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Melanie: Cooking for the Kids


Not only is MELANIE GRIFFITH a rocking SC instructor, she's also the mother of three beautiful children (Jude, 6; Emma, 10; Aiden, 8). Although each of her kids like to eat different things, Melanie's found a way to cook meals that everyone enjoys. Check out Melanie's fun, creative and -- best of all -- healthy recipes!

 


As a mother of three children, it's a challenge to prepare food that they will ALL eat and that is healthy for them. But as with many things in life . . . a little creativity can go a long way!

Sometimes simply presenting the food in a fun way encourages them to eat every bite and try new things. I often arrange their food to look like a flower or the sun or a smiley face. Think about putting a scoop of fresh peanut or almond butter in the center of a plate and arranging slices of apples and carrots so that they look like petals and a stem and some rays of sun. This also works like a charm with celery and cream cheese or hummus and cucumber, always popular snack in my house.
 

For some reason, my kids love things that are layered and wrapped up. This is a great way to get them to eat protein and veggies without overloading them on starchy carbs. One of my son's favorite lunch meals is a "roll up" - simply layer any kind of deli meat and cheese and roll it up!! Add lettuce and tomato or thinly sliced carrots and cucumbers for added crunch. Use the layer technique for mozzarella and tomato, avocado and grapefruit segments, or fresh figs with prosciutto and thinly sliced Parmesan cheese. For a fun variation on tacos, I will start with a leaf of lettuce and then layer on the fixin's - tomatoes, beans, ground turkey, grated cheese and a dollop of sour cream and salsa. It looks pretty and tastes great!
 
 
Taking charge of how I talk about food is also important. In our home, fruit is a "dessert" and the occasional ice cream or cupcake is a "treat". Turkey burgers are always part ground turkey and part spinach. I also mix spinach in with pasta, grilled chicken and a little goat cheese. The kids drink water at every meal - never soda and rarely sugary juice. When we make a stir fry at home, I let the kids pick the colors of the food they want to throw in the wok - sometimes arranging the prepared veggies on the plate in the shape and colors of a rainbow. The motto at home when I introduce new foods and my kids think they won't like it is - "you don't have to like it, you just have to try it!"
 
 
The days of preparing different meals for each kid are over for me! Instead, I have learned to use my imagination, get them involved in helping prepare meals and snacks, and have some healthy family fun together!
Posted January 10, 10