Mac and Cheese Made Easy Menu
Macaroni and cheese is a real favorite with kids, but many may be surprised to know it doesn’t have to come in a box. Your youngsters will delight in cooking macaroni and cheese from scratch. They’ll also love making ladybugs out of apples, raisins, and pretzels sticks. With the leftover brownies from the Kid-Pleasing Stuffed Pocket Menu, they can also create a “fancy” dessert by layering crumbled brownies and pudding in parfait or drinking glasses.

Top Chef Tip: If your kids are always craving sweets as snacks, steer them toward more nutritious choices with ideas from Healthy Snacks and Beverages for Kids.

• Apple Ladybugs
• Quick One-Pot Mac and Cheese
• Buttered mixed vegetables
• Parfaits (made by layering crumbled leftover Easy Chocolate Brownies and low-fat or sugar-free vanilla pudding purchased in individual cups or made from a mix)

Wraps are a delicious change of pace from those same old sandwiches, and they’re easy for kids to put together. This tempting version introduces youngsters to some ingredients that they may not have had before, such as avocado and alfalfa sprouts. If they’re not too sure about one of the ingredients, just leave it out. All-time kid favorites — tomato soup, potato chips, and fruit dip — will help make this meal a hit. If you have some of the fruit dip leftover, serve it over granola for breakfast.

Top Chef Tip: To keep the avocado from turning brown, toss the slices with a little lemon juice.

• Tomato soup
• California Veggie Wrap (make four sandwiches)
• Baked potato chips or celery sticks
• Vanilla Yogurt Fruit Dip (make a double recipe)

Kids Cook for Company MenuKids get a kick out of cooking for company. So let them have some friends over for a sleepover or invite grandma and grandpa for dinner. The kids will be proud to announce they did “all” the cooking themselves.

Top Chef Tip: For some helpful dos and don’ts when kids are cooking, see Cooking with Kids.

• Ants on a Log (make a double recipe)
• Tossed salad with desired salad dressing
• Spaghetti Lasagna
• Italian bread with butter
• Poke Cake