DIY Meal Kits for Kids

Cooking home meals is usually the cheaper and healthier option. But sometimes, you might not feel like putting in the work to prepare dinner for the entire family, so you decide to eat out at a restaurant. Another alternative has gained traction recently--many businesses now deliver DIY meal kits directly to your doorstep.

These meal kits are usually simple and quick, which is perfect for the summer months. After all, your kids are home from school, so convenience is key. If you have children on summer vacation, it can be difficult to plan and prepare an entire meal while looking after them. This is why LeeAnn Weintraub from the LA Daily News has a new suggestion: Get them involved in the kitchen.

When provided with clear directions and the proper ingredients and tools, children are certainly capable of preparing part of a meal or snack. According to Weintraub, "children as young as 6 or 7 can whisk, peel hard-boiled eggs or fruit by hand and melt chocolate in the microwave." Older children can accomplish even more difficult tasks in the kitchen.

The first step is organizing all of the necessary ingredients for the recipe into a large reusable container. This way, everything your child needs will be in one place in the refrigerator. Next, make sure your child has the simple, step-by-step recipe for the meal, along with some tips and any tools s/he may need. By getting your kids involved in the kitchen at an early age, they will be comfortable preparing meals in the future, making them more self-sufficient.

Here are some easy DIY meal kit recipe ideas to get your little chef(s) started:

• Crustless pizza skewers, made with tiny mozzarella balls, cherry tomatoes, roasted red peppers and marinara sauce. Add pepperoni for extra taste.
• Fish stick tacos, made with corn tortillas, salsa, avocado and coleslaw mix.
• Barbecue chicken pizza, made with pita bread, grilled chicken, barbecue sauce, mozzarella cheese, sliced red onion and cilantro. This could be a great way to use that leftover grilled chicken!
• Mini calzones, made with premade pizza dough, marinara sauce, shredded mozzarella, olives and steamed mixed vegetables. These can be cooked right in the toaster oven.
• Stuffed baked potato, made with half of a potato, shredded cheese (cheddar works best) and broccoli or cauliflower. Add salsa for extra flavor.
• Tuna lettuce wraps, made with tuna fish, chopped celery, shredded carrots, hard-boiled egg and large romaine lettuce leaves. There are plenty of simple recipes that use canned tuna because it's so versatile.
• Salmon sandwiches, made with whole wheat bread, lox, cream cheese and cucumber slices. You can even let your child use cookie cutters to make different shapes out of the sandwiches.
• Nutty banana roll-ups, made with whole wheat tortillas, bananas and peanut butter. You can also substitute almond butter for peanut butter--whatever your child's preference!

With these easy DIY meal kit recipes, your little chef will be an expert in the kitchen by the time school starts up again. Best of luck!