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NHLBIHIN

Red, White, and Green Grilled Cheese

So good, your children might not even notice the “green stuff”

Recipe Source: Deliciously Healthy Family Meals
Prep time Cook time Yields Serving Size
15 minutes 15 minutes 4 servings 1 sandwich

Ingredients

1 tsp garlic, minced (about ½ clove)

1 small onion, minced (about ½ cup)

2 C frozen cut spinach, thawed and drained (or substitute 2 bags (10 oz each) fresh leaf spinach, rinsed)

¼ tsp ground black pepper

8 slices whole-wheat bread

1 medium tomato, rinsed, cut into 4 slices

1 C shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Nonstick cooking spray

Photograph of the completed recipe.
calories 254
Total fat 8 g
Saturated fat 4 g
Cholesterol 18 mg
Sodium 468 mg
Total fiber 6 g
Protein 17 g
Carbohydrates 29 g
Potassium 364 mg
Vitamin A 130%
Vitamin C 6%
Calcium 35%
Iron 15%
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Directions

  • 1
    Preheat oven to 400 °F. Place a large baking sheet in the oven to preheat for about 10 minutes.
  • 2
    Heat garlic with cooking spray in a medium sauté pan over medium heat. Cook until soft, but not browned. Add onions, and continue to cook until the onions are soft, but not browned.
  • 3
    Add spinach, and toss gently. Cook until the spinach is heated throughout. Season with pepper, and set aside to cool.
  • 4
    When the spinach and onions are cool, assemble each sandwich with one slice of bread on the bottom, one tomato slice, ½ cup of spinach mixture, ¼ cup of cheese, and a second slice of bread on the top. (For picky eaters, see Healthy Eating Two Ways suggestion below.)
  • 5
    Spray the preheated nonstick baking sheet with cooking spray. Place the sandwiches on the baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, or until the bottom of each sandwich is browned.
  • 6
    Carefully flip sandwiches, and bake for an additional 5 minutes, or until both sides are browned. Serve immediately.
For picky eaters, start with less spinach in the sandwich, and possibly serve the remaining amount on the side.

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Archived page, reproduced from a 2011 copy. It is reference material, not current guidance.