All posts tagged getting kids to eat vegetables

Girls Overtaking the Kitchen ~ Kid-created Dinner!

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Tonight, I gave my girls the opportunity to make their own dinner – whatever they wanted and mainly all by themselves. This is a great way to see what they are used to eating- kinda like a “monkey see, monkey do” experience. Our kids mimic our eating habits, and I guess that’s why they both created their own salads to accompany their pizzas. They see what I make and eat, and so they naturally follow suit. For us, this was another excