September marks the beginning of a new school year, a crucial time for both parents and young students. In addition to buying new books and school supplies, there is another fundamental aspect to consider: nutrition. A healthy diet is essential to ensure children get the right amount of energy and concentration during the school day and to turn snacks into a healthy and tasty meal. Let's explore the importance of a balanced diet by offering you three simple, quick, and healthy school snacks to prepare!
Fruit, vegetables, and more vegetables
Yes, we know, fruits and vegetables have never been a favorite food for children, especially the little ones! Yet, they are the foundation of a proper diet and a healthy body, and for this reason, they cannot be done without. Unfortunately, the fruits and vegetables we find in supermarkets are not always synonymous with freshness; on the contrary, it often happens that they have an uninviting appearance, dry leaves, or spoiled parts. What to do then?
There is a solution and it's called a vertical garden, a cultivation system that develops vertically instead of horizontally, thus occupying much less space with the same results. In the case of Poty, Hexagro's vertical garden, for example, it is possible to grow up to 40 plants in just under 1m2. This is a very useful solution not only for those who live in the city and do not have a garden but also for those looking for an efficient solution, equipped with an automated irrigation system, and that does not involve the use of soil but rather a substrate, which is much more sustainable and practical to use. With a small vertical garden at home, you can grow fruits and vegetables and have them always at hand, ready to be harvested and savored for their authentic taste.
This way, you'll always have access to seedlings, aromatic herbs, fruits, and vegetables in a corner of your balcony, ready for the preparation of tasty snacks! Let's see some of them together.
Small swiss chard and ricotta fritters
Ingredients:
- Swiss chard leaves
- Ricotta cheese
- Eggs
- Whole wheat flour
- Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
Finely chop the Swiss chard leaves. In a bowl, mix the chard leaves, ricotta cheese, eggs, whole wheat flour, salt, and pepper until you get a homogeneous mixture. Heat some oil in a non-stick pan and pour small amounts of the mixture to form the fritters. Cook until they are golden on both sides and set them aside for the snack.
Chicken and Arugula Wrap
Ingredients:
- Tortilla
- Diced cooked chicken breast
- Sliced tomato
- Natural yogurt (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
Cook the chicken cubes with a little oil and salt and spread them on the tortilla along with some fresh arugula and tomato. Optionally, you can add a few teaspoons of natural yogurt to add freshness to the snack and lighten the bitterness of the arugula. Spread the natural yogurt on the whole wheat tortilla. Adjust salt and pepper to taste, roll up the tortilla, and cut it into portions for a ready-to-go snack in the backpack!
Potato and rosemary flatbreads
Ingredients:
- 500 g of pizza flour
- 300 ml of lukewarm water
- 10 g of fresh brewer's yeast
- 2 medium potatoes
- Thinly sliced
- Coarse salt
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
Dissolve the yeast in lukewarm water and let it rest for about 10 minutes, then, in a large bowl, combine the flour. Mix well until you form a homogeneous and elastic dough. Add more water or flour if needed to reach the right consistency. Cover the dough and let it rise in a warm place for about 1-2 hours or until it doubles in size. Once risen, create small balls of the size you prefer and roll them out on an oiled baking tray. Evenly distribute the potato slices on the flatbreads along with the rosemary sprigs and finish by drizzling with extra virgin olive oil, coarse salt, and pepper. Bake in a preheated oven at 200°C for about 20-25 minutes or until the flatbreads are golden and crispy. Remove from the oven and let them cool slightly before cutting into portions and serving. A snack to relish!
By choosing from these snack options, you will help your children start the new school year on the right foot, ensuring them the right amount of energy and concentration to face each school day at their best. Welcome back to school and enjoy your meal!
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