I returned this week from a mission trip to Little Rock with my church. The ladies who organized it did a wonderful job. It is a big task to take on 20 something kids age 6 to 13 to do mission work. There was one problem for me that was a delight for most of the kids: the food. My childhood came as a Blast from the Past with cheese dip, chips, cookies, hot dogs, mac and cheese, pizza, and PB&J (though these were more infrequent for me). The food while it tasted good made me feel sluggish and in need of some serious salad come day two.
As I am aware that in the south many people have not yet become conscious of the little things we do that add up in a big way. My favorite books are ones that deal with simple choices of conservation and sustainability. Blessed to have been bought up with grandparents from The Depression the value of reduce, reuse, and recycle was second nature in my life. I didn't know that we lived a life that would someday prove useful to me but now I am so grateful. When feeding large groups of people there are many things you can do at a nominal cost.
1. Your grocery list should include:
Lots of bananas,apples, oranges (seasonal hand held fruit), easy veggies cut up with dips like hummus, homemade ranch or onion, or tahini. Large containers of yogurt that you can add fruit, honey, granola, carob, dry cereal,etc. Kids love yogurt parfait party's I have done this more times than I can count. Whole wheat breads and crackers. Natural Nut Butters: there are many cost effective brands on the market now. Cheese and good quality tortillas and salsas.
There is nothing wrong with a little pizza and hamburgers but try to make the ingredients from scratch. I make my own pizza crust and marinara and have done this for my church kids and they loved it. Have a taco night with fresh ingredients, have hamburgers with vegetarian options and baked beans. The next night do baked potato's and use the leftovers. Less meat more veggies keeps cost in line and serving protein in the form of nuts, milk, eggs, cheese, etc.... keeps everyone from feeling like a slug.
Serve water, juice, milk, homemade lemonade and homemade fruit punch. Homemade mock soda can be made with grape juice and carbonated water to taste. Make decaf tea some older kids like this and black tea has a lot of antioxidants.
2. Wash dishes. Teach kids to wash dishes: use regular tableware. Try to serve meals that require one plate or one bowl, and one utensil. Set up three tubs one with rinse water, one with soapy water, and other rinse water and several drying towels. Kids actually enjoy this. Another idea is to have a cup with their name on it that they can use the whole time. This can be taken home as a souvenir. At the minimum reduce the amount of paper products and if available use post consumer recycled. NEVER buy Styrofoam.
3. Have a good attitude and be a good example of health. When making these foods you will notice less packaging: make a point to tell the kids you purposely choose foods with less packaging. Take kids to a landfill sometime and show them that trash ends up somewhere and it grows and it leaches into our water and soil. Our wasteful practices hurt our ecosystems and eventually hurt us.
Namaste'
Courtney
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