Naplan School Breakfasts and Lunchbox Ideas

We all have heard that a great breakfast and a good lunch gives kids the best possible start to their learning for the day.

It's Naplan week for us and my daughter is both excited and nervous.
She is so excited about Naplan and really wants to give it her best, so the best thing I believe I can do for her is nice early bedtimes and lots of nourishing food.

Power up your Naplan kids at home with super breakfasts and awesome foods for their breakfasts and in their lunchbox!

Here are some fantatsic Naplan School BreakFasts and LunchBox Ideas

Breakfast

Healthy and Hearty Home-Made Baked Beans
Can be made in advance - refined sugar free, vegetarian, dairy free
Get the recipe HERE

Natural New Age Mum's
Wildly Popular and Scrumptious Blueberry Breakfast Slice
Get the recipe HERE

Brenda Janschek Health & Lifestyle has a gorgeous
Coconut and Ginger Infused Rice Porridge

Get the recipe HERE

Jen's Paleo Kitchen has created a
healthy and energy packed paleo sweet potato and apple hash
Get the recipe HERE

Easy, Quick & Delicious Spinach, Kale & Broccoli Cheesey Scrambled Eggs

Get the recipe HERE

Nourishing Hub brings you a
superfood porridge as beautiful as it is good for you!
Get the recipe HERE

Kid Tested and Approved Green Smoothies

These have been road tested as kids cooking events with overwhelming success!
Get the recipe HERE
SNACKS

NZ Eco Chick has created
Mixed Spice Apple Fruit Leathers - YUM!!
Get the recipe HERE

Chocolate Macadamia Bliss Balls
Get the recipe HERE

Brenda Janschek Health & Lifestyle
"Notella" recipe - yes, she has done it! Delicious, decadent and healthy!
Get the recipe HERE

Mango & Rockmelon Mousse
Refined sugar free - using Agar Agar not gelatine, sets firm - easily vegan,
make as small as you like
Get the recipe HERE

NZ EcoChick has the kids excited about their lunchboxes with
Almond and Apricot TrufflesGet the recipe HERE

Brenda Janscheck Health & Lifestyle
with kale chips!
Get the recipe HERE

NZ Eco Chick has created a
delicious snack so packed full of nutrients and flavour she recommends making it in double batches so you have enough!Get the recipe HERE

Berryliscious Muffins
Refined Sugar Free
Get the recipe HERE



LUNCHES

Pineapple & Sweet corn mini quiches
Get the recipe HERE

Vegeliscious Muffins 
Packed with veggies and a super food hit for super healthy kids!
Get the recipe HERE

Ricotta, Carrot & Zucchini Rolls
Get the recipe HERE

Spinach, Kale & Feta RollsGet the recipe HERE

Carrot & Sweet Potato Hash BrownsGluten Free, Egg Free, Dairy Free

Get the recipe HERE


Don't forget other delicious lunch options like sushi, salad wraps with the lot, home-made pizza and rice paper rolls!

AND for even more ideas check out:
Natural New Age Mum's 30 super healthy lunch box snacks


Lunch boxes can be FUN!

Eat beautiful. Be Active. Live well. Be Happy.

Bek XX

RECIPE - Moorish Macadamia Biscuits - Gluten Free

Moorish Macadamia Biscuits – Gluten Free

Using gorgeous local Nutworks Macadamia Paste these biscuits will be a hit in the school lunch box. They also have no added sugar and are high in protein.

Ingredients

·         ½ cup Nutworks Macadamia Paste

·         ½ cup butter

·         ½ cup sour cream

·         ¼ cup Natvia stevia powder (find me in the sugar aisle)

·         8 drops liquid vanilla stevia

·         1 cup unsalted macadamias, chopped

·         1 &1/2 cups Maleny IGA almond meal

·         1 &1/2 cups Maleny IGA brown rice flour

·         2 Rawganix free range eggs

·         ¼ cup Buderim Naked Ginger, chopped (optional)

·         ¼ cup white choc chips (optional see notes for alternative)

·         ¼ cup extra macadamias, and mixed choc chips and ginger (if using)  to top biscuits

Method

·         Preheat oven to 180`c.

