Cooking for Kids..

Good luck to you and you're not alone! My grandkids are almost 11 and 13 and they're the same way. My daughter ends up fixing separate things for them to eat just about everyday and I'm always telling her she's crazy, I'd break them of that in a hurry. As for what to fix for them, have you tried macaroni and cheese, not necessarily the more expensive brand, my grandkids actually eat the store brand. Or, maybe they'll eat chicken fingers you make yourself. They're really very simple to make and only take a few minutes and maybe you can convince them they're the same as they'd get at Mickey D's. Frozen pizza is another possibility. If they're willing to eat their veggies you could try to be a bit creative to make them tastier for them. I've been doing that a lot lately for myself as well as for the kids. It's amazing what you can do with a boring package of frozen vegetables or a can or two. Add some soup, cheese, French's onions, you name it. They'll never know it's good for them! Good luck and let me know how it turns out. If I can help you with some recipes let me know. Annie

I have found that one of the best ways to get children to eat is to get them involved in the process of cooking or preparing the meal. Have 2 or 3 things to choose from, and let them decide what to make, then have them help. They can measure, pour, mix, set the table, serve. Even let them choose which main course, which vegetable, etc, even if they choose things you normally wouldn't put together. You could also try making it fun, play restaurant, or come up with silly names for the dishes, let them be creative. As far as what to serve, lots of children love chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, pizza, one dish meals like casseroles. You could get ready made pizza crusts and have them spread the sauce, the cheese, then choose their own toppings. They could be small, individual serving pizzas or they could each do a section of a larger one. You could make home made chicken nuggets and mac and cheese so they are a little healthier than frozen or boxed kinds. Again, let the children have some say in what goes into it, what kind of dipping sauce, etc.

I see two concerns here. One is that you would like them to eat healthy and the other is that you cannot really afford to eat fast food. They are pretty set in their ways, so you do have to tough it out. Do their parents take them for fast food after they leave your house? That could be why they are holding out on you. We learned that it takes at least eight exposures to a new food for a child to try it, and for very picky eaters it may take as much as thirteen exposures. Do they like Mexican food? Home made burritos and quesadillas are good. That little bit of salsa is a vegetable. So many people eat like this nowadays. My great niece lived with me awhile, and she loved to take a tortilla, spoonful of refries and a cheese stick and melt in the microwave. Good for the protein, dairy, and grain groups. Salsa is the veggie. I work with adult disabled, and one of them tells me she does not like vegetables, but we make shepherds pie, cheeseburger pie, hamburger pie, all of these are different, but usually have a vegetable in them. She does not like green beans, or green peas, she says, but she eats them in the casseroles. She is trying to lose weight, but wants cheese sauce on her broccoli. She says she does not like mac and cheese. It is often on the menu. My solution is to buy the store brand shells and cheese, more expensive, but tastes better. I put the frozen broccoli in the strainer, drain the mac and cheese and the hot water steams the broccoli. I put the cheese sauce on and the client enjoys the mac and cheese, and the broccoli and cheese. Fruits are easier to get them to eat than veggies. I microwave apples with cinnamon, freeze ripe bananas and blend them up in milk for a shake. You do have a challenge since you are the only one working on the problem.

I learn to all girls or womens ,or mom, when read this article about cook for kid one recipe very easy .These treats can be ready in 15 minuntes! Ingredients:2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips;3/4 cup peanut butter;7 cups of crisp rice cereal;1 pkg.(10 oz) peanut butter chips;1/4 cup margarine;2 Tbsp water;1/2 tsp vanilla; 3/4 cup powdered sugar;Preparations:In large microwave bowl,heat choc chips and peanut butter,uncovered on hight for 1 minute.Stir.Microwave 30-40 seconds longer until chips are melted.Stir until smooth .Stir in cereal until evently coated.Press 1/2 cereal mixture into greased 13x2" pan. Reserve the rest.In nother microwave-safe bowl,heat peanut butter chips and butter,uncovered on high for 1 minute.Stir Microwave 10-20 seconds longer until chips are melted.Stir until smooth.Stir in water,vanilla and powdered sugar until smooth.Carefully spread over the cereal layer.Then carefully press remaining cereal mixture over the peanut butter layer.Cover and chill for a least 1 hour.Cut into squares.Mekes 2 dozen.

Try going to your local bookstore. There is a wonderful book that a mother with three kids did, that has recipies that are kid friendly. They even work in various veggie and fruit purees that you put in the foods, that you can't taste. Its a great way to get them to eat healthy and also give them foods that they would like. There are even some awesome desert recipies that the kids will like, and have no idea they are actually eating healthy!