Kids - Mom - More Veggies Please

Kid's recipes should be quick, flavorful and nutritious. Getting children to eat vegetables is a major task. Finding a way to get vegetables into the mouths of little ones is simple if they are involved in the fun. Creating ways to get kids involved in the preparation and the cooking of kids' recipes is part of the fun. Kid friendly recipes will allow you the peace of knowing your children are eating healthy and they will love feeling in control of what they are eating.

Take your kids grocery shopping with you. Allow them to choose the fruits and vegetables they like. This is generally the easiest way even with kids as young as 4 years old. Kids learn to eat healthier when they participate in the cooking and the meal planning for the family.

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

A great way to get your kids to eat vegetables is to use the vegetables 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 adding nutritious foods into their diet.

Kids Recipes for Create My Own Soup

Let the kids count the carrots and celery pieces. Let them spell their names with the noodles if you have alphabet noodles. You can find other special noodles like car shapes, etc. Make a topic of the soup creation.

Cut various shapes out of the carrot slices and zucchini (using 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 wash the carrots and zucchini softly 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 search for their names or count the number of shapes in their soup bowl. The kids will like the adventure and fun, you will feel good knowing they are enjoying their vegetables.