Kids love to work with their hands, and making meatloaf is the perfect opportunity. After having your kids wash their hands, place all the ingredients for the meatloaf into a large bowl and let them mix away. This is a perfect way to introduce different ingredients to your kids, and since they helped, they'll love to eat it. The leftovers make great sandwiches the next day.
Menu:
- Home-Style Meatloaf with Tomato Gravy
- Corn on the cob
- Fresh strawberries
| WLS Patient | Kids Age 2 to 8 | Older Kids and Adults | |
| Meatloaf with Tomato Gravy | 2 to 3 ounces | 1 to 2 ounces | 3 ounces |
| Corn on the Cob | 1/4 medium ear | 1/4 to 1/2 medium ear | 1 medium ear |
| Fresh Strawberries | 2 to 4 berries | 2 to 4 berries | 4 to 8 berries |
| Milk | No beverages with meals! | 1/2 to 3/4 cup | 1 cup |
Home-Style Meatloaf with Tomato Gravy
Stage: Regular FoodsPreparation time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 1-1/2 hours
Yield: 8 servings
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 medium onion, diced small
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 pounds lean ground beef
1 cup wheat bran
4 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
2 large egg whites, beaten
Tomato Gravy (see the following recipe)
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9-x-5-x-3-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet. Sauté the onion and garlic until translucent but not brown, about 5 minutes. Add the thyme and pepper and sauté for 2 minutes. Remove pan from heat and allow to cool.
- Combine the ground beef, bran, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, parsley, and egg whites in a bowl and mix well. Stir in the cooled onion mixture.
- Fill the loaf pan with the beef mixture. Bake the loaf approximately 1 hour 20 minutes, until the internal temperature of the meatloaf reaches 160 degrees. Top with Tomato Gravy.
Tomato Gravy
1 tablespoon canola oil1 cup chopped onion
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
One 16-ounce can no-salt-added tomato purée
1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley
1/4 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
- Heat the oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté for 2 minutes.
- Add black pepper, tomato purée, parsley, and fresh thyme. Bring to a light simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.