·         In a bowl combine butter, stevia’s, and eggs with a hand mixer.

·         Mix in the sour cream.

·         Add in the almond meal, rice flour, baking powder; combine well before adding in macadamias and also choc chips and ginger if including them.

·         Roll mixture into balls in your hands and place on grease proof paper lined trays.

·         Top each biscuit with some extra macadamias and ginger and chocolate if using for a decorative finish.

·         Bake for around 8-10 minutes or until golden, keep an eye on them.

·         Remove from oven and allow to cool on wire racks.

·         Store in air tight containers.

Notes

·         Make a chocolate version by adding a tablespoon of Planet Organic cocoa powder and an extra tablespoon stevia (or to taste).

·         Make these completely sugar free by leaving out ginger and white choc chips and using 1 x 50g bar of sugar free chocolate like Sweet William, chopped up, available in store.

·         If you are gluten intolerant check the chocolate you use for gluten free.

·         Make them extra ginger flavoured by using the Nutworks Macadamia Paste with Ginger.

·         Use honey instead of stevia, to taste.

Toddler Tips

·         These are great for kids as they are high protein and no added refined sugar other than the chocolate and glace ginger which can be left out.

·         Make small ones for little hands.

·         A great recipe to bake together!

This recipe is from the Local Product Local Recipe - recipe cards, promoting local products and producers from the Sunshine Coast region. Collect the free recipe cards in store at the Maleny IGA.

Maleny IGA makes it easy for you to support locals.
*Maleny IGA has in-store local supplier & gluten free shelf labelling. 
*Online shopping  & home delivery across the sunshine coast with easy local supplier tags.
*Weekly local recipe card using local ingredients by local author Rebecca Mugridge available in-store & on our website.
*Regular local product demos & tastings.
*CBC Program - 2012 raised $144,000 for local  charities.

Maleny Supa IGA  •  26 Maple St, Maleny  •  Ph: 5494 2257  

Recipe & Food Image Photography ©RebeccaMugridge 2013

Cheesey Potato & Carrot Hash Browns

Cheesey Potato & Carrot Hash Browns

Tasty for dinner, lunch and school lunch boxes or makes a great hors d'oeuvre. Delicious hot or cold. Flavoured with local Gourmet Garden Herbs and delicious local Kenilworth Cheddar Cheese and introducing the new Kenilworth Organic Cold Pressed Olive Oil. 

Ingredients

·         1 large sweet potato.

·         1 washed potato, washed.

·         1 large carrot, washed and peeled.

·         2 stalks spring onion.

·         1 teaspoon Gourmet Garden Chives.

·         2 teaspoons Gourmet Garden Garlic.

·         1 cup Kenilworth Cheddar Cheese, grated.

·         3 Sanitarium rashers.

·         1 teaspoon Tumeric.

·         Karom Himalayan pink mineral salt to taste.

·         Pepper to taste.

·         Organic tomato sauce to serve.

·         1 & 1/2 tablespoons  organic cold pressed olive oil ( I use Kenilworth).

Method

·         Heat ½ tablespoon of the oil in a frying pan.

·         Slice thinly and fry the rashers until nicely cooked, set aside.

·         In a bowl grate the potato, sweet potato and carrot, mix together

·         Add in the chives, garlic, turmeric, salt and pepper to taste, cheese and rashers, combine well.

·         Heat 1 tablespoon or so of oil in a frying pan.

·         Take tablespoon size amounts of the mix in your hands and press the mixture together to make a patty shape, squeeze out excess moisture.

·         Fry just a couple at a time on a medium heat, allowing to go golden brown on each side, press down gently as you do.

·         Drain on paper towelling.

·         Turn onto a wire cooling rack.

·         Serve with a bowl of organic tomato sauce.

Notes

·         Great for kids lunch boxes, include a small container of the tomato sauce.

·         Use ham instead of the sanitarium rashers.

·         Swap the dipping tomato sauce for a bowl of sour cream mixed with gourmet garden chives and some fresh chives on top.

