Oh, the never ending search for healthy, kid friendly meals... You're all nodding in agreement now, right? Lately, I have been involving my son in the kitchen more because 1) he learns a lot, 2) we get to spend some time together doing something new, and 3) he's willing to try whatever we make! To be fair, I choose my recipes wisely. I have a vast array of cookbooks featuring ideas for kids. A copy of Rachael Ray's KID FOOD has spent a lot of time open on my counter lately as the recipes are simple, healthy and leave my kids asking for a second helping.
In my attempt to let my 3 year old help cook, I've found that handing him a full size spatula often ends in disaster. To combat the extra mess (because let's face it- messiness is one reason we keep our kids OUT of the kitchen), these kid-sized utensils come in mighty handy!
I'm pairing a copy of this fabulous cookbook with this
super-handy kids' utensil set for my first GIVEAWAY!
To Enter: Leave a comment sharing a tip for getting kids to eat healthy or visit FOOD NETWORK'S FOR KIDS PAGE and leave a comment with a recipe you'd like to try.
Don't Stop There! Take advantage of these opportunities for extra entries:
1 Entry: Follow my blog by adding yourself to the group on my right hand sidebar, and leave a comment letting me know that you follow me.
Entry: Blog about this delicious giveaway, and leave a comment letting me know where to find your blog!
1 Entry: Link to Mammalog from your blog, and (yep- you guessed it) don't forget to leave a comment and let me know!
** Please leave a valid email address for contact purposes!
Deadline for entries: Tuesday, May 19th 11:59 PM CST
The winner will be chosen using random.org and will be notified by email. A response is required within 3 days or the prize will be awarded to another participant.
53 comments:
I believe in cooking with your kids, not only are you bonding but also creating lasting memories!
I love this kids utencil set!
http://chopkofamily.blogspot.com/
My mom would never let us cook with her. It drove her up the wall. I, however, loved having my kids in the kitchen. It was one of my favourite things to do with them when they were growing up, even the boys. I am proud to say they are all great cooks!
Oh I want to try the PB & J pancakes!!! Not to eat myself of course, oh no. Just for my kids....that's my story and I'm sticking to it!!
pamelashockley(AT)netscape(DOT)net
Our trick to getting the kids to eat healthier is to introduce them to a variety of foods. They've been eating foods like salmon since they were old enough to have table food. My 4 year old will gladly have a salad for lunch any day. While some parents believe in making two sets of dinner (one normal and something different for the kids), we don't. It has paid off for us.
Thanks for the opportunity to win!
sahmtoo at gmail dot com
I've found for me that pureeing and adding veggies or fruit to recipes has worked for my picky eater. I'd love to get him involved and find more kid friendly recipes.
barelydomesticmama at yahoo dot com
I added a link back to Mammalog on my blog's sidebar.
I've had good luck so far by making sure we always sit down and eat together, and also at encouraging my daughter to eat foods that are a variety of different colors. We'll see how long it lasts, though!
I am sooooo drooling over the utensils! Thanks for the opportunity to win.
jaltmichelle at hotmail dot com
I follow you on Bloglines.
jaltmichelle at hotmail dot com
My best tip for getting kids to eat healthy is to have them participate regularly in cooking. They are much more likely to try something new when they have prepared it themselves. My second daughter LOVES to cook and collect kids' cookbooks.
lollislife at gmail.com
I think one of the reasons kids shy from healthier things like veggies is because the ones we give them are so tasteless and distorted compared to what they should be. My son gobbles up garden veggies, but doesn't care for storebought ones. If you don't grow your own, buy locally. The taste is 100 times better!
curtiskaty at hotmail dot com
Thankfully my son is a veggie eater! He loves to help in the kitchen with me when I cook. He is actually disappointed when I make something without him.
My tip is just to have the child help out in the kitchen. They enjoy the quality time too! My son has been helping out since he was about two (he is 4.5 now).
Tailor the task to the child's age. If he is small then just let him dump things into the mixer when baking or help to stir a batter. When he gets bigger use cooking as a lesson in math, have him count how many cups of flour go into the mixer, etc.
I would love to try that Mom's Best Friend Brownies recipe. Think I'll do that this weekend.
Thanks for the chance to win an awesome package!
I'm now a follower of your wonderful blog!
THANKS!
I'm now a follower.
judithandmarc@comcast.net
I would like to try the Scuderi Kids' Fast, Fake-Baked Ziti recipe.
Yum!
judithandmarc@comcast.net
I'd like to try the Tortellini Totem Poles.
We have always offered my son healthy food choices and junk was a rare treat. He will usually choose fruit over unhealthy choices; we've always been lucky. We also don't make him a special meal - he eats what we're eating (we do try to make sure there's at least something we know he likes like peas/broccoli/corn).
melacan at hotmail dot com
P.S. he loves to help out in the kitchen too!
