MOMeo Kitchen Kid Lunches: To-Go-Go-Go: High-energy foods for high-energy kids!

Did you know that active kids burn anywhere from 150 calories to 420 calories per hour? That means you need to serve them high-energy foods to support their high-energy activities.

Serve them a well-balanced lunch before their busy-day activities:

Spaghetti Pizza

2 eggs, beaten
1 cup milk
1 lb lean ground beef
1 large onion, chopped/minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cans tomato sauce (15 oz each)
2 small green peppers, chopped
2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1⁄2 tsp. pepper
2 cups mushrooms, sliced
2 cups grated mozzarella cheese
8 cups cooked whole wheat spaghetti

1. Pan fry ground beef until browned. Add garlic, onions, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, and pepper.
2. In a separate bowl beat eggs, add milk, and cooked spaghetti.
3. Place spaghetti into one 15 X 10 inch jelly roll pan. Top with meat sauce. Top with peppers and mushrooms. Top with cheese.
4. Bake at 350F for 20-25 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting into squares. Variation: spread on pizza pans and cut into wedges.

Date Squares

Filling:
1 (8 oz pkg) chopped pitted dates (1 2/3 cups)
2/3 cups orange juice
1/3 cup water

Crust & Topping:
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup rolled oats
1⁄4 cup packed light brown sugar
3⁄4 tsp ground cinnamon
1⁄4 tsp. Baking soda
1⁄4 tsp salt
1⁄4 cup frozen orange juice concentrate (unsweetened)
1⁄4 cup canola oil
2 tsp butter

To make filling:

1. Combine dates, orange juice, and water in a small saucepan
2. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat.
3. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until dates are tender and filling has thickened, 4-6 minutes.
4. Remove from heat.

To make crust and topping:

1. Combine flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl; blend with a fork or your fingertips.
2. Add orange juice concentrate and blend with a pastry blender or your fingertips.
3. Drizzle in oil, tossing with a fork, until moistened and crumbly.

To assemble and bake squares:

1. Set 2/3 cup of the flour/oat mixture aside in a small bowl for topping.
2. Pat the remainder evenly in the bottom of an 8-by-8-inch baking pan coated with cooking spray.
3. Spread date filling evenly over bottom crust.
4. Add butter to reserved topping and blend with a pastry blender or your fingertips. Sprinkle topping over filling.
5. Bake until golden at 350F and firm to the touch, 20-30 minutes.
6. Let cool in pan on a rack. Cut into 16 squares.

Tell us your favorite on-the-go snacks for go-go-go kids! The best tips will be featured in an upcoming MOMeo Kitchen!