Muffin Tin Meals: Not Just for Kids

 Isn’t this a super darn hoot of an idea?!?!  Kudos to Sycamore Stirrings for this bit of maternal brilliance: filling a muffin tin with small amounts of your kids’ favorite foods.  This one has Goldfish, blueberry bagel chunks, cucumber sticks, strawberry yogurt, Gorilla Munch cereal, blueberries, pretzels, string cheese, dried apricots, red pepper, cheddar cheese cubes, peaches. 

It’s geared for kids.  Perhaps because I’m more of a kid at heart than most, but I love the idea for me.  It would make eating a lot more fun for me… much more entertaining.  And, the built-in portion control rocks!  I would fill mine with almonds, apple slices, fat-free ricotta cheese, Kashi GO LEAN Original cereal, Hormel turkey pepperoni slices, light string cheese cut into discs, grape tomatoes, Smart Balance Omega Natural peanut butter, cranberries, sugar-free preserves, Zbar chunks, and edamame.

I often find that stuff designed for kids, at least as far as food is concerned, is actually just right for adults.  For instance, ZBars are a staple in my pantry.  They are organic energy bars made for kids; yet they’re perfect for me in terms of calories (120-150 per bar) and even price ($0.59-$0.69 each).

Consider the McDonald’s Happy Meal.  It’s a “right sized” fast food combo that now comes with healthier options like, and it’s ideal for adult women who want to treat themselves to the taste and convenience of the drive-thru without blowing their diets.

So, when you see something nifty for kids, think about how you can use it for yourself.  You might be surprised.  J