Ideas For Helping Kids Eat Their Veggies
By Christine Steendahl
Apr 4, 2007, 13:16   Kid's meals have to be easy, flavorful and nutritious. Getting children to eat vegetables is a major task. Finding a way to get vegetables into the mouths of children is simple when they are part of the fun. Coming up with creative ways to get kids involved in the preparation and the cooking of kids' recipes is part of the fun. Child friendly recipes will allow you the comfort of knowing your children are eating healthy and your children will like feeling in control of what they are being fed.

Take your kids grocery shopping with you. Allow them to choose the fruits and vegetables they like. This is always the most opportune way even with children as young as 4 years old. Children learn how to eat healthier when they participate in the cooking and the meal planning for the whole family.

Children adore color. Even with food, kids will first look, smell, and lastly taste. So a variety of color in meals is great. Eating a mixture of foods greatly improves the odds of getting all the nutrients you and your family need to achieve your best health.

An exciting way to get kids to eat vegetables is to use the food as part of a project. Kids get to count, make shapes, and then eat what they create. You get the pleasure of knowing that you are giving nutritious foods into their diet.

Kids Recipes for Create My Own Soup

Let the children count the carrots and celery pieces. Let them spell their names with the noodles if you include alphabet noodles. You may find other novelty noodles like car shapes, etc. Make a theme of the soup creation.

Cut various shapes out of the carrot slices and zucchini (use an aspic cutter) then set to the side.

Ingredients:
*1-2 carrots
*1 zucchini
*4 cups low sodium chicken broth
*1/4 cup shaped pasta
*Dash of sage
*3/4 cup chopped, cooked chicken
*Salt and pepper to taste

Putting it All Together:

*Let the children help you wash the vegetables. After they finish you can scrub the carrots and zucchini lightly with a vegetable brush.
*Cut the vegetables into 1/4-inch slices.
*Cut various shapes out of the carrot & zucchini slices, and set them aside.

*In a medium sized pot, bring the broth to a simmer over medium heat.
*Add the carrot stars and simmer for about 20 minutes or until the carrots are tender.
*Add the pasta, zucchini and chicken. Continue cooking the soup for another few minutes, stirring occasionally, just until the pasta is done. Makes 4 servings.

*Let the kids find their names or count the number of stars in their soup bowl. The kids will take plesure in the adventure and fun, you will feel excellent knowing they are enjoying their vegetables.

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Would you like more Kid-Friendly Recipes? Christine Steendahl – "The Menu Mom" invites you to visit Kid Approved Meals at http://www.kidapprovedmeals.com to pick up your personal 13 week breakfast and lunch menu made just for children!