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Red, White, and Green Grilled Cheese

Healthier Classics

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

Recipe Source: Deliciously Healthy Family Meals

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.

Healthy Eating Two Ways For picky eaters, start with less spinach in the sandwich, and possibly serve the remaining amount on the side.

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™Keep the Beat is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.