Parents: Here is Your Sanity Saver Meal

I know that I'm not alone in feeling that mealtimes can be stressful as a parent. Picky eating aside, the whole mealtime prep thing that has to happen three times a day (not including snacks) easily becomes redundant, frustrating, and tiresome. Some days I feel like I've just cleaned up the mess from one meal when I have to start prepping for the next! 

One day not so long ago, I decided not to cook or really prepare much of anything for my kids' lunch. I just didn't have the energy. Instead, I put a bunch of healthy foods on their plate (foods that I could easily grab out of the fridge or pantry) that they could eat with their fingers (kind of like a snack but bigger) and put it in front of them.

THEY. LOVED. IT.

And now it's their (and my) favourite lunch ever. Oh, and sometimes breakfast and dinner too. 

Behold...

The Finger Food Meal

Sounds simple, right? It is. And that's the beauty of it!

The more variety and colour there is on their plates, the more your kids will eat. What will increase the chances of this even more, is if you put all of the ingredients out on the table and get your kids to serve themselves from all of the options. This way, even though you're still ultimately in control of what foods are served, your kids have a little bit of control over what they serve themselves and eat (which they love). 

Here's what to include: 

• 2 protein-rich foods (ie. leftover pieces of meat, poultry or fish, Greek yogurt, cheese, nuts, seeds, nut butters, hummus, beans, chickpeas, hard-boiled egg)
• 1-2 whole grain foods (muffin, crackers, bread strips, leftover French toast strips, leftover whole grain waffles in strips or pieces, leftover pancakes, whole grain cereal etc)
• at least one vegetable
• at least one fruit 
• dips make it fun too 

It's like magic...

Even for the pickiest of eaters!

Have you made finger food meals before? What do you like to include? 

For more tips and tricks for feeding kids, follow me on Facebook.

 RELATED: 3 Fast and Healthy Finger Food Recipes for Your Baby