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Archive for the ‘Kid Approved’ Category

I don’t know about you, but I remember four very active children all trying to get ready for school in one bathroom.   Although I now look back on these times as “fun”, back then I just tried to keep the peace, make sure teeth were brushed, hair combed, and clothes that matched before they left the door.   I also tried to get them to eat a good breakfast, but soon learned that cereal of any type never got ate.  The store bought “breakfast bars” were not only expensive for me as one of my boys would eat the whole box in one day, but not as nutritious as I felt was necessary.

So I started looking for something to get in their stomachs on the way to the bus stop that was relatively good for them, not loaded with sugar and most importantly something they would all like.   So I found this recipe; recently I went looking for this recipe in my box of notecards and couldn’t find it, so thankfully I found it on the Internet.  It is a little different then the one I used in that I don’t believe I used any Sour Cream….my youngest would not have eaten them if I had, nor did I use the mini muffins but regular muffin pans.

Try different variations such as nuts, raisins, peanut butter chips…use your imagination and I am sure your kids will love them for breakfast or a snack.

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed very ripe bananas (about 2 large or 3 medium)
1 large egg
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted
1/4 cup fat free or light sour cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup low-fat milk
1/2 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips

1.  Heat the oven to 350° F.

2. Line a mini muffin pan (ours made muffins 1 3/4 inches in diameter) with bake cups or lightly coat the muffin cups with cooking spray.

3. In a medium-size bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt and stir with a fork to blend.

4. In a mixing bowl, combine the mashed bananas, egg, melted butter, sour cream, vanilla extract, and milk. Beat on medium until well blended. Reduce the speed to low and blend in the dry ingredients (do not overmix). Stir in the mini chocolate chips.

5. Fill each muffin cup with 1 level tablespoon of batter. Bake the muffins for about 20 minutes or until the tops are golden and a toothpick comes out with some melted chocolate but no crumbs.

6. Transfer the muffins to a rack to cool. Repeat with the remaining batter. Makes 36 mini muffins.

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By Christine Steendahl
Grilled cheese sandwiches are the least cumbersome meal to prepare. Kids can even learn to prepare it themselves. The ones I used to make contained regular cheese and white bread with margarine to cook it. Here are a few ways to make that grilled cheese sandwich healthier for your little ones.

First of all you need to slim the cheese. Full fat cheeses are a thing of the past. A slice of fat free cheese melts just the same with fewer calories and fat. If American cheese is too boring, try a slice of Swiss or cheddar cheese. Monterey Jack is good on a sandwich, also. One slice of cheese is plenty, but if you are using the fat free kind, you could probably get by with two slices for a creamier sandwich.

What about the bread? The bread is a key element. White bread contains too many sugars that are bad for you. Try whole wheat or seven grain bread. Sourdough bread would make a good substitution. What you want is bread with fewer calories and carbohydrates per serving.

What about some meat? When they added bologna to a grilled cheese sandwich when I was a kid, they called it a “flying saucer”. Adding a slice of meat makes the sandwich more of a complete meal. Depending on what their favorite is, you can add roast beef, sliced ham, sliced turkey, bacon, sausage, or sliced chicken breast.

What about some flavor? Add more taste to their grilled cheese sandwich with a few choice condiments. Adding mustard gives the sandwich a tangy taste. For an even better taste add brown or Dijon mustard. Go south of the border with a bit of salsa added to the sandwich. The salsa will make the grilled cheese sandwich spicy. Roast beef goes well with a dollop of barbeque sauce added for more flavor. If your child is into the simpler tastes, add a bit of fat-free or reduced fat mayonnaise or ketchup to the sandwich. Adding some dressing such as Thousand Island is another great option for adding variety.

Add some crunch to your sandwich. Slice up an apple and place it on top of the cheese. People eat a slice of cheese with apple pie and many cheese trays are served with apples, so why not on a grilled cheese sandwich? Use a Granny Smith apple for best results. They will maintain their form better than a red apple.

Our grilled cheese sandwich is definitely coming together. We have added meat, changed the cheese, changed the bread, and added sauces for added pizzaz. What’s left to do? Let’s see if we can incorporate some vegetables. Pickles work well on a cheese sandwich with bologna. A juicy slice of tomato would add color and flavor to any meat and cheese combination. Get a slice of green with a leaf of romaine lettuce or some shredded iceberg lettuce.

Ditch the margarine. I used to spread a thick layer of margarine on both sides of the bread before I put the sandwich in the pan. Here are a few alternatives to that. Use spray butter or non-stick cooking spray in the pan. Your kids will still have the butter flavor without all the butter calories. Another choice would be to brown the sandwich in the oven. Using a metal tray, spray both sides of the bread with butter spray. Bake the cheese sandwiches in a preheated oven at 425 degrees for about six minutes per side.

Grilled cheese sandwiches are getting a new look. By adding meat, seasoning, and veggies, your sandwiches are now a meal unto themselves. Get your family involved in the cooking. Let them create their own sandwiches.

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 download your personal 13 week breakfast and lunch menu made just for kids!

