As a parent, finding nutritious meals that your kids will actually eat can be a daily challenge. Picky eaters often turn their noses up at the healthiest options, making mealtime stressful. Moms are especially busy and sometimes can't stop to make a meal from scratch, leading to the temptation to throw together something quick and less nutritious like ramen noodles or processed foods. However, with a bit of creativity and the right ingredients, you can prepare kid-friendly meals in jars that are both delicious and nutritious. Using freeze-dried ingredients, you can create fun, appealing meals that even the pickiest of eaters will love. And even if it is something like macaroni and cheese that is not full of veggies, YOU know what is in them! You have taken the power back into your hands to hand select the ingredients you approve of. Maybe it is using only non-GMO, avoiding allergies or just saying NO to the toxic chemicals and preservatives that foods contain, you are in control.
Why Choose Meals in Jars for Kids?
Portion Control: ✅🍽️️ Meals in jars allow you to control portions, ensuring your kids get the right amount of nutrients without overeating.
Convenience: ⏳🕒 These meals are quick to prepare and easy to store, making them perfect for busy parents and kids on the go.
Nutrition: 🌱🥦 Thrive Life’s freeze-dried ingredients retain their nutritional value and are shelf stable, so you can be confident your children are getting the vitamins and minerals they need.
Fun Factor: Eating out of a jar or a thermos is a novelty that can make mealtime more enjoyable for kids.
How to Prepare Kid-Friendly Meals in Jars
Involving your kids in making these meal jars can be a fun and educational experience. When they see the final product and know they made it themselves, they'll be excited to choose and eat their creations! This process not only teaches them valuable kitchen skills, but also instills a sense of pride in their work and the reward of enjoying a meal they helped prepare. Have a family fun project, simply give each child a container, set out the ingredients for easy access, and help them follow the recipe to add their portions. If you have three kids, you'll have three meals ready in minutes, all while enjoying productive and rewarding family time together. One of the best parts is you have spent time teaching real world skills.
Step 1: Select Your Jars or mylar pouch- For at home use you may choose a small, wide-mouth jar or mylar bags that are easy for little hands to manage. Mason jars are a great option due to their durability and reusability.
Step 2: Find your recipe and Gather Your Ingredients Thrive Life offers a variety of freeze-dried ingredients that are perfect for kid-friendly meals, including:
Fruits (strawberries, bananas, apples)
Vegetables (corn, peas, carrots)
Proteins (chicken dices, beef dices, sausage crumbles)
Grains (rice, pasta)
Dairy (cheddar cheese, mozzarella cheese)
Spices and herbs for seasoning
Step 3: Layer Your Ingredients Layer the ingredients in the jar, starting with grains and proteins, followed by vegetables and fruits. This helps maintain texture and flavor. Keep dry and wet ingredients separate until ready to eat.
Step 4: Add Instructions Attach a note or label with simple instructions for preparing the meal, such as how much water to add and how long to let it sit.
🌟If you want an on-the-go container a small soup thermos will work great and already be cooked for mealtime. Just pour in the prepared jar, add the water and throw in their bag. Viola! lunch is made!
Kid-Friendly Recipe Ideas
1. Cheesy Chicken and Rice
1/2 cup freeze-dried rice
1/4 cup freeze-dried chicken dices
1/4 cup freeze-dried peas
1/4 cup freeze-dried cheddar cheese
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Cooking Instructions: Add 1 cup of hot water, seal the jar, and let sit for 10-15 minutes. Stir and enjoy!
2. Mac and Cheese with Veggies
1/2 cup freeze-dried pasta or a small sized regular pasta
1/4 cup freeze-dried cheddar cheese
1/4 cup freeze-dried broccoli
1/4 cup freeze-dried corn
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp onion powder
Cooking Instructions: Add 1 cup of hot water, seal the jar, and let sit for 10-15 minutes. Stir and enjoy!
3.Cheesy Taco Pasta
Ingredients:
1/2 cup freeze-dried pasta or small sized regular pasta
1/4 cup freeze-dried ground beef
1/4 cup freeze-dried corn
1/4 cup freeze-dried cheddar cheese
1 tbsp Thrive Life taco seasoning mix
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
Salt and pepper to taste
Cooking Instructions:
Add 1 cup of hot water to the jar.
