Most adults in America aren’t eating the recommended 5 servings of fruits and vegetables and most kids are eating even less. Needless to say, fruits and vegetables are truly natures’ “superfoods” that are packed with vitamins and minerals which are essential for overall health and they aid in the growth and development of children.
Many parents complain that their children (and even sometimes their spouse) refuse to eat vegetables so they have given up on preparing them. While I think it is important to continue to offer a variety of fruits and vegetables prepared in a variety of ways so kids can become familiar with them and acquire a taste for them, sometimes it can also help to sneak them into the food (after all, they are still getting the nutritional benefit).
Jessica Seinfeld (yes, Jerry Seinfeld’s wife) just came out with a cookbook that has some cleaver recipes that sneak some fruits and vegetables into some classic, kid-friendly recipes such as Chicken Nuggets, Mac & Cheese and Meatloaf. These recipes are healthier than the traditional recipes because they pack in more vitamins and minerals and many of them also call for lower-fat ingredients which makes them heart-healthier and lower in calories (note- they are lower in calories, not necessarily “low-calorie”, so still practice portion control). Her book is titled “Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Food”. For more information about her book and to see some sample recipes, you can also check out her website www.doitdelicious.com. While you’re there you may want to check out “The Market” section of her website. It has some good information about stocking your pantry and reading food labels. Hope you enjoy!