HEALTHY PITA SANDWICHES AND FRUIT

Quick Story, Few Tips, Leading...eventually to the recipe.
I am all for healthy food. I'm all even more for HEALTHY FAST food that the kids love. So, it was hot out today. Hot for Pennsylvania~ It was 79 degrees and sunny with little wind.
   Anyway, on a hot day, I personally do not want to eat, but kids don't mind chowing, and need to for nutrition/growth reasons. I know when they are playing outside and they are busy, it's easier~and cleaner to make food for out there. So,I like to do a fast meal. What is faster than sandwiches? Some stuff, but my point is that making sandwiches is easy when you have more than one kid. I know my son eats Ketchup on everything, except Peanut-butter & Jelly, in which case he LOVES LOTS of the PB& a little of the J. I know each kid's likes and dislikes, as most mom's do. My kids are funny. I make them eat 100% Whole Wheat bread (plain 'whole wheat' doesn't have as much of the good nutrition as 100%), so its funny when I have their friends over. I'll get a list, like a waiter and ask what each kid wants after telling three to four options. We have white bread in the house for my mother in-law, so that option's available. My kids have grown to acquire a taste for 100% Whole Wheat bread. I give the option when friends are here, "Do you want it on white or wheat bread?" It never fails, out of fifty kids I've had over they chose white and my kids say "wheat" without thinking. It goes to show that any kid can make healthy choices (my kids are 2, 6, 9 & 10 as of today-May 9 2014). But when given a choice they make that healthy one. POINT FOR MEGS! Anyway, when it's hot out, I'd rather make sandwiches when we are all outside. I can make a list of what each person wants and take them out, use wipes on hands and let them wear themselves out some more for bedtime. I mean, let them use their creative energy. So, with my kids liking wheat bread, and us being outside today (well last evening May 8th eve), I thought how can this be less messy? Since my poor lil 2 year old guy has a cast on his left hand from a broken thumb, and he's LEFT handed, so eatin' has been messy. HMM... UH HUH! Pita Pockets. You can get them in the deli by the lunch meat, or where your local store sells bread. This is another item I buy when it's on sale and freeze until needed. I do that with lunch meat and all cheese except American(we go thru that too quickly thanks to my fiance) . ***When something your family eats is cheap, BUY IN BULK, package in thoughts of your family. I have a family of 6-8 to feed most the time, so all my meats, cheeses, and breads are prepackaged in servings for 6, 2, and 8. This will save you time and money in the end. I promise.** 
So, the wheat, whole grain, and 12 grain pitas cut in half and stuffed with meat, cheese, veggies, and ketchup are a great idea. My kids love fruit and it being hot was a nice cool treat to go with a cool sandwich and cup of ICE WATER. So, if you make a sandwich, you can make a pita sandwich. But here are some instructions to help.
Quick ideas: Sneak in veggies, allow your kiddos to help and give them a large amount of veggies to chose from, substitute pitas for bread, pizza crust, and tortilla shells. 

Pita Sandwich Ingredients: 

Package of Pita Pockets, or Pitas-CUT IN HALF to make the amount of sandwiches you need
Toppings:
Meats:Ham, turkey, chicken, pepperoni, roast beef, Peanut butter & Jelly
Cheese: American, Provolone, Swiss, Mozzarella, your family's favorites. (Processed cheeses and separately sliced and packaged cheeses are less nutritional)
Veggies/Fruits: sliced tomato, chopped lettuce, sliced or chopped onion,  thinly sliced cucumbers, grated carrots, sliced green peppers, baby spinach (I passed this off as lettuce three times then told my daughter it wasn't and she LIKED SPINACH) and any veggies your family likes.
Condiments:  mustard(this is the least fattening), Ketchup, Mayo, Salad dressing, Italian, Ranch, you know what your family likes
Fruit Salad
Watermelon, Mellon, apples, oranges, strawberries, blueberries, grapes, (I use whatever is in the fridge sometimes combining more than one fruit left over... I've even done canned)

Putting the meal together

1. Cut fruit, and mix it in a large bowl. Let chill in the fridge.
2. Get paper and pen, and take orders like a waitress if it's just the kids. If you are serving a large crowd, I put a meat and cheese tray together as well as a veggie tray.
3. Cut the pitas in half.
4. Put dressing/condiment on first, place meat(some lunch meat needs cut in half) inside, followed with cheese(I sometimes use shredded because it fits easier), stuff with veggies.
5. Place fruit in small bowls, and sandwiches on small paper plates, and feed.
6. Thank God for another meal, happy healthy kids, a full belly, a great family, nice day, and for all the blessings we leave out.

How did you make your pita sandwiches? Did your children find them useful as out door food? What spins did you put on them(I like mine with chicken breast, fat free ranch dressing, shredded cheddar and hot sauce).

Enjoy an easy to clean, easy to make, healthy meal.
Xoxo,
     Megs