Seal the jar and let it sit for 10-15 minutes to allow the ingredients to rehydrate.
Stir well and enjoy!
This Cheesy Taco Pasta combines the flavors of a taco with the comfort of pasta, making it a sure hit with kids. The mild taco seasoning adds a fun twist without being too spicy, and the cheesy goodness makes it a favorite for young taste buds.
4. Strawberry Banana Overnight Oats 🥣🥄🍓
Ingredients:
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup freeze-dried strawberries
1/4 cup freeze-dried banana slices
1/4 cup freeze-dried Greek yogurt
1 tbsp chia seeds
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup milk (dairy or non-dairy)
1 tbsp honey or maple syrup (optional)
Instructions:
Layer the Ingredients: In a jar, layer the rolled oats, freeze-dried strawberries, freeze-dried banana slices, freeze-dried Greek yogurt, and chia seeds.
Add Flavor: Pour in the vanilla extract and honey or maple syrup if using.
Add Liquid: Pour the milk over the layered ingredients.
Mix and Seal: Stir everything together to ensure the oats and chia seeds are well combined with the milk. Seal the jar with a lid.
Refrigerate: Place the jar in the refrigerator overnight (or for at least 4-6 hours) to let the oats and chia seeds absorb the liquid and soften.
Enjoy: In the morning, give the oats a good stir and enjoy directly from the jar. You can add a little more milk if you prefer a thinner consistency.
Benefits:
Nutritious: Packed with fiber, protein, and vitamins from the oats, fruits, and Greek yogurt.
Convenient: Prepare the night before for a quick and easy breakfast in the morning.
Delicious: The natural sweetness from the strawberries and bananas makes it a kid favorite.
Fun alternatives: Add a sprinkle of freeze-dried chocolate chips or a drizzle of nut butter on top for an extra treat that kids will love.
As with any of these recipes, always do a tester first to be able to adjust to your liking. Each can be catered and changed according to each individual taste.
🌟TOP SECRET "MOM SECRET" AHEAD.....🤭🥕🍓
Fun Tip for Sneaking in fruits and Vegetables
If your child doesn’t eat veggies, here’s a clever trick! You can easily powder freeze-dried vegetables and sneak them into meals without them even knowing! Simply grind the veggies into a fine powder or keep the powders from the bottoms of the containers and mix it in with other ingredients. This way, you can ensure your child is getting the nutrition they need without any fuss.
🍴 Tips for Encouraging Kids to Eat Meals in Jars
Involve Them in Preparation: Let your kids help assemble the jars. They’re more likely to eat something they helped make.
Make It Colorful: Use a variety of colorful ingredients to make the meals visually appealing.
Keep It Simple: Choose ingredients that your kids already like and are familiar with.
Add Fun Labels: Decorate the jars with fun labels or stickers to make them more exciting.
🍏🥕🎒 Don’t Forget the Snackies!
Thrive Life Snackies pouches are perfect for taking on the go. These convenient pouches are packed full of nutrition and won’t go bad in your child’s book bag. Snackies come in a variety of flavors, from fruits and vegetables to protein-packed options, making them a great choice for a quick, healthy snack during the day.
Meals in jars and freeze-dried foods are a fantastic way to ensure your kids eat healthy, balanced meals without the fuss. By using freeze-dried ingredients, you can create nutritious, delicious meals that are convenient and kid-approved.
As a busy parent, knowing that your pantry is stocked with wholesome, ready-to-go meals can bring peace of mind and ease the daily stress of meal planning. With Thrive Life’s freeze-dried ingredients, every jar is packed with essential vitamins and minerals, ensuring that your family gets the nutrition they need without sacrificing taste or convenience.
Try these recipes and tips to make mealtime a fun, stress-free experience for both you and your picky eaters. Embrace the simplicity and joy of meals in jars, and transform your family's dining experience with delicious, nutritious options that everyone will love. Happy cooking!
For more information on creating your own long-term and working pantry, check out my other blogs or sign up for my newsletter, which focuses on meal-in-a-jar recipes, tips, and Thrive Life food updates. To order freeze-dried ingredients, visit my direct link at goshen.thrivelife.com. I would love to have you join me! Plus, anyone who signs up and places an order will receive my Meals in Jars book for FREE!
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