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365 Quick, Easy, and Healthy Dishes
by Bridget Wardley, Judy More

More than a cookbook, this indispensable kitchen companion not only offers delicious recipes for every day of the year but also contains a wealth of information on child nutrition, from weaning and introducing solids to packed lunches and party foods for older children. It emphasizes an easy approach to food preparation without complicated measurements or methods. A variety of recipes for every stage of childhood development is provided, complete with 50 “first food” recipes, 7-day meal planners, and sound snack ideas. Practical tips accompany the recipes, including methods for promoting healthy eating habits that support brain development and a strong immune system.

Introduction
Choosing the right foods for your child when he is very young will help him to grow and develop. And by feeding him delicious and nutritious food while he is keen to follow your example, you will be instilling in him a knowledge of healthy eating for life. Using our experiences as dietitians and mothers we have written this book to help you to enjoy feeding your children as much as we have enjoyed feeding ours. Family meals are important and the recipes we have chosen are quick and easy, use nutritious ingredients, and, when combined with other foods, will give your children a healthy, immunity-boosting, growth-promoting diet.
As many parents find the different stages of feeding babies and young children daunting, we give clear recommendations through the stages of weaning and beyond with recipes and menu planners to help you to provide all the nutrients your child needs in the correct amounts. Busy lifestyles often leave little time for cooking, so we have devised recipes that use a wide range of cooking methods – from quick stir-frying to baking to slow casseroling. We have also included some recipes for foods that can be made in advance and frozen, as well as some that simply involve combining different foods on a plate in the right proportions.
Healthy eating does not have to mean depriving your child of their favorite foods. By using quality ingredients you can make delicious burgers, nuggets, pizzas, fries, and kebabs that are far more nutritious than the commercial varieties, which usually contain additives and an excess of salt, sugars, and fats. Research has shown that most children today eat far too much sugar, fat, and salt – mainly in the form of highly-processed snacks – and as a result, many of them are becoming overweight. By encouraging your child to be active, and above all by developing healthy eating patterns from an early age, you can prevent your child from developing such weight problems. Most parents – understandably – also worry when their child seems to lose his appetite. But most children go off their food from time to time. Bear in mind that your child doesn’t need to eat well at every meal, or even every day. As long as he consumes a good balance of foods over a period of a week or so he will obtain all the nutrients he needs.
Finally, we’d like to share with you our three golden rules for happy and healthy eating:
•Eat together as a family as often as possible.
•Show your baby or child that you enjoy eating the foods that you want him to eat.
•Praise your child when he eats well and never indicate that you are anxious or upset when he doesn’t.

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Your growing toddler needs to snack quite a few times a day in addition to eating regular meals with the rest of the family. Here are a few quick and easy snack ideas that you can put together in just a few minutes. You toddler will enjoy these yummy snacks.

Ham and Cheese Crackers

Cut up some pieces of ham and cheese and serve them with some crackers. If you want to make it fun, use a cookie cutter to cut fun shapes out of the cheese.

Fruit Dip

Caution, this can get a little messy! Cut up some fruit in bite size chunks and serve with a small bowl of yogurt. Encourage your toddler to dip the fruit in the yogurt. This is an easy way to get your toddler to eat a serving of fruit, while also getting some extra calcium and protein in his/her diet from the yogurt.

Low Sugar Cereal

I always keep a box of low sugar cereal like cheerios in my pantry. They make a great snack with a little milk, or even just a bowl of dry cereal. Dry cereal also make a great take-along snack. Just throw a serving in a Ziploc bag and toss it in your purse.

Veggies and Dip

Keep some cut up veggies in the fridge. Small pieces of carrot, peeled cucumber, celery as well as small sections of broccoli and cauliflower all make great finger food for toddlers. Make sure the pieces are very small to prevent choking or steam them to soften them up. Serve with a little ranch dressing if desired.

Peanut Butter Sandwich

A PB&J has been a snack staple for ages. Mix things up by toping the peanut butter with some thin slices of apple or banana instead of the jelly. Or try smearing the peanut butter on a tortilla. Add jelly and roll it up. Cut the rolled up tortilla into strips for a fun new way to eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Quick Cheese Quesadilla

Place a soft tortilla on a microwave safe plate. Top one half with cheese and fold the other half over it. Microwave 30-60 seconds or until the cheese is melted. Cut into wedges and let it cool a little before serving.

Quick Smoothie

Throw half a banana or some berries in a blender along with some vanilla yogurt and a splash of milk. Add a little ice if desired and blend until smooth. Serve in a sippy cup or with a straw for a quick fruit smoothie. Your toddler will love drinking a milkshake for a snack.

Give these fast, easy and healthy snack ideas for your toddler a try. By the way, these make great snacks for everyone else in the family as well – including mom.

Christine Steendahl Is The Founder Of Dine Without Whine – A Family Friendly Weekly Menu Planner. Eliminate Your Dinner Hour Stress And Re-Discover The Pleasure Of The Dinner Hour! For A Free Sample Menu Visit Weekly Meal Planning – Free Sample

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