Ahhh … summer is FINALLY here, and the kiddos are off! That means no (or fewer) schedules, late nights swimming, and lazy mornings. It also means that the children will be home all day. Read: you need to be prepared with easy recipes for kids. I have a few tips on how to manage this below, and I also want to share a recipe for kid-friendly meatballs, which are perfect to have on hand for the little (and bigger) ones. Make a batch on the weekend and be prepared when hunger calls!

kid-friendly meatballs

Tips on keeping food on hand for when the kids are at home

  • Make your grocery list together. Ask your children for suggestions; perhaps they would like to plan a meal, or maybe they have a hankering for a certain food this week. Before you shop, make sure to have a plan.
  • Take them shopping with you. There are soooo many lessons to be learned at the grocery store, valuable lessons that will serve them well in years to come. Don’t deny them of this opportunity!
  • Be prepared for company. I don’t know about you, but it seems that I can never have too much food on hand. There are the times when the neighbors just drop by, or the last minute invites to a friends where you want to bring something. I like to try to have extras available in case they are needed.
  • Double up on fruits and veggies. Hey, even adults sometimes turn to food when boredom strikes. Having additional produce on hand can make a great option for the times when that two-word phrase strikes. 
  • Be flexible. I’m a 90/10 gal, and I try to keep my kids to 80/20, but I’m flexible. While we won’t do it every day, an occasional ice cream stop or bag of chips out at the pool is all part of the fun summer memories we’re making. Don’t sweat it! 

 

5 from 3 votes
Kid-friendly Meatballs
Cook Time
22 mins
Total Time
22 mins
 
Course: Appetizer, Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6
Calories: 351 kcal
Author: Kiran Dodeja Smith
Ingredients
  • 2 TBSP Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 cup bread crumbs GF if needed
  • 1.5 lbs. ground beef sub chicken if desired
  • 2 eggs beaten
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. In a large bowl, mix Parmesan cheese, salt, oregano and bread crumbs. Add eggs and meat and combine, being careful to not over-mix.
  3. Using an ice-cream scooper (or even a spoon), form meatballs, aiming for the size of a golf ball. Place about 1 inch apart on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes; flip and cook for 5-7 more minutes, or until crispy on the outside.
Nutrition Facts
Kid-friendly Meatballs
Amount Per Serving (6 meatballs)
Calories 351 Calories from Fat 216
% Daily Value*
Fat 24g37%
Saturated Fat 9g56%
Cholesterol 136mg45%
Sodium 383mg17%
Potassium 344mg10%
Carbohydrates 6g2%
Fiber 0g0%
Sugar 0g0%
Protein 23g46%
Vitamin A 90IU2%
Calcium 70mg7%
Iron 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Kid-friendly meatballs are perfect for popping and having available for the kids who are at home; they also make great school lunch add-ins, too. I served these atop of mashed potatoes in the images shown, but they are super with pasta and marinara or as a meatball sub sandwich. #obvs  Or some kiddos may just prefer to dip them in ketchup! Another no-fail recipe for the kids is the Broccoli Cheddar Soup, which my kids enjoy year-round.

Now tell me, what do you have planned for the summer?

kid-friendly meatballs

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