Health Up Their Lunchbox! (continued)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 9-inch square baking dish. Cook the macaroni according to the package directions, until firm and slightly undercooked. Drain. In a large bowl, whisk the milk with the White Puree and salt, plus the eggs. Put half of the macaroni into the baking dish and top with half the cheese. Next, layer with the rest of the macaroni, and then pour the milk mixture over the top, finishing with the last of the cheese on top.

Optional Crunchy Topping

• 1 cup whole grain cereal flakes (like Wheaties or Total), crushed
• ¼ cup wheat germ, unsweetened
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
• 2 tablespoons butter, diced into small pieces

Put the crushed cereal, wheat germ, and Parmesan into a sealed plastic bag and shake to mix. Sprinkle on top of the macaroni and cheese and dot with butter. Bake casserole 30-35 minutes, or until bubbly and golden.

Tuna Transformed

First of all, if you’re still using “chunk white” tuna, listen up! It contains up to three times the harmful mercury of “chunk light” tuna. Try to get your child used to the healthier variety as soon as possible.

Want to turn that typical tuna sandwich on its head? Add one tablespoon of white bean puree (see recipe) for every one tablespoon of mayonnaise you put in their tuna salad. Or mix in some canned skinless and boneless sardines. Yes, sardines! They’ve got almost no mercury and lots of IQ-boosting omega-3 oils. Start by mixing in 2 ounces of sardines per 6 ounces of tuna, and over time, gradually increase the amount. Continue to stir in mayo or whatever you normally add to your child’s tuna fish.

White Bean Puree recipe

• 1 15-ounce can white beans (great northern, navy, butter, or cannelloni)
• 2-3 tablespoons water

Rinse and drain the beans and put in a food processor. Pulsing in on/off trans, puree the drained beans with two tablespoons of water until smooth, stopping occasionally to scrape down the sides of the bowl. The goal is a smooth but not wet puree. (The consistency of peanut butter). If needed, thin with a little more water, until no flecks of beans are visible.