The thing about Thanksgiving leftovers is—they get old fast. Maybe on day 1 post turkey day, that open-faced cold turkey sandwich is exciting, but by day 3 and 4, you’re just over all of it. Especially the children, who might not be big fans of stuffing, green beans and other traditional holiday foods in the first place. Not to worry—here are 5 kid-friendly meals made with Thanksgiving leftovers.
- Cranberry Sauce Pancakes
Keep it easy by using a healthy pancake mix like King Arthur’s gluten-free pancakes—which come out both thick and fluffy—and then top with leftover cranberry sauce. Cranberries are as sweet as jam or syrup, and the icing on the (pan)cake is that they are also chock-full of antioxidants. Kids will love the cheerful red color!
- Stuffing Boats
Carve out a squash, zucchini or other in-season vegetable and fill with leftover stuffing. Tell your children they are “stuffing boats” and if you have any cocktail toothpicks, stick ‘em in for added kid appeal!
- Pumpkin Corn Muffins
If you stocked up on canned pumpkin puree and didn’t bake all the pies you were planning on, grab a box of corn muffin mix (you probably have extra of that, as well, for the cornbread you never actually made) and use the pumpkin instead of the egg and oil ingredients for lower-fat, nutrient-dense morning treats.
- Funny Face Turkey Sandwiches
Put a fresh (and funny) face on those boring leftover turkey (or ham) sandwiches by getting creative with cookie cutters, garnishes like pickles and olives, and other materials you probably already have in your fridge like carrot sticks and pepper slices.