Here in Tampa, Florida it is hard to believe that the first nine weeks of the school year is almost over! The hustle and bustle of getting back into a routine and carting everyone off to their respective places in the mornings may already be wearing on you a bit.  Finding the time and energy to plan and make healthy meals and snacks might not be at the top of the priority list. However, at these critical stages of growth, it is so important for children (and parents) to be eating healthy and nutritious food.  While it is not realistic to send your kids to school with five-star meals everyday, it would feel good to know that you are sending them off with food of quality.  We are here to help you out with our creation of some simple and fun recipes that your kids are sure to enjoy eating and making with you.

Homemade Breakfast Granola
Granola is packed with healthy carbs and tastes amazing.  It is quick and easy to eat if you are in a hurry and can be prepared in advance so there is no need to wake up early and cook.  For your ingredients you will need oats, brown sugar, wheat germ, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, vanilla, vegetable oil, water, almonds, and either dried or fresh fruit.  After you have mixed the ingredients together, bake them in the oven until they turn a nice golden brown and have a crunchy texture.  Stir it occasionally.  After baking, add in the dried or fresh fruit of your choice.  Serve it right away or store it for future breakfast meals.  Consider adding honey for a little extra sweetness.

Chocolate Banana Blast Smoothie
Making a smoothie in the morning is so a simple solution and they come in all kinds of delicious flavors.  A nice kid friendly option is our Chocolate Banana Blast smoothie.  You will need milk or regular Greek yogurt, a banana, chocolate syrup, peanut butter, and ice.  You could add some ground flax seed or a dab of honey for some extra nutrition and sweetness.  Mix all of the ingredients and blend them together.  You can make smoothies for one or make enough for your whole family.  Smoothies are a great way to wake up your metabolism in the morning without overwhelming your stomach if you or your kids are not used to eating a big breakfast.

Ham and Ranch Roll Ups
When it comes to packing school lunches the food has to be easy to store and easy to eat.  Most schools do not have microwaves ovens to heat up the food so options are limited.  Ham and Ranch Roll Ups are a great lunch solution.  They are fun to eat, simple to make, easy to store, and absolutely delicious.  All you will need for ingredients are tortillas, ham, cucumbers, and ranch dressing.  Lay out the tortillas on a cutting board and add a layer of ham directly on top.  Place cucumbers in two or three rows on top of the ham and spread a light layer of ranch over the whole tortilla.  Roll the tortillas carefully and cut them into fourths or fifths.  The roll ups will stay together well on their own, but you can use a toothpick to hold it all together if need be.  Preparing these roll ups take such a short amount of time and they are small enough to fit into any size lunchbox or Tupperware.

Tex Mex Roll Ups
Tex Mex Roll Ups are another simple solution for you to start packing in school lunches.  You will need tortillas, sour cream, shredded cheese, chili powder, black beans, bell peppers, and cilantro.  You could add a meat to it, such as chicken or beef, but with the lack of an option to heat up at school it may not taste good with meat.  Roll out a tortilla on a cutting board and add the black beans, bell peppers, and cheddar cheese together in a bowl.  Add chili powder and sour cream and place them on the tortillas and then roll them up tightly.  Cut into fourths or fifths and serve immediately or store in the refrigerator.  These tasty roll ups pack a good deal of flavor and have healthy ingredients that will keep your kids energized and feeling great.

We hope that you enjoy these simple, recipes that you and your kids can enjoy throughout the school year.  Please comment if you have any fun recipes that you would like to share!  Stay safe and God bless you and your family this school year!
 

Written by: Natalie Smith

At the heart of every nonprofit there lies a desire for a difference to be made.  Made Wonderfully was created to do good works in the Tampa Bay community by impacting the lives of disadvantaged children and strengthening family bonds.  From what started as one family’s dream to serve, has evolved into a tribe of people who believe in prioritizing relationships and teaching lessons that will affect positive change in the lives of others.

Made Wonderfully was founded in 2015 by Nicolle and her husband Anthony Jones as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.  Nicolle developed a passion for working with disadvantaged children while at the Joshua House in Tampa.  Joshua House is a nonprofit that serves abused, neglected, and abandoned children – many who have lived in multiple foster care homes.  In getting to hear some of their stories, Nicolle realized the importance of pouring into their lives and how often they have failed to receive basic life lessons. 

Through Made Wonderfully, Nicolle now facilitates a nine-week, “Life Lessons Learned in the Kitchen” curriculum where she uses her gifts in the kitchen to teach youths 5 to 18 years of age about self-worth and the importance of taking care of themselves.  She hosts these classes at Summer and Spring Break camps, in classrooms, and at community events.  The lessons reinforce positive self-image and teach healthy habits which are critical to learn at an early age.

After partnering with churches and centers in the community, Anthony and Nicolle began hosting annual events such as the Tampa Bay Annual Father Daughter Ball which is held in the Fall and is welcome to fathers and daughters of all ages.  Attendees benefit from a formal sit-down dinner followed by a fun time of dancing.  The ball gives fathers and daughters a unique opportunity to connect and enjoy precious memories together that they will be able to look back on for years to come.

For Jessica Vega-Eugene, who sits on the Board of Made Wonderfully, the Father Daughter Ball is her favorite event of the year.  “I think the Ball just shows you how precious time is.  It makes me happy knowing that my daughter will know how she should be treated and what real love looks like.”  Jessica is excited to be apart of an organization that she says fills a gap and puts the focus back on the family.  “The Life Lessons Learned in the Kitchen is teaching kids the skills that they need in an interactive and nonjudgmental environment.  With how busy we are in our society today; it can be hard to take the time to listen to each other – Nicolle is gifted at creating the kind of environment that allows the kids to open up and express themselves.”

The M*A*S*H (Mother and Son Hangout) was the next event to be created and it takes place in the month of May.  Nicolle and Anthony discovered pretty quickly that the young men were interested in participating in activities such as games and contests.  This event is another wonderful opportunity for special memories to be created between the bond of mother and son.

The journey to creating Made Wonderfully has been one that Jen Shelton, Treasurer of the Board, has been excited to witness.  She received an email from a dad who said the Ball had become a tradition for his family after he attended with his daughter who fell in love with it.  “Watching Nicolle’s vision come to fruition is amazing.  Seeing how well the events have been received shows me that this is working and it’s headed in the right direction,” she says.  The Life Lessons Learned in the Kitchen she believes is equally as impactful: “It shows the kids their value and shows them that it is worthwhile to invest in themselves.  They come away learning that they are truly made wonderfully and it is beautiful to see how receptive they are.”

As Anthony and Nicolle look ahead, they plan on continuing to teach classes and host events in the community.  In the future they hope to have the ability to open a facility where they can meet for the current activities and also have worship nights, classes geared towards other ages, counseling services and a place to provide meals and resources.  Please keep the people of Made Wonderfully in your prayers as they seek to live out God’s purpose for their lives in our community.

If you would like to learn more about the mission of Made Wonderfully please visit their website.  Made Wonderfully posts event updates and information on community involvement on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.  

“Ask us a question, join us at an event, donate, volunteer…whatever you do, do it wonderfully, because you are MADE WONDERFULLY our friends!  Make it a GREAT day!” – Anthony and Nicolle Jones