“My Best ADHD-Friendly Meal Tip Is…”
Need some kitchen inspiration? Feast your eyes on these fresh ideas for feeding a family with attention deficit.
ADDitude asked: What are your ADHD-friendly meal tips?
Breakfast for dinner — the ingredients are simple, versatile, and, usually, on hand.
-Donna, North Carolina
Wash fresh fruit right away, slice, toss in a container, and place in the fridge, so it’s ready to eat. Keeping food items in clear containers, in a “must-see” place in the fridge, also helps.
-Leslie, Illinois
[Download This Free Resource: What to Eat (And Avoid) in an ADHD Diet]
Leftovers for sure, peanut butter on small crackers with an apple, stir-fry chicken strips (you can find frozen strips with low amounts of fat and/or sodium), and lots of veggies.
-Avie, California
Use a slow cooker! Evenings are difficult — my daughter, who has ADHD, comes home and struggles with homework, while I try to get a meal on the table, as my toddler clings to my ankles and whines. With a slow cooker, I can prepare the meal before my daughter even gets home.
-Alison, Vermont
I take my son to the farmer’s market. There’s lots to see, hear, and smell, as well as bright colors for his senses. I let him pick something out each week, and the whole family tries it. He feels that he is contributing to the family in a productive way.
-Beth, New Jersey
I make chili and hide kale in it by chopping it up very fine. My son has food texture and flavor sensitivities, and he loves this dish with shredded cheese and corn chips on top. The trick is to make sure the greens are cut fine and cooked until soft.
-Bonnie, California
[Read: The Benefits of Breakfast Are Real (and Delicious)]
I use pinterest.com to get ideas to pin to my “recipe board.” I get lots of good meal tips — and I always know where they are.
-Emmy, North Carolina
Spaghetti and meatballs. The next night I make meatball sandwiches with the leftovers. Easy side dishes include carrots, mini-cucumbers and celery with ranch dip, and fresh fruit.
-Nancy, Pennsylvania
Chicken quesadillas are our favorite quick, easy meal. Dice up chicken and cook it in a tablespoon of oil seasoned with paprika, salt, pepper, and garlic and onion powders. While it cooks, dice up green peppers, onions, and any other veggies you like. Drain the chicken and mix in the veggies. Spread cheese on a tortilla, add meat/veg mix, more cheese, then top with another tortilla. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 10 minutes, and you’re good to go!
-Doug, New York
We like Subway. Each of us gets what we want, and it is pretty healthy. Our local pizza place has a family special — a large pizza, two pasta dishes, a green salad, and bread sticks for $28. We dine on it for three days.
-Olivia, California
I serve the kids “smorgasbord,” a mix of all of the leftovers in the fridge.
-Karen, New York
[Read This Next: “How Cleaner Eating Helped My Child”]
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