·         Great for picnics.

Toddler Tips

·         Make theirs toddler hand sized for ease of use. Serve with a fresh crunchy salad including things fresh beans, cucumber, cherry tomatoes and red capsicum.

This recipe I created for client Maleny Supa IGA and their Local Product Local Recipe - recipe cards. 
Recipe & Food Image Photography ©RebeccaMugridge 2013

RECIPE - Pineapple & Sweet Corn Mini Quiche's

This recipe is an absolute hit with kids! I have yet to see a child not love it. There is never left overs with a tray of these are they are SO easy. A real fail safe recipe you know the kids really are going to eat! They can even easily be made gluten free too!


These are perfect for school lunches, picnic's and entertaining. The flavour combinations of sweet and savoury make them a real hit with kids and adults alike. Freezable. Makes 24.

Ingredients

·         1 cup cheddar cheese, grated.

·         4 free range eggs.

·         ½ cup cottage cheese.

·         1 tin Australian sweet corn, drained.

·         1 tin pineapple pieces, in natural juice, drained OR fresh pineapple - local is best!

·         3 sheets butter puff pastry or gluten free puff pastry or homemade pastry.
            1 tablespoon Superfoods for Kidz Vital Veg powder (OPTIONAL) see notes

Method

·         Pre heat oven to 180’c.

·         Lightly grease 2 muffin baking trays.

·         Remove pastry sheets from freezer.

·         Make sure pineapple and sweet corn are really well drained.

·         Crack the eggs into a large bowl, whisk lightly.

·         Add in cheeses, sweet corn, vital veg and pineapple, combine well.

·         Cut pastry sheets into 9 squares.

·         Line each muffin hole with one square. Remove pastry corners (optional).

·         Fill with mixture.

·         Bake for approximately 15 - 20 minutes or until nicely golden and pastry is cooked. This will change depending on the size of the quiches you make.

Notes

·         Perfect portion sized for school lunch boxes.
            The Nutra organics SuperFoods for Kidz range is absolutely amazing and products I happily give to my own children all the time. Everything is honestly labelled and organic, raw, vegan and paleo friendly. Even if you have kids that eat well these powders taste great and can be added to all kinds of foods to really boost their immune system and overall health and vitaliy.
Find them HERE

Toddler Tips

·         Use a miniature muffin tray and this makes lots of tiny, toddler hand sized quiches.

This was a recipe created for the Maleny IGA's Local Product Local Recipe - Promoting local Sunshine Coast producers.

Along with my blog, books and cooking events I am available for professional recipe creation and styling and photography work or even just recipe styling and photography of YOUR recipe.
I specialise in healthy cooking, plant based cooking and product promotion and creating recipes around brands and products.
EMAIL ME for a quote!

Recipe and photography (c) RebeccaMugridge2013

{Join In} Sugar free for one week!

Join in a fun challenge for your health and happiness.

A sugar free Facebook Event

You can find plenty of delicious no added sugar recipes right here on my blog too.
WHY?
So many health experts agree that we all consume way too much sugar, some say it can even become like a poison in our bodies. Whether you consume a little or a lot a conscious decision to go sugar free for 1 week is a great exercise to become conscious of how much sugar your family does consume. You will find yourself shocked when your checking ingredients list, yes it is almost everywhere!

You don't have to give up sugar forever, unless you want too. This is just 1 week. To give our bodies a break and to become more aware of how much we consume and learn new ways of cooking to eat less of it in the future.

Feel free to share recipes, inspiration and ideas with the facebook event page or here in comments.
And check back here tomorrow for a very exciting guest blog interview you will LOVE!


So what can't you have in our sugar free week?Sugar cane sugar, brown sugar, raw sugar, white sugar, icing sugar
Artificial sweeteners like aspartame (well technically you could as its sugar free but please don't, it is so bad and yuk :( )
You will need to check ingredients lists and packets.

What can you have?
Natural sweeteners like:
Stevia. (I like Natvia)
Honey.
Coconut Sugar.
Fruit.
Dried Fruit.
Concentrate Fruit Juice.
Xylitol.
Maple Syrup.
Agave.

