Protein-Packed Quinoa Salad

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Nutrition Facts:

• Calories: 200 per serving (1 cup)
• Fat: 5g
• Carbohydrates: 30g
• Protein: 8g

Ingredients:

• 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
• 2 cups water or vegetable broth
• 1 cup cooked chickpeas
• 1 cup diced cucumber
• 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

• Bring water or vegetable broth to a boil. Add quinoa, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes until quinoa is cooked and liquid is absorbed.
• Fluff cooked quinoa with a fork and let it cool to room temperature.
• Combine cooked quinoa, chickpeas, diced cucumber and red bell pepper, chopped fresh parsley and crumbled feta cheese.
• Drizzle lemon juice over the salad and toss gently to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Caprese Salad Skewers 

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Nutrition Facts:

• Calories: 80 per skewer
• Fat: 5g
• Carbohydrates: 3g
• Protein: 5g

Ingredients:

• Cherry tomatoes
• Fresh mozzarella balls
• Fresh basil leaves
• Balsamic glaze
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

• Thread cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls and basil leaves onto skewers.
• Arrange skewers on a serving platter and drizzle with balsamic glaze.
• Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.

Graduation Cap Cookies

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour

Nutrition Facts:

• Calories: 150 per cookie
• Fat: 6g
• Carbohydrates: 22g
• Protein: 2g

Ingredients:

• Sugar cookies
• Chocolate candies (M&Ms, Reese’s Pieces, etc.)
• Frosting (various colors)
• Miniature marshmallows

Directions:

• Bake sugar cookies and let them cool completely.
• Frost the cookies with various colors to resemble graduation caps.
• Place a chocolate candy in the center and attach a miniature marshmallow with frosting as the tassel

Diploma Sandwich Wraps

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Nutrition Facts:

• Calories: 250 per wrap
• Fat: 12g
• Carbohydrates: 20g
• Protein: 15g

Ingredients:

• Tortillas
• Deli meats (ham, turkey, etc.)
• Cheese slices
• Lettuce leaves
• Condiments (mayonnaise, mustard)

Directions:

• Lay out tortillas and layer them with deli meats, cheese, lettuce and condiments.
• Roll up tightly and secure with toothpicks.
• Slice into bite-sized pieces and arrange on a platter.

Graduation Cap Fruit Skewers 

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

Nutrition Facts:

• Calories: 50 per skewer
• Fat: 2g
• Carbohydrates: 10g
• Protein: 1g

Ingredients:

• Assorted fruits (strawberries, grapes, pineapple, melon)
• Miniature chocolate candies (Hershey’s Kisses, Rolos)
• Toothpicks or skewers

Directions:

• Wash and prepare fruits, cutting them into bite-sized pieces.
• Thread fruits onto toothpicks or skewers, leaving room at the top.
• Place a miniature chocolate candy on top to resemble a graduation cap.

BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 8 hours 10 minutes

Nutrition Facts:

• Calories: Approximately 250 per slider (without coleslaw)
• Fat: 8g
• Carbohydrates: 25g
• Protein: 18g

Ingredients:

• 1 lb pork shoulder or pork butt
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup BBQ sauce
• Slider buns
• Coleslaw (optional)

Directions:

• Season pork shoulder with salt and pepper, then place it in a slow cooker.
• Pour BBQ sauce over the pork, covering it completely.
• Cook on low heat for 8 hours or until the pork is tender and easily shreds with a fork.
• Shred the pork using two forks and mix it with the sauce.
• Serve the pulled pork on slider buns, topped with coleslaw if desired.

Veggie Platter Ranch Dip

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

Nutrition Facts:

• Calories: Approximately 50 per serving (2 tablespoons of dip)
• Fat: 5g
• Carbohydrates: 2g
• Protein: 0g

Ingredients:

• Assorted vegetables (carrots, cucumbers, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, snap peas)
• Ranch dressing mix
• Sour cream
• Mayonnaise
• Water

Directions:

• Wash and prepare the vegetables by slicing them into sticks or bite-sized pieces.
• Mix ranch dressing mix, sour cream, mayonnaise and water according to package instructions to make the dip.
• Arrange the vegetables on a platter around the bowl of ranch dip.

Fruit Salad with Honey Lime

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Nutrition Facts:

• Calories: Approximately 80 per serving (1 cup)
• Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 20g
• Protein: 1g

Ingredients:

• Assorted fruits (strawberries, blueberries, grapes, pineapple, melon)
• 2 tablespoons honey
• Juice of 1 lime
• Fresh mint leaves for garnish

Directions:

• Wash, peel and chop the fruits as necessary, then combine them in a large bowl.
• Whisk honey and lime juice to make the dressing.
• Pour the dressing over the fruit salad and toss gently to coat.
• Garnish with fresh mint leaves before serving.

Graduation Cap Cake Pops

Prep Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Nutrition Facts:

• Calories: 200 per cake pop
• Fat: 10g
• Carbohydrates: 25g
• Protein: 3g

Ingredients:

• Cake crumbs (from any flavor of cake)
• Frosting
• Chocolate candy melts (black)
• Lollipop sticks
• Miniature peanut butter cups

Directions:

• Mix cake crumbs with frosting until a dough forms.
• Roll the dough into small balls and insert lollipop sticks.
• Melt chocolate candy melts and dip each cake pop to coat.
• Place a miniature peanut butter cup on top and let the chocolate set.

Avocado Toast with Poached Egg

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

Nutrition Facts:

• Calories: Approximately 300 per serving (1 toast with egg)
• Fat: 18g
• Carbohydrates: 22g
• Protein: 12g

Ingredients:

• 2 slices whole grain bread, toasted
• 1 ripe avocado
• 2 eggs
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Red pepper flakes (optional)
• Fresh chives for garnish

Directions:

• Mash ripe avocado in a bowl and season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Poach eggs in simmering water until whites are set but yolks are still runny, about 3 minutes.
• Spread mashed avocado evenly onto toasted whole-grain bread slices.
• Carefully place one poached egg on top of each avocado toast.
• Season with additional salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if desired.
• Garnish with fresh chives before serving.

Mediterranean Hummus Wrap

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Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

Nutrition Facts:

• Calories: Approximately 300 per serving
• Fat: 14g
• Carbohydrates: 35g
• Protein: 10g

Ingredients:

• 1 large whole wheat tortilla
• 1/4 cup hummus
• 1/4 cup diced cucumber
• 1/4 cup diced tomato
• 1/4 cup sliced black olives
• 2 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese
• Handful of baby spinach leaves

Directions:

1. Spread hummus evenly over the surface of the whole wheat tortilla.
2. Layer diced cucumber, diced tomato, sliced black olives, crumbled feta cheese and baby spinach leaves on top of the hummus.
3. Roll up the tortilla tightly, tucking in the sides as you go.
4. Slice the wrap in half diagonally and secure with toothpicks if needed.
5. Serve immediately or wrap tightly in foil for later.

Energy-Boosting Trail Mix

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Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

Nutrition Facts:

• Calories: Approximately 200 per serving (1/4 cup)
• Fat: 15g
• Carbohydrates: 15g
• Protein: 6g

Ingredients:

• 1 cup almonds
• 1 cup cashews
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds (pepitas)

Directions:

1. Combine almonds, cashews, dried cranberries, dark chocolate chips and pumpkin seeds.
2. Toss gently to mix all the ingredients evenly.
3. Store the trail mix in an airtight container or portion into individual snack bags for on-the-go energy boosts.