National Nutrition Month: Nutritious Food Ideas and Resources for the Busy Mom–It’s National Nutrition Month and today we’re going over time-saving hacks to help you give your kids nutritious meal and snack options! Find out more here on Newsymom!

This is Public Health is brought to you in partnership with the Tuscarawas County Health Department.

March is National Nutrition Month, and boy it’s hard to get these kids to eat nutritious food while us moms are always on the go! Between juggling work, the kids, household chores, and everything else going on in our daily lives, providing our kids with nutritious meals ends up going on the backburner… Most nights turn into takeout meals and microwave dinners.

To help out all our mamas, we’re going to give you some awesome, time-saving ideas for nutritious meals and snacks that your kids will actually WANT to eat.

Starting in the Morning: Breakfast

When meal-prepping is unrealistic and you’ve only got thirty minutes to get everyone together before heading out the door for school: 

Mini Egg Cups-

 What you need:

• Mini Muffin Pan (minis cook faster than regular-sized muffins)
• Scrambled egg mix (however you make your scrambled eggs)
• An assortment of chopped veggies (onions, peppers, mushrooms, whatever the kiddos will eat)
• Your favorite sliced sandwich ham or bacon bits

How to make them:

• Preheat your oven to 400° and grab your mini muffin pan!
• Quickly scramble some eggs, chop some of your favorite veggies and snag a couple sandwich ham slices. Tear up the ham slices with your fingers into smaller bits.
• PAM the inside of the muffin forms (so they don’t stick), then add your scrambled egg mix, veggies, and the sandwich ham or bacon in each.
• Pop that in the oven while you’re getting the kids dressed (or having your morning cup of Joe) and bake until the top of the bites are golden brown.
• If you have the time, plate it up with some salsa, sour cream, and chives on top. But in reality, these are perfect to toss in baggies so your kids can eat in the car on the drive to school!

*Ding Ding*… Lunchtime!

Ever heard of Fruit Roll Ups? Now you can incorporate it into lunch in a creative way, no cooking needed! Have the kiddos help you prep lunch like this:

Meat Roll Ups-

What you need:

• Sandwich Ham Slices 
• Plain cream cheese (room temperature if you can help it)
• Chopped green onion, peppers, or any veggies your kids will love

How to make them:

• Lay out some ham slices flat on plates or clean countertops.
• Make a piping bag (yup, just like frosting a cake) and put in the room temperature cream cheese. Pipe a line of cream cheese close to one edge of each ham slice. (Have the kiddos help squeeze the bag.)
• Sprinkle your chopped veggies onto the line of cream cheese.
• Roll the ham slice with the cream cheese on the inside and voila! Serve with a side of fruit and everyone’s happy!

And Finally: Dinner

As an On-The-Go mom, your best friend should be: The Crockpot. In the morning you can pop your dinner in the crockpot and by the time you come home… deliciousness! (Clean up by using Crockpot liners is simple and your house will smell amazing throughout the day, too.)

Chicken and Potatoes-

 What you need:

• Crockpot
• A Whole Chicken
• Onions
• Potatoes
• Carrots
• Your favorite side salad mix

How to make them:

• Turn on your Crockpot on Low heat, and season your chicken with your favorite spices, rubs, or sauces. 
• Put your seasoned chicken in the Crockpot and get your veggies ready!
• If you have large potatoes, cut them in half and throw them in the pot. Same with onions and carrots.
• Season your vegetables and give a little toss to coat as evenly as possible.
• Let the Crockpot do its thing all day and come home to a yummy, tender meal! 
• Add some whole grain rolls and a side salad for an awesome, light-fare pairing and enjoy!

Bonus Ideas: Snack Time

• Sweet Pepper Rings: Chop some mini sweet peppers into rings and toss those in sandwich baggies with baby carrots, cucumbers, or grape tomatoes! Have the kids grab a baggie for an on-the-go snack.
• Banana Chips: Use those overripe bananas to make a healthier version of chips! Make a mixture of 4 parts water to 1 part lemon juice. Slice the bananas thin and lay them on a sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush the bananas with the lemon water mixture and sprinkle a little cinnamon on. Bake at 250° for about 1.5 hours, flipping them halfway through!
• Cucumber/Tomato Salad: Put those extra Tupperware bowls to good use and pre-make some of the best anti-salad out there. Cut up some cucumber, tomato, and fresh mozzarella cheese. Throw portioned amounts into your Tupperware bowls with some Balsamic Vinaigrette and slap the lids on. Toss the ingredients within them and store in the fridge until someone’s ready for a snack!

Getting your kids full, proper nutrition is so important! Inadequate nutrition causes a whirlwind of issues for your kids’ health, which is why the Tuscarawas County Health Department takes action before it becomes a problem through the Women, Infants, and Children program, known as WIC. Income-eligible families can get the assistance they need to ensure their littles are eating a wholesome, healthy diet.

WIC provides nutrition education, breastfeeding education and support; supplemental, highly nutritious foods such as cereal, eggs, dairy, wholegrain foods, fruit, veggies, and iron-fortified infant formula. They also provide referrals to prenatal, pediatric healthcare, and other maternal and child health service programs.

For more information about the WIC program, call the Tuscarawas County Health Department at (330) 343-5555 x. 154 or email them at WICTuscarawas@odh.ohio.gov.

Melissa Klatt

Reporting