 

 

TIPS

• SWAP soft drink for mineral or soda water with freshly squeezed lemons.
• Make yourself some sugar free sweet goodies for the week (see some recipe ideas below)
• Buy yourself a sugar free choccy bar, just in case or for a treat. Like Sweet williams.
• Swap cereals with homemade porridge with fruit and honey.
• Buy Jalna yoghurt (sweetened with fruit juice) or natural yoghurt.
• Check your bread! Yes lots of breads have sugar in them. Check the ingredients and find one that is ok, go bread free for the week, swap to a sugar free flat bread or bake some home made bready goodness!
• If you feel like an alcohol beverage try something like vodka with the Pink Sparkle Drink, fresh tomato and celery juice or fresh homemade orange and mango juice.
• Try including a fresh juice each day if you have a juicer to really pick up your health.
• Take some stevia sachets with you so you ask them to use these if you grab a latte when out.

You can also try some of these recipe to satisfy your sweet tooth or choccy cravings too!

 

 

Beautiful Beetroot Yoghurt Muffins
(Collect this recipe card from the Maleny IGA)

 

Rockmelon & Mango Mousse
(Collect this recipe card from the Maleny IGA)

 

Choccyliscious Muffins

 

Maleny IGA Healthy Maca Balls
(Collect this recipe card from the Maleny IGA)

On the Sunshine Coast? Grab all the ingredients for these delicious recipes from the Maleny Supa IGA !

 

 

Rebecca XX

RECIPE - Peri Peri Sweet Potato Fries

Love hot chips? Make your own healthier version with Peri Peri Seasoning and Maleny Dairies Natural Acidophilus Yogurt. The whole family will love and you enjoy without the guilt!

Ingredients

• 2 Large Sweet Potatoes, sliced into chip shapes
• 2 tablespoon Peri Peri
• 2 teaspoons Olive Oil
• 2 teaspoons Sweet Paprika
• 1 teaspoon Sea Salt or Himalayan Salt
• 1 tablespoon Dried Rosemary

Method

• Pre heat oven to 220`c.
• Line 2 baking trays with baking paper.
• In a bowl combine the Peri Peri, 1 teaspoon paprika and 1 teaspoon oil.
• In a second bowl combine the salt, rosemary, 1 teaspoon oil and 1 teaspoon paprika.
• Using the 2 bowls separate the chopped sweet potato into 2 lots, mix both lots well with the seasoning
• On one tray lay out the Peri Peri chips and on the other the rosemary
• Turn over when half cooked, approximately around 20 minutes depending on thickness of the sweet potato
• Continue to bake until golden, cooked through and crispy
• Serve Peri Peri sweet potato fries with a bowl of Maleny Dairies Natural Acidophilus Yogurt.
• Serve rosemary sweet potato fries as is or with a homemade tomato sauce

Notes

• The Peri Peri does have a bite so the rosemary version is great for heat sensitive guests and children.
• Like a bit of heat? Increase the Peri Peri content and serve with a spicy or chilli sauce.

Toddler Tips

• Serve the rosemary version for the toddlers, it is also great with a freshly made guacamole for dipping.
• Optionally, leave the salt out.

This recipe is from the Maleny Supa Iga's Local Product Local Recipe - recipe card series, available to collect in store.


Recipe & Food Image Photography ©RebeccaMugridge2012

Refreshing Recipes & Ideas for Staying Cool

Refreshing ideas for keeping cool

Make sure you take care of yourself in the heat!

