Category Archives: Meals for Kids

Picnics & Playdates: Reader Tips & Faves around the 806 + {giveaways}

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nature walk

It’s hard to imagine anything that brings sweeter summer memories than a picnic.  Time seems to stand still for just a moment… And doesn’t everything taste better when it’s eaten on a blanket outside, watching the kids play?  And thanks to our beautiful West Texas weather and so many great local venues, Lubbock parents have some stellar opportunities to get outside and dine al fresco with the fam!   We’ve checked with our readers and local parents and compiled a list of favorite spots and resources to help you enjoy every slice of the season with our kids… from toddlers to teens!  So bring it on… Have Picnic, Will Travel!  Don’t see your favorite?  Share it with us here!


Favorite Source for Picnic & Playdate Prep

Costco.
Thanks to some great local retailers, it’s so much easier for parents and grandparents to say “yes” to what was traditionally a time-consuming project… picnic preparation!  Our readers’ choice is Costco (Costco facebook page here):  Quick. Easy. Healthy. Thrifty.  Costco really is a parent’s best friend – so glad they came to Lubbock!  They always have fresh selections of high-quality deli items to grab and go in quantities that work for a group.  Their Kirkland brand is always consistent and has healthy, yummy options for kids… including organic!  You can also find good quality, practical picnic gear including coolers and containers.  And in case you want to take a few things along to keep the kids engaged, there’s a great selection of age-appropriate reads and games for the kids (and for us!), just begging to go along.

Costco Picnic Pack{{ Flash Giveaway }}
Great news! In celebration of our Picnics & Playdates guide, our friends at Costco would like to provide this awesome picnic pack to one of our lucky readers! To enter, just leave a comment below in this blog post with one of your favorite things to take on a picnic or in our  post on our Facebook Page. For an extra entry, you can share a photo of your little one with their favorite Costco picnic items… or hop over to the Costco facebook page and like their page & let us know you did. Entrants must reside in the Lubbock market. Good luck to everyone! Entries will be accepted through Sunday 7/19. So jealous… wish we could enter!

Favorite Picnic & Playdate Spots with a Show

Lubbock Moonlight Musicals.
Moonlight Musicals Amphitheatre at Mackenzie Park.
Tickets start at $7 per child, $20 per adult.
Live outdoor performances on Friday and Saturday evenings through the summer give area families one of the best venues in the country for enjoying a family picnic while being entranced by family-friendly, top-notch productions like Shrek, 1776, and Oklahoma!

Moonlight Musicals Amphitheatre

Photo from Moonlight Musicals – Moonlight Musicals Amphitheatre

{{ Ticket Giveaway!}}
Our readers picked the Lubbock Moonlight Musicals as a favorite spot for a family picnic and our friends at Moonlight Musicals agree!…. and want to offer one of our lucky readers a family 4-pack of tickets to their current performance of 1776!!  To enter, just leave a comment below in this blog post with the name of your child’s favorite forefather in our post on our Facebook Page.  For an extra entry, you can post a photo of your kiddo dressed as their favorite forefather or like the Moonlight Musicals page, and let us know you did!  1776 is a great show, especially for our kids who are now studying American history!… But hurry… Entries will only be accepted until Midnight Thurs.7/16, with the winner announced Fri. morning!
{Tickets good for any remaining 1776 show and will be for 2 adults & 2 children (ages 5-9)}. 

New!  Morning children’s matinee of Beauty and the Beast by Lubbock Moonlight Musicals’ Moonlight Children’s Theatre.
Moonlight Musicals Amphitheatre at Mackenzie Park.
Tickets start at $5 per child, $10 per adult.
Friday and Saturday mornings at 10am through July 24th.

High Noon Summer Concerts at the Lubbock County Courthouse Gazebo.  Noon on Wednesdays in the Summer through Aug. 19th.  FREE.
Nice shaded areas for camp chairs or blankets.  And all musicians are family-friendly.

