Busy moms are oftentimes forced to feed their children takeout because of their tight schedules. Every mom who is familiar with fast-food knows it is filled with unhealthy ingredients. The unhealthy ingredients- propylene glycol, potassium bromate, fluorine, TBHQ, calcium sulfate, butylated hydroxytoluene, and propyl gallate – have been linked to obesity and diabetes in young children. Fortunately, busy moms have an option when it comes to mealtime, this option is no other than the Instant Pot. With this appliance on hand, homemade healthy meals three times a day are always a possibility.
The Instant Pot features various cooking methods, including slow-cook, pressure, saute, timer, and steam. When you are scheduled to work at the office all day, you can take advantage of the slow-cook cooking method. Fill the pot with vegetables, water, and seasons, select the slow-cook feature, and return home to a delicious bowl of vegetable soup. Add a few slices of meat and serve your children a hot bowl of stew, with little to no effort.
Instant Pot Loaded Baked Potato Soup
There is nothing healthier or more comforting than a hot bowl of loaded baked potato soup on a cold winter day. And, the best benefit, you can cook the ingredients while away at work or school. If you prefer being present during the cooking process, you will have this option with the Instant Pot. The recipe takes about 20 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to fully cook. If you prepare the ingredients in advance, you can start the cooking process immediately after returning home.
Onion, smoked bacon, butter, potatoes, water, garlic, half-and-half creamer, salt, and pepper are needed for this healthy Instant Pot recipe. Place the freshly-prepared ingredients in the Instant Pot, select the saute feature, and set the timer for 8 minutes. When the timer expires, stir the ingredients and cook for an additional 12 minutes on high pressure. Allow cooling before serving.
Instant Pot Garlic Roasted Potatoes
Garlic-roasted potatoes are a great after-school meal for children of all ages. This is a very simple recipe that requires minimal ingredients and cooking time. Fresh potatoes, garlic powder, salt, thyme, rosemary, pepper, vegetable broth, and salt are required for this recipe. Place the freshly-prepared ingredients in the Instant Pot, select the saute button, and set the timer for 8 minutes. When the timer expires, stir the ingredients thoroughly, and cook for additional 7 minutes on high pressure.
An additional 15 minutes is required to reduce the pressure. This will give you enough time to set the table and call the children to dinner. This is a fun recipe that can be combined with meat, salad, or another side item.
Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken
Chicken is rich in protein, which is important for healthy bones and muscle growth in children. This is a good recipe for weekends, summer break, or after school. If your children enjoy chicken, they will love this Instant Pot meal. Boneless chicken breast, brown sugar, olive oil, honey, soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, garlic, water, ginger, and cornstarch are needed for this recipe.
Place the freshly prepared chicken and olive oil into the Instant Pot, select the saute feature, and set the timer for 5 minutes. When the timer expires, add the other ingredients, and cook for additional 15 minutes on high pressure.
Add a side like rice, macaroni & cheese, or steamed vegetables with little to no effort. Your children will devour their serving and beg for more. You can find more Instant Pot chicken recipes at www.corriecooks.com.
Instant Pot Lasagna
Italian recipes used to be drawn-out and difficult to put together, until the Instant Pot came along. This recipe takes about 45 minutes compared to the baking method’s 1-1/2 hours. Olive oil, salt, no-boil noodles, ground beef, marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, spinach, and goat cheese are required for this Instant Pot recipe.
Place the ground beef and olive oil in the Instant Pot, press saute and set the timer for 6 minutes. When the timer expires add the lasagna noodles in layers. Place a layer of marina sauce, spinach, and mozzarella cheese, goat cheese, and then a lasagna noodle. Continue this sequence until all of the ingredients are gone.
Place the lid on the Instant Pot, select the pressure feature, and cook for an additional 15 minutes. When the timer expires, wait an additional 15 minutes for the pressure to evaporate before removing the lid. Serve with a side of garlic bread and watch your children eat healthier than ever before.
Instant Pot French Toast Casserole
This is a fun Instant Recipe for breakfast or brunch. Most children enjoy french toast with a layer of sugar-free syrup and a pat of butter. You can serve this recipe on weekends or before school on weekdays.
Stale bread, white sugar, beaten eggs, ground cinnamon, salt, vanilla extract, milk, water, and butter are needed for this recipe. It is recommended to add a layer of cooking spray to the bottom of the Instant Pot before adding ingredients. A thin layer will prevent the ingredients from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
Place the beaten eggs and other ingredients, excluding butter and water, in a large bowl and add the stale bread. Add water, but only after coating the bottom and sides of the pot with cooking spray. Place the beaten egg and bread mixture in an oven-safe bowl, sit on top of the trivet. Cook for 15 minutes on high pressure. Allow pressure to evaporate before removing the lid.
Once the timer expires, remove the oven-safe bowl and prepare to serve. Fill each plate with a scoop of French toast, add a pat of butter, and a bit of syrup. This is where a lot of parents go wrong because they give their children freedom to choose how much syrup to add to their french toast. It is recommended to keep the syrup to a minimum to avoid too many calories.
Afterword
Parents all over the world are turning to the Instant Pot for healthy, delicious meals for their children. If you really want to get creative, you can create unique recipes for your children to enjoy before and after school.
