Recipe for Kids: Peanut Butter, Strawberry and Bananas Quesadillas

How many times have you argued with your kids at the dinner table about eating their veggies? Have you ever smuggled veggies into a dish, hoping the kids won’t know they’re in there? I’m guilty of adding shredded carrots to my spaghetti sauce, or making tacos with a meat substitute. We all know vegetables are good for us, but did you know that proper early nutrition in children impacts their ability to learn, and eventually what they’ll earn as adults?

In a recent Save the Children report, research indicated Malnourished children could earn up to 20 percent less as adults vs. adults that ate balanced meals as children. While that’s shocking, its even more disturbing to learn money spent on nutritional programs, is only 0.3 percent of global development spending! That’s point three percent!

In developing countries the issue is more complicated than making healthy choices at the grocery store.

“A quarter of the world’s children are suffering the effects of chronic malnutrition. Poor nutrition in the early years is driving a literacy and numeracy crisis in developing countries and is also a huge barrier to further progress in tackling child deaths. Improving the nutritional status of children and women in the crucial 1,000-day window – from the start of a woman’s pregnancy until her child’s second birthday – could greatly increase a children’s ability to learn and to earn. World leaders gathering in London on June 8th must commit to concrete actions to tackle malnutrition in those critical 1,000 days, and invest in the future of our children.” Carolyn Miles, Save the Children CEO and President.

One of the best ways for my children to get whole grains, are with tortillas and quesadillas. Both kids love eating plain tortillas as a snack, but they also enjoy quesadillas, and this recipe gives them protein and fruit! Plus, eating healthy sounds expensive and complicated, but this meal can be made for less than $8!

Peanut Butter, Strawberry, & Banana Quesadillas

recipe and photo by The Nutrition Twins

Cooking spray (if you are cooking your quesadillas)
2 tablespoons natural creamy peanut butter
2 whole grain tortillas
1 large ripe banana, sliced
4-5 strawberries, sliced
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

Directions:
1. Spread 1 tablespoon of peanut butter evenly over each tortilla. Distribute banana and strawberry slices over one tortilla, sprinkle with a pinch of cinnamon, and cover with other tortilla, peanut butter side down. Press gently to help them stick together.
2. Spray skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium high heat. Grill quesadillas until golden brown. (if you want them cooked)
3. Cut each quesadilla into halves or quarters. Serves 2-4.
Makes 2 Servings

Nutrition Facts Per Serving: Calories 263 Total Fat 11g Cholesterol 0mg Sodium 211mg Potassium 415mg Total Carbohydrate 36g Dietary Fiber 4g Sugars 9g Protein 8g

On Saturday, June 8, President Obama and world leaders will meet in London at the G8 summit to discuss global nutrition. We need to get his attention, and remind him that “supermoms” want a plan for child malnutrition at the top of the agenda. We need to focus our global development spending on targeting a reduction of stunted growth in children due to malnutrition. It’s more than just a plan, its an investment in the future.

How do we get their attention? Here’s a sample tweet:

@whitehouse let’s make sure all kids get healthy food in their #next1000days so they can reach their full potential. #Nutrition4Growth

Please help make a difference by joining other supermoms to help Save The Children with nutrition campaign, together we can make a difference in a child’s life, and the future!