I babysit and need ideas for inexpensive, healthy meals and snacks for the kids.?

Question

I have a 2 yr old and 5 yr old of my own, then I babysit two 5yr olds and one 2 yr old, so I'm feeding 5 kids every day. Serious answers only, please!

Answer 1

I have a day care in my home and here's is what I've planning on fixing this week for snacks and meals.

Monday- am snack- blueberry muffins (made from a mix)
lunch- hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, apple slices
pm snack- raisins and pretzels
Tues. - am snack- apple breakfast bars (like nutrigrain bars)
lunch- peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, cooked
mixed veggies, banana
Wed.- am snack- yogurt cups
lunch - spaghetti (just noodles and sauce), green
beans, strawberries
pm snack- string cheese
Thurs. am snack- waffles (frozen)
lunch- chicken tenders, corn, grapes
pm snack- goldfish crackers
Fri.- am snack- kix cereal
lunch- grilled cheese sandwiches, carrot sticks,
strawberries
pm snack- teddy grahams

I serve milk for morning snack and lunch and either juice or water with afternoon snack. I spend about $60-$80 a week on groceries depending on what I need, and I'm feeding 4 kids at the moment. Hope that gives you some ideas, I rotate the menu and will serve different things on different weeks, things like lasagna, pizza, meatloaf, turkey sandwiches, fish sticks and popcorn shrimp. I keep a good stock of veggies in the freezer and I always buy fresh fruit. Good luck!

Answer 2

English Muffin Pizza:

Spread tomato sauce on an english Muffin. Add cubes or shredded cheese. Microwave untill cheese is melted.

Shaped Sandwiches:

Make a basic sandwich and use cookie cutters to make fun shapes.

Cinnamon Sugar Toast:

Butter a piece of toast. Sprinkle on a mixture of cinnamon and sugar.

Bagel Faces:

Spread cream cheese over half a bagel. Let the kids add silly faces using cut up fruits and veggies.

Cracker sandwiches:

Make their favorite sandwiches replacing bread with crackers.

Ants on a Log:

Spread peanut butter down a stick of celery. Add a line of raisins (or "ants")

Answer 3

Stone Soup is a good thing to make. Take what ever meat the kids like. You can use cheaper meat if you so desire. Add what ever vegies the kids will eat. Here is an exsample
1 pound of ground beef or turkey
1 cup of chopped carrots
4 med size potatoes
1 cup of celery
6 cups of water
1/2 tbs of salt (less if desired)
1/2 clove of garlick
cook the meat and garlick in the pan that you make the soup in. Brown it and than add water carrots potatos or any other vegies than add what ever can vegies or fresh if you prefer. Can is cheaper. Cook until potatoes are done.
Pizza bagels
Take plain bagels cut in half. Put tomato sauce and slice of cheese put one pepperoni slice on each half bake in oven 400 degrees (preheat) for 5 minates or until cheese is melted.

Answer 4

Most stores have store brands of crackers that kids would eat. Also look for things on sale. Bananas are the cheapest fruit; other than that, certain things seem to be cheaper on certain weeks. I go to a bread store and get cheaper bread and rolls. Walgreens has a LOT of buy one/get one free deals on snacks on certain weeks. Most kids like pasta and that is cheap. Is there a food outlet in your area? Probably the best thing I could say is to just scour the sales fliers each week and eat what is on sale.

Answer 5

For a snack you could just give them a small cup full of cereal (Cheerio's or Kix) and for meals, Grilled cheese and tomato soup will usually get rave reviews (or even just the grilled cheese)

Answer 6

Look at the cookbook Feed Me I'm Yours... it has great recipies for toddler meals and older kids, not to mention fun things for you to do with them. You can look at barnes and nobles/borders or the library.... Trust me on this, you'll be a hit!

Answer 7

if you are looking for a good snack that is also good for them what about something like peanut butter crackers of maybe have you heard of bananas bounce that makes a great snack which i feed kids when i baby sit its easy to make and its also very good for them

Answer 8

Here's one we love - a package of shells and cheese (like mac 'n cheese) with broccolli, and throw in a can of tuna after the package is made. Tasty and inexpensive.

Answer 9

TRAIL MIX! easy and so cheap. and you can make it with all sorts of healthy snacks. better yet you can have them help you!!

Answer 10

I would stick to sandwiches and fruit everyday.