My tip for getting kids to eat healthy is to help them plan the menu and cook! when they participate they have choices and they have to pick something from each food group, it has helped in my house before they were living on chicken nuggets and chocolate, now they have much more variety of good food they eat.
photoquest(at)bellsouth(dot)net
I am following your blog : )
photoquest(at)bellsouth(dot)net
I'd love to make the Take-to-School Taco bar for my kid. Great recipes!
treflea4 at gmail dot com
I became a follower.
treflea4 at gmail dot com
Children will eat healthy food if given the opportunity to help grow, buy & prepare it. A great bonding activity & fun.
marypres(at)gmail(dot)com
I actually want the cookbook for my 15 year old! She is learning to cook and these recipes would be right up her ally!
donna at optilink dot us
My 3 yr old nephew is not a fan of veggies or protein.
However I have devised a way of hiding veggies in food he will eat.
I double the amount of zucchini in zucchini bread I make and omit 1/2 cup of sugar. I also make smoothies with yogurt and some fruit and other good for you foods so he thinks he is the sneaky one and not having to eat the "good " foods.
I would like to try the Viennese Vanilla Cookies for the little guy. Thanks for the giveaway.
Tip: mix veggie purees in with their fave foods!
Last summer we grew a big garden, and the kids helped tend it. They loved eating the veggies that they helped grow!
pw0105(at)gmail(dot)com
Think outside the box sometimes -- for instance, there's nothing wrong with a healthy breakfast at dinnertime! My kids think that's a blast.
Get them to help in the garden so they know where the food comes from!
Shelbi's Butter Cookies sound yummy
I agree that a great way of getting kids to eat healthy is to have them participate regularly in cooking. They are much more likely to try something new when they have prepared it themselves.
I think it helps with dexterity and patience to carefully measure this and slowly pour that. It's fun too see them experiment with ingredients and flavorings - That vanilla extract smells wonderful but it sure doesn't taste very good, does it? :)
I think one of the best ways to get kids to eat healthy is to involve them in all steps of meal preparation, from shopping to cooking and especially eating (and to not give them a separate meal).
We were in the grocery store last week and my 2 year old son requested we get a tomato! I cut it up and he arranged it on his plate and ate it all up! Now I let him pick one vegetable or fruit that's not on our list every time we go to the store. He loves to eat "his" pick of the day!
modeling is really important. we eat healthy so my little one doesnt know any different!
elkesten at yahoo dot com
to get kids to eat healthy, you must also eat healthy. It helps if they are helping cook and see what goes into the meal. If it is a new food, I add it to the meal with everyhting they like and have they try it. We try it about 10 - 15 times before we get a true taste and see if they children will like it or not
Yep, I agree with everyone who said to have your kids help grow the ingredients -- even if it's just fresh herbs!
The Panko Chicken Nuggets look great! I would love to try those!
I'd love to try the Moo Shu Pork Pockets. sounds super yummy!
heatherdemke(at)gmail(dot)com
This might not be the best thing to do, but as I'm cooking a lot of times my daughter will ask if it is pizza. I just let her think it is so she is more likely to try it :-)
khmorgan_00 [at] yahoo [dot] com
I would love to try Rachel's chicken tenders/fingers
dctm at bellsouth dot net
Kids will eat healthy food if it's tasty. Always keep lots of fresh fruit around for snacking, particularly when out and about.
I love to do food activities with my kids at church and school. If you're reading a book set in Mexic, make some taco. It you're learning about Switzerland, make Swiss cheese cheese toasts. The ideas are endless. Kids will try a wide variety of foods if they have meaning behind them, especially if they are allowed to help prepare the food!
I blogged about this great giveaway!!
I have two boys and the older one is very picky but my younger one eat anything. So whenever my older boy doesn't want to eat his food, I just point out that his younger brother is eating like a "big boy" and that usually does the trick!
johnthegirl at hotmail dot com
I would like to try the Tortilla Casserole. I think my son would like it.
zippieee@msn.com
I follow
zippieee@msn.com
My toddler has decided she won't each much more than chicken, hot dogs and pasta! She needs some veggies! Lately I've tried to make the veggies look mnore appealing by placing them on her plate in the form of a smiley face. It's sort of working ;-)
Caroline
Smarty Pants Mama @ gmail.com
The chocolate dipped pretzels recipe doesn't sound healthy but it does sound good!
renee
yeloechikee at hotmail dot com
My trick is growing a vegetable garden with my son. Things are much yummier when you grow them.
karinahubbell at comcast dot net
We like to try new things and expect him to do so, he always likes what we give him. And having healthy snacks available is vital.
I now follow!
My tip is basic but it works. If she is in a picky phase I noticed that if she helps me make the food she will likely eat it!
The kinder loves chicken and dumplings, so I'll try the Italian Chicken and Dumplings, for a new twist!
I follow your blog.
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