• Bring some great leafy indoor plants inside your house, they not only remove toxins from the air, plants can reduce temperatures by as much as 5`c (stay tuned for a post on this next week!)
• Eat lots of fresh, tasty foods like (below) and salads, fresh fruit, cold quiche's, frozen fruit snacks, homemade icy poles.
• Drink lots of water and also refreshing drinks, iced herbal teas, freshly made juices, smoothies, (see the recipe for making your own healthy ice coffee too!) 
• Cool off with water, if you don't have a pool, take a family outing to a swim safe river, beach, lake or dam, visit your local swimming pool, even the kids paddling pool will do or a cool essential oil bath.
• Make your own face fresher with a spray bottle and cool water.
• Wet t-shirt's and put on wet for an instant cool!
• If your lucky enough not to be on water restrictions, on tank water, or in a dry spell where you live, have a water fight with the kids.
• Take a time out and do nothing for a little while when you get a chance, unplug, turn off the TV and just be in the quiet.
• Take deep breaths to help your body work at its best.
• Laugh - it will help take your mind off it!
   

Stawberry granitas

From the Maleny IGA Local Product Local Recipe - recipe card series

These can be made in different sizing, as one big batch, like sorbet, in individual cups, or even tiny in shot glasses or small cups, you can also substitute the strawberries for raspberries or even pineapple too or use thawed frozen strawberries/raspberries if fresh are unavailable.
You could also use it to make THIS recipe with the beautiful Colin James Sorbet which you can grab at the Maleny IGA.
Get the recipe to make it HERE

Woodford Fresh Salad with Preserved Lemon Dressing

From the Maleny IGA Local Product Local Recipe - recipe cards

This recipe is a favourite at our house and was a real hit at the Maleny Supa IGA taste testing in October, and hugely popular with the kids!
Get the recipe HERE

Refreshing and moorish healthy iced coffee

You love getting together with friends and chatting over coffee, but sometimes it seems a bit hot to enjoy it hot and bought iced coffee can be very high in fat and calories so make in your own delicious, guilt free iced coffee! Serve in decorative glasses for a fun drink with friends x
Get the recipe HERE

Prawns with Mango & Carrot Salad in lettuce cups and Pomodora's Ginger and Lime dressing

From the Maleny IGA Local Product Local Recipe - recipe cards

This is such a gorgeous combination of flavours that will make you a hit at your next BBQ, lunch or dinner party or why not treat the family to this gorgeous, healthy dinner?
It is  light so perfect for hot weather, you can also serve the salad by itself for vegetarians as it is gorgeous on its own too. The Pomodora's dressing is absolutely stunning and is available along with everything else you need from the Maleny Supa IGA
Get the recipe HERE

Watermelon basket fruit salad

From the Maleny Supa IGA Local Product Local Recipe - recipe card series

Such a gorgeous way to display and present a fresh fruit salad and get that real WOW factor from friends and family. A great one for the kids to take to school for a special occasion or their birthday Take to a dinner party or on a picnic.
You are also left with melon flesh from all the balling - great for a smoothie while you make it!
Get the recipe HERE

Haloumi Cheese Bread salad

from the Maleny Supa IGA Local Product Local Recipe - recipe cards

This is SO delicious, the cheese is absolutely stunning and makes this a hearty salad.
Get the recipe HERE

Homemade Coffee Icecream
From the Maleny IGA Local Product Local Recipe cards

This is such a yummy homemade ice cream, you can also follow the recipe and switch the coffee for chocolate using natural cocoa powder

Get the recipe HERE

My Pumpkin and Feta Quiche from the Healthy, Happy Mums cookbook

recipe - advanced preview!

Make this ahead of time and serve cold on a hot day, perfect for picnics, lunch boxes and entertaining
Get the recipe HERE

Funky Fruit Platters!

This is just one of many styles you can make, and you can be sure for an empty plate at the end!
Get the recipe HERE

And you just can't beat a fresh juice with ice!

Some of our current family favourite combinations include:
Beetroot, pink lady apples, carrot and fresh ginger
Green apples, lemon, baby spinach, kale, ginger and celery
Green apples, baby spinach, kale, orange, ginger and rock melon
Raspberries, rock melon, pink grapefruit, beetroot, watermelon and ginger
Green apples, blueberries, spinach, kale, watercress and ginger
Carrot, raspberries, beetroot, red cabbage, ginger and oranges
Carrot, ginger, lemon and beetroot
Straight tomato with a tiny dash of parsley
Carrot, Apple and Ginger

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All images (c) RebeccaMugridge