Food 4 Kids Maruchan Noodle Bag
How do you take 16 ingredients in a bag and turn it into nutritious meals over a two-day weekend? You ask our intern Kelly!
Kelly is a nutrition student at California State University, Long Beach CSULB. Every week we have been challenging her to head out to the Food Finder’s Warehouse, empty one Food 4 Kids bag, take photos, and then come back with recipes to feed a family over the weekend nutritiously.
Nutrition Is In Our Mission
Food Finders has a mission to eliminate hunger and food waste, but did you know that we also have a part 2? “….while improving nutrition in food insecure communities.” It is critically important that people eat nutritious meals. Our bodies need nutrition to get up out of bed, get on the bus to school, and then our brain has to be ready to learn—you need nutritious food to do that!
Kelly has a talent for taking all the ingredients sorted and packed into our Food 4 Bags, and craft some delicious and easy recipes for a family to prepare over the weekend. Keep in mind that she is assuming there are no other ingredients in the house, so anything you add to the mix will boost the nutrition even more! The beautiful part of these recipes below is that you can make nutritious food from simple ingredients when you think outside of the box.
Oatmeal with Fruit Topping
Servings: 4
Ingredients:
- Oatmeal packet
- Fruit mix or fruit cup
Instructions:
- Cook oatmeal packet as directed and top with 1/3 of drained mix fruit or 1 fruit cup
- Enjoy!
Tuna and Black Bean Casserole
Tuna and Black Bean Casserole
Servings 4
Tuna is good for you and is a rich source of lean protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Combined with the black beans that are rich in fiber, potassium, folate and B6 as well as its phytonutrient content and no cholesterol supports heart health.
Ingredients:
- 3 packages of chicken flavored Maruchan noodles prepared per package instructions leaving one seasoning packet out and drain majority of the fluid.
- 1 can of tuna, drained
- 1 can of black beans, drained
- 1 can of mixed vegetables, drained
- 1 can of tomato soup
Instructions:
- Place cooked noodles, tuna, black beans, tomato soup and can of mixed vegetables in a pot.
- Bring to a simmer and cook until heated through.
- Eason to taste
- Garnish with anything available such as cheese, hot sauce, cilantro, onion and sliced radishes.
Tuna and Tomato Noodle Casserole with Green Beans
Servings 4
Tuna is good for you and is a rich source of lean protein and omega-3 fatty acids.
Ingredients:
- 3 packages of chicken flavored Maruchan noodles prepared per package instructions draining the majority of the liquid.
- 1 can of tuna, drained
- 1 can of green beans, drained
- 1 can of tomato soup
Instructions:
- Place cooked noodles, tuna, green beans and tomato soup in a pot.
- Bring to a simmer and cook until heated through.
- Season to taste
- Garnish with anything available such as cheese, hot sauce, cilantro, onion and sliced radishes.
Chips and Dip
Servings approximately 4
Ingredients:
- 1 can of refried beans
- 1 Chicken seasoning packet
- 1 bag of potato chips
Instructions:
- Place refried beans in a bowl.
- Mix in the chicken seasoning packet thoroughly.
- Feel free to add cheese if available.
- Dip chips and enjoy!
The Food 4 Kids Program is an amazing collaboration of the City of Long Beach and Food Finders. To learn more here
If you would like to volunteer to help us sort and pack Food 4 Kids bags at our warehouse, contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Kevin Burciaga, kburgiaga@foodfinders.org