Yaki Soba Cooks Fast

"Fast Food" on the Japanese island of Okinawa is often yaki soba, which translates as fried noodles. This is my version that is a family favorite. Its great in summer since it doesn't take much cooking in hot weather and can use all sorts of fresh garden produce. It is totally variable - use whatever vegetables you have on hand or are on sale or that your kids like. You can use real soba noodles (expensive!) or ramen noodles (higher in fat and calories - did you know they are already fried ?) or regular thin spaghetti noodles. Can't tell much difference in the finished dish.
This does require prep time, but you can purchase "broccoli slaw" as well as cole slaw mix, and you can grate or chop ahead of time and put veggies in the fridge. The actual cooking is very fast, about the time it takes to cook the pasta.

Ingredients:
variety of vegetables (see note below) including a large onion
your choice of noodles (see note above)
ham or Spam if desired (optional)
note: You will need several cups (approximately 4-8) of chopped or julienned vegetables, plus half to a whole package of slaw mix (great dish to make when this is on sale) or half head of cabbage shredded. In oriental cooking you want everything similar sizes and shapes if possible.
In winter this could be coarsely grated carrots, sliced or chopped celery and shredded cabbage, in summer it might be zucchini and yellow squash, green peppers, snow or snap peas, etc. And according to budget and tastes you could always add sliced or slivered water chestnuts, broccoli florets, baby corn..... 
Cabbage will shrink down and blend in so don't hesitate to add a whole package of cole slaw mix and think of all those vitamins your kids will hardly notice eating. If they aren't used to eating a lot of veggies you could start with mostly pasta and the most familiar or favorite veggies, and use more vegetables each time until you have mostly veg for a really healthy meal.

Directions:
In a very large non-stick frying pan on medium high heat, start a large thinly sliced onion cooking in a little wok oil (a specially seasoned oil that adds flavor, or use any favorite cooking oil). If you like things pretty spicy you can add some crushed red peppers and garlic to the oil.
Meanwhile start your noodles cooking unless they are fresh soba noodles. For ramen (use two packages for a smaller family and three for a large batch)  put into boiling water and then put the lid on and turn off the heat. For spaghetti, set water to boiling and cook as usual - using the amount you would if fixing regular spaghetti for your family.
If you want meat, you can add to the cooking onion some finely chopped ham (leftover or canned) or even Spam that needs rotating from your emergency food storage. Stir it in and give it a minute to heat up and start the flavors mingling.
Next add the vegetables that require the most cooking, like broccoli and cauliflower, gradually adding in all the veggies according to how much you like them cooked - cabbage after a minute or two, red peppers & peas would be last. Sprinkle with ground ginger, garlic powder (if you didn't add plenty of real garlic already), soy sauce, freshly ground black pepper.
When the veggies are crisp-tender (or however you like them), remove to a large bowl and add another swirl of oil and 1/2 cup water to the hot pan. Toss in drained noodles and stir, then sprinkle them with another round of ginger, garlic, soy sauce, and pepper - I like to chop them up quite a bit so it will all mix more easily. Chop and stir while they "fry" a minute or two, and then put veggies (and meat) back in and make sure it is all good and hot. If your mother isn't looking, serve right from the pan and pass more crushed red pepper flakes for those who like extra heat.
All you need is a slice of whole wheat bread & buttter on the side.

disclaimer: while I was out, my son Drew added many editorial comments. I had a good laugh but they were a little distracting and somewhat misleading to those of us who do eat vegetables, so if I missed any, forgive the confusion!