RE: Food Ideas for Kids
I have a 9 year old that I find challenging to feed. Here are some cost effective and healthy solutions.
All kids like spaghetti, so use Smart pasta (made with pea flour) or whole wheat for a healthier option. A can of over the counter tomato sauce added to some browned lean ground beef and thinned with a little V8 juice adds some veggies without the unsuspecting kid knowing about it.
Offer kid friendly veggies like carrots with a bit of ranch dressing mixed with plain yogurt or fat free sour cream.
You can make home made popsicles with 100% fruit juice or use no sugar added apple juice and blend a bunch of different fruit (like a smoothie), add yogurt and freeze those as well as an alternative to ice cream treats.
A fun idea is to find either traditional or mini whole wheat pitas, and use them as the base for a "make your own pizza" kit. Provide the tomato sauce (low sodium if you can find it mixed with spices), part skimmed mozza cheese, turkey pepperoni stick sliced in mini medallions, fat free ham cut into smaller pieces. Just like a Lunchables lunch but healthy!! Cooking is optional!
In lieu of cookies, have graham crackers... still sweet but they do have fibre and limited fat.
Granola bars can be a good option, watch out for things like additional sugars or the chocolate coated ones.
Have a variety of fruit on hand like melons, apples, oranges, whatever the kid won't eat, you will! Oh, and a simple and somewhat "fancy" way to eat strawberries... dip them in chocolate! You can melt 1/2 cup of semi sweet chocolate chips in the microwave (on high 30 s, stir, then 20 s, stir, until melted) then sit down with pre-washed and now dry fresh strawberries for an impromptu chocolate fondue. It is a nice treat! Using semi sweet chocolate is healthier than milk chocolate!
Posted on 06/18/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Food Ideas for Kids
I'm assuming from the question, that you are going to be watching an 11 year old. I'm gathering since if you were the parent or around the child a lot, you'd already know what they like. So on the assumption your about to child sit.
There are lots of healthy foods you can serve and at 11 they can help make it themselves. You can give a kid pizza, hot dogs and all the things that sound unhealthy, but make them healthy. Like turkey hot dogs instead of beef, veggie pizza instead of sausage, turkey burgers instead of red meat, make your own french fries in the oven instead of fried processed potatoes. Get some English muffins, pizza sauce, veggies and cheese and let the child make their own pizza. Kids like pasta's, choose a whole grain pasta, they'll never know it's good for them. Let them help as much as you can and they will enjoy the meal much more and be more receptive to trying something new. Good Luck!
Posted on 06/17/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse
RE: Food Ideas for Kids
If a child had their choice of foods, they would probably pick pizza, hamburgers, French Fries, candy, cookies, cakes, ice cream, sodas etc.
YOU are the parent and you should be the one who makes the major decisions on what your child eats and does not eat. It's not the other way around here.
If you want your child to be healthy and stay healthy, feed him/her healthy foods, not high fat junk foods. You don't want a fat/obese child who will end up being a fat/obese adult.
Encourage your child to eat lots of fruits and vegetables, and not a lot of meat and poultry.
Make an appointment and take your child to a doctor and the doctor or nurse will put your child on a daily healthy diet.
Posted on 06/16/2009 | Report Spam or Abuse
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