If you are one of the many parents who struggle with picky eaters, then try bringing them into the kitchen. It is a scary thought, with the sharp utensils and the hot stove, but studies have found that kids who help prepare meals tend to be less picky eaters. Children usually at least try the foods that they have prepared. It creates a positive environment and you will be able to make memories with your child. Preparing dinner can be stressful with children running around, so why not involve them and get them excited to eat what they have prepared after their hard work.
Try these fun recipes or use some family favorites:
Ingredients:
1 small aluminum loaf pan (about 3 by 8 inches, preferably with plastic cover) for each guest
1 pound sweet Italian sausage (or ground beef)
1 pound lasagna noodles
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 jar (32-ounce) spaghetti sauce
4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup ricotta cheese
1/4 cup pesto (optional)
1. Prepare the sausage and the lasagna noodles. (If this is part of a party, prepare the noodles the night before.) Remove the sausage from the casing and cook over medium heat, breaking up the clumps, until completely brown. Drain the fat, set the meat in a bowl, and cover with plastic when cool. Cook the lasagna noodles according to the package directions. Rinse the noodles and toss them with olive oil to prevent them from sticking together. (Tip: If the noodles don't fit in your loaf pans very well, you may want to trim them ahead of time.) Lay the noodles in a 13- by 9- by 2-inch pan and cover with plastic. Then store the precooked ingredients in the refrigerator.
2. Just before the party, place the sauce, cheeses, and pesto (if desired) into bowls. Set them around the table along with the cooked lasagna noodles and sausage, and loaf pans and serving spoons.
3. Invite guests to assemble their lasagnas, starting with a layer of sauce on the bottom of their pans (to prevent the noodles from sticking). Have the kids continue layering on noodles, meat, sauce, and cheese until they are satisfied with their lasagnas.
4. Put the pans on cookie sheets and bake at 300ยบ for about 20 minutes, or until the ingredients are warm and the cheeses have melted. Serve the lasagnas slightly cooled and let the kids eat right out of the pans. To send the leftovers home, cover the loaf pans with their plastic covers or aluminum foil. Serves 6 to 8 kids.
Ingredients
3 cups broccoli florets
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 clove minced garlic
Salt and pepper
Steam 3 cups broccoli florets for 5 minutes. Toss with 2 tablespoons orange juice, 1 tablespoon canola oil, 1 clove minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Spoon the broccoli mixture onto clementine slices arranged in the shape of a flower. Tip: Ready in 15 minutes.
This one is fun and easy and kids can have fun arranging the vegetables on the plate!
I find that this applies not only in little children, but in myself. Once I moved out of the house and started cooking on my own I began to find lots of items on sale that I wouldn't normally eat and once I began to look up recipes for them and cook new things, I began to have an increased palate.
ReplyDeleteAnother great thing about getting kids in the kitchen helping is it is a great way to get them involved, a lot of times when I am helping babysit my sister's kids it is hard to convince them to step away from the TV, but when I have a great game or fun activity, like creating some sort of food, they usually immediately want to join in and help out.
I'm not going to lie, I have a kid's cookbook that my mom bought me for Christmas before I came out to college; she has a lot of faith in my cooking abilities. It is actually a lot of fun though! It has cool pictures and each recipe has a catchy name. What a great way to promote health for kids!
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