Quick Lunches for Kids and Hubbies!

What is fast food? Food which is quickly prepared or junk food containing no nutrients like fried potato chips etc. Today fast food has become synonymous with takeout joints offering fried chicken, fries, shakes, burgers and pizzas. Since Pizzas take more than 20 minutes to cook, how they are categorized into fast foods, I do not know? It is not necessary to slave over a stove to cook mouth watering healthy dishes for yourself and for your family. You can prepare healthy food quickly and superfast. Then your fast food will be fit food too.

The days when our moms would pack us a lunch of two chapatis or paranthas (Indian bread) with a pickle are over.The kids of today are smart. They do not want old fashioned yucky healthy food representing all major nutrients. They only want what's not good for them.And if you are a mother, then your goal is to pack your child off to school with healthy and tasty lunch, which won't be traded for another kid's packet of chips. So the problem can only be resolved if you sneak in the good food disguised as junk food. Here are a few tips.

Spread a slice of brown bread with cream cheese, then sprinkle on grated carrot and raisins. Instead of butter sandwich, add banana or apple slices.

Roll up chapatis. Who says a sandwich has to be made with bread? Make chapatis with different shapes and roll them up with some vegetables. Your kids will love the spiral shapes of soft chapatis.

Pieces of grilled or dry veggies or chicken left over from previous night can be put on chapatis, then spread some pizza cheese and bake it for five to ten minutes for a homemade chapati pizza. Alternatively use brown bread as a pizza base for the quick five minute pizza. I bet your hubby would love this too.

Use toothpicks to skewer a hunk of cheese, pineapple, a slice of cucumber and a cherry tomato or make pineapple chunks, strawberry and grapes.

If they hate fruits, mash the fruits and blend milk shakes out of them. Put in some ice cream for effect.Alternatively make fruit ice creams at home.

Make dips of yogurt and honey or tomato salsa and serve with their favourite, burgers etc. instead of a sauce.

Make home made burgers by mashing mixed vegetables, beans etc, and stir fry and sandwhich them in buns to make perfect healthy burgers. Why don't you serve this for your husband's lunch as well as the kids. Prepare the filling at night and refrigerate. The next day all you have to do is heat it and put this in the bun or bread.


Don't give up on fast foods!

Junk food can be healthy if substitued with its nutritive cousins from the same food groups. Healthy eating does not mean giving up on your favourites. Try a balanced approach between food and fitness.

Be adventurous and occasionally break away from the double cheese burger and fries to try garden burger, grilled vegetable salad, grilled or roasted chicken, a bean or mix veggie burger or a green Salad. By substituting fat, these foods become your friends. And they keep you fit and healthy too. Do not forget to be active. Balance what you eat with your physical activity over several days.

No need to get hung up on one food or one meal. Do not suffer yourself. If you want a cake, have it. Just make sure it's made of brownflour instead of white.This way you get all the taste and all the goodness too. In the same way substitute white bread and rice with brown one. If you have to eat fried, try pakoras made of green veggies etc.


If you cook for one

I always find cooking an effort speciallly when I am doing the same for myself. That's the case with thousands of single women worldwide. Who wants to go into all that trouble just to cook for one? Take-aways can get predictable and boring after a while. So here are a few ideas for quick dinners.

Steam oats or porridge with water in a pressure cooker with load of veggies. It should be done in 10 to 15 minutes max. Then give it a 'quick' jeera and oil fry. This is incredibly tasty, quick and healthy. Make a khichdi (blend of vegetables). No it is not just for patients in hospitals.It canbe delcious too. Mix lentils, rice, potaotes, tomatoes and veggies in a pressure cooker and bring to boil till everything cooks. Give it a butter fry. Maximum time taken is 15 -20 minutes.

It has all the a major food groups so it is super healthy. If you are really tired, make a double decker sandwhich with brown breas, lettuce, tomatoes, sauce or yogurt. You can also fill in previous night left overs. Mini kebabs with rolled over chapati are also quick and easy to do. Just lightly stir and fry chunks of capsicum and cheese, roll in chapati with tomato sauce and serve. You can also sprinkle cheese and bake it for five minutes.