic

1-2 cups chopped fresh spinach

2-3 tablespoons fresh grated paremsan

Add all these things to a stand mixed with a dough hook, mix on low until a ball forms, not too stiff but not too sticky. Coat the ball in olive oil, put in a bowl and cover with a towel. Let it rise for 30 minutes then bake it on a cookie sheet for 10 minutes at 450 degrees. 

Tiny Tea Sandwiches:

Make your family's favorite sandwich, but then cut it into quarters for easy eating. Try a new kind of bread to keep it interesting. We love using sourdough but also enjoy honey whole wheat and multi grain. Our favorite kinds of combinations are peanut butter and honey, ham, spinach and cream cheese, cucumber and cream cheese, and butter and honey/

Hand Cakes:

Essentially, buying premade pancakes, or even pancake mix, is sort of ridiculous. I use an old Betty crocker recipe and an electric griddle that takes around 20 minutes to make a whole batch, and your can freeze and fridge them for future use. To make pancake eating quicker and more nutritious than fluffy IHOP style cakes, I use mostly whole wheat flour and add a good portion of toasted nuts and shredded fruit. Last week we had a shredded green apple and toasted walnut "hand cake" and the kids feasted on instead of using forks and butter and syrup and this made it fun (eating with hands!) Also, this made it quick.

Lots of Raw Fruits and Veggies!

Who says fast food has to be a burger? An apple takes 20 seconds to slice up. An orange a minute.