Westwinds Band

Westwinds Brass Band Concert in the Park

Sunday Concerts in the Park by the Westwinds Brass Band.
Wagner Park at 26th & Flint.
FREE.  Sunday evenings at 8pm through July 19th.
Great place for kids to play during the concert and there is always a special children’s march at the end of concert.

Favorite Picnic & Playdate Spots with Water

The Splashpad at Vintage Township.
121st Street & Salisbury Blvd.
Splashpad and play equipment for the kids, nice gazebo for the adults!
FREE.

BSL Beach

Buffalo Springs Lake Beach

The Beach at Buffalo Springs Lake.
Nice sandy beach play areas help the kids get their beach fix right here on the south plains!  And if you have time, enjoy a hike together through one of their maintained trails!

Requires lake admission:  Kids 6-11 $3 (5 & under free), Adults $6.

Favorite Picnic & Playdate Parks  

Selected by ease of location, proximity to restrooms, picnic tables, and play equipment.

Prairie Dog Town.
Mackenzie Park.
The new picnic tables make it easy to have a great picnic watching those amazing little creatures or just drive around the park to find a nice picnic spot!  The favorite of the toddler set!

prairie-dog-town-in-mackenzie-park

Lubbock Parks and Recreation Photo

AMBUCS Hub City Playground at Maxey Park
(at the north end of the park across the street from Covenant Lakeside).
Perfect for kids including special needs… completely ADA Compliant.

ambucs-hub-city-playground237FE9FBAC4B

Lubbock Parks and Recreation Photo

Legacy Play Village.
Marsha Sharp Freeway at Milwaukee.
The “kid’s choice” favorite by far, however do be careful with little ones:  Some readers reported trash issues at times especially inside the structures/castle.  Super fun for the kids of all ages… just check the grounds when you arrive.

legacy-play-village

Lubbock Parks and Recreation Photo

Buddy Holly Recreational Area.
Canyon Lakes Drive & N. Univeristy.
Where else can the kids picnic next to a waterfall…. in Lubbock?!

Favorite Picnic Tips

Grab & Go Picnic:  Just make a stop at a local store and grab a quick picnic on the go!  And if the kids know it’s for a specific “mission” it shouldn’t take long.  Be sure to choose a place, like Costco, that would have everything needed!

PYOP:  Pack Your Own Picnic!  Have everyone pack their own picnic… similar to making their own lunch for school.  Great experience for the little ones and for everyone to work together in the kitchen!

What are some of your favorite picnic spots and tips?  Share them with us here!

 

S’more Brownie Ice Cream Cake - A Zesty Bite for Lubbock Kids!

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Just in time for summer, our local foodie contributor Meagan at A Zesty Bite has come up with another recipe that all our kids are going love (we may even need to fight them for a bite!)…. S’more Brownie Ice Cream Cake.

S'more Brownie Ice Cream Cake

You may have heard some buzz over the last few weeks about Tillamook now offering their premium Ice Cream products in the Lubbock area.  Well, they sent Meagan some ice cream samples and she designed something so yummy that she wanted to make sure our readers were in the know.   And the timing couldn’t be better as many local families are going through Blue Bell withdrawl!

We really love this recipe because it’s perfect to make with the kids (only 5 ingredients!) and also the perfect project to kickoff summer and celebrate another great school year!

For the entire recipe, just jump over to Meagan’s S’more Brownie Ice Cream Cake recipe on A Zesty Bite.

And do lookout for the new Tillamook Ice Cream (it’s now at some area United stores and you can confirm locations using the Tillamook location finder)… we love the fact that it has no artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, or high-fructose corn syrup.  The company has been in existence since 1909 and was founded as a farmer-owned co-op.  Lots of awards on all their dairy products so they are tried and true… which explains why it tastes like a little spoonful of summer!

Thanks for sharing Meagan!

S'more Brownie Ice Cream Cake

 

Parents Night Out / Family Night Out: Piggy Bank Friendly Dinner Dates

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From time to time, even super-hero moms and dads need some time to themselves to enjoy an adult conversation at a place where the meal does not come with a prize or in a bag!  But as we all know, time away from the kids sometimes feels like it’s more trouble than it’s worth!… and the big question:  What to do?  Hey, we’re all in the same place:  Our world revolves around everything kidful!  And that’s where our friends at LubbockintheLoop.com come to the rescue.  They are the experts in uncovering and sharing with very deserving parents the latest, newest places and savvy events across the South Plains.

Kid Friendly (1)

So we’re excited to team up with LubbockintheLoop to share a new series:  Parent Night Out / Family Night Out.  We collaborate on a bi-weekly basis to showcase Parents Night Out and Family Night Out ideas. Each article will feature a different theme (Outdoor activities, Nights Out Under $30, Free Weekends, Healthy Nights Out, etc). LitL will hand-pick “Sitter Worthy” parent  ideas and we’ll feature family top picks. So whether you have some family time in mind or crave some adult time, we’ll have you covered!  Feel free to let us know what you think!  Have an idea for future themes? Share it with us here or on our Facebook Page.

This week’s theme: Top Dinner Date suggestions that won’t break the bank…  with the family and without!

Parent Night Out – Top Places for Dinner under $30 from Lubbock in the Loop

Dinner Picks under $30 from LubbockintheLoop

Click here for Top Dinner Picks for under $30 from LubbockintheLoop.  And Remember:  If you’re looking for a sitter so you can have a kid-free meal, checkout our list of fun Kids Night Out events…. usually on Friday nights at several locations around town.

Family Night Out – Top Picks for a Family Dinner Out that Won’t Break the Piggy Bank from
Lubbock For Kids

Any place that offers Kids Eat Free that night!

We offer a handy list that stays constantly updated of area Kids Eat Free or almost-free deals… and there’s at least one every day including the weekends!  Most are targeted to kids 12 and under so this is especially sweet for those with younger kids!  And most of the area buffet-style restaurants offer Little Kids Eat Free (under 3) everyday including Souper!Salad! and Golden Corral.  Several sit-down restaurants that feature weekend deals include:

Abuelo’s Taqueria 19th & Quaker (free) on Fridays after 3pm.
Denny’s (free) on Saturdays between 4-10pm.
Mama Rita’s (for $1.29 all day) and Dickey’s Barbecue (free) on Sundays.

(reminder:  Be sure to check before you go… deals can change!)

Holly Hop Ice Cream Shoppe

Holly Hop Ice Cream Shoppe is a great local spot for families to have a great lunch or dinner out and very reasonable.  Easy to forget that they have yummy daily specials hot of the grill!  We really like their soups… yum!

Arcade Restaurants

The area arcade-based restaurants are great options when everyone wants to play!  However, we all know that these can tip our budget with “one more game!”  - so beware or just be lucky!
Chuck E Cheese (younger kids)
Mr. Gatti’s (younger and mid)
50th Street Caboose (older kids)

The Drive-In

A great deal for a family dinner out is to head to Stars & Stripes Drive-In.  The food is really good and reasonable and there is always a screen with family-freindly movies.  And for an uber piggy bank friendly night, you can pack a picnic !

More…

There are so many great family restaurant around town where you can sit down with the family, not break the bank, and have fun!  We know there are so many more…. where are your favorites?  Share them with us here or on our Facebook page!

And check back soon for our next Family Night Out / Parent Night Out series with Lubbock in the Loop… and until then if you need an idea for some mom and dad time, checkout their website where you’re sure to find everything in town that’s “Sitter Worthy!”

LubbockintheLoop

Graham Cracker A La Mode

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Graham-Cracker-A-La-Mode-9

It’s time for another recipe from A Zesty Bite.  I don’t know about you but I am excited that Spring Break is finally here!  Many people are off visiting family members or they are on a family vacation.  The rest of you are like me and are staying home this week.  We just got back for a weekend vacation and decided to spend the rest of our vacation days during the summer.

This recipe is the perfect treat to spoil your kids while at home this week.  It’s a delicious ice cream recipe that can be altered to your children’s own personal choice of flavors.  I chose simple vanilla, chocolate and caramel because they just compliment each other very well in an ice cream sandwich.

This graham cracker a la mode can be a little messy so if you want you can put this dessert in a bowl or plate and have your kids use a fork to finish it off.  Either way it will leave them screaming THANK YOU and begging for more.

*Feel free to substitute ice cream flavors or graham cracker flavors.

Graham Cracker A La Mode-6

Graham Cracker A La Mode

Ingredients:

  • 15-16 chocolate graham crackers
  • 11 ounce package caramels
  • 5 fluid ounce can evaporated milk
  • ½ gallon vanilla ice cream
  • 1 cup crushed pretzels

 Directions:

  1. Set out the ice cream to soften.
  2. Lay 5 graham crackers on the bottom of a casserole dish.  (Break them up if you need to)
  3. In a small pot add the caramels and milk.  Stir on low heat until melted.  Remove and set aside to cool for 4 minutes.
  4. Scoop ice cream and layer it on top of the graham crackers.  Using a spatula level it out so that it is an even layer.
  5. Sprinkle crushed pretzels on top of the ice cream.
  6. Pour the caramel on next and then top with another set of graham crackers.
  7. Place in the freezer for at least 3 hours.
  8. Remove and cut into little squares.

*If ice cream gets underneath the bottom layer of graham cracker just flip it over when you remove it and top with the remaining graham crackers.  You can never have too many.*

If you want more recipes come check out my blog at A Zesty Bite or check out Lubbock restaurants at LBKFoodie.

ENJOY ~ Meagan

You can also find me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

A Zesty Bite for Lubbock Kids!

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Hi, Lubbock for Kids readers!  I’m so excited to be contributing fun kid and family recipes over here each month with this being the first post.  My name is Meagan Wied and I am the blogger behind A Zesty Bite.  I am a stay-at-home mom to a 13 month old baby girl.  My website features all kinds of recipes ranging from healthy to the not-so healthy dishes.  You will also find other posts including travel, beauty and life updates with our family.  I started the blog a little over 3 years ago for family and friends to showcase recipes that I made.  Little did I know that I would be staying at home with the little one to blog full time and to sell Nerium.

I will be sharing kid/family friendly recipes on Lubbock for Kids each month and will also be showcasing kid friendly restaurants as well for the Lubbock area.  Our family tends to step outside of the box sometimes on food choices and we want our baby to try all sorts of foods and flavors.

She may not like a certain food but we keep letting her try it just in case she changes her mind.  A baby may try a food up to 13 times before they realize that they like it.

A while back I had made some bacon cauliflower pancakes on the blog.  They were super easy to make and now that we have a kid I wanted to incorporate some other vegetables into the mix.  I added zucchini and cauliflower along with some cheese.  You’ve got to love the cheesy goodness in these pancakes and it helps the kids eat it as well.  You can also refrigerate the left over pancakes for an afternoon snack the next day.

If you want more recipes come check out my blog at azestybite.com.  Also, my husband and I will be starting a new blog in the next month.  I will be sharing updates on that the next time I post.  What types of recipes would you like to see here on Lubbock For Kids?

ENJOY ~ Meagan

You can also find me on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Zucchini and Cauliflower Cheese Pancakes

YIELD: 8-10 servings

PREP TIME: 10 minutes

COOK TIME: 10 minutes

TOTAL TIME: 20 minutes

ingredients:

1 zucchini, julienne sliced
1 cup riced cauliflower
2 large eggs
1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs

directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix all ingredients into a large bowl. Use a large cookie scoop to place the pancakes onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Gently smash the pancakes with the palm of your hand.

Bake for 8 minutes and then broil for an additional minutes and a half.

*I used a Microplane Adjustable Slicer with Julienne Blade for the zucchini – you can also just cut it into thin strings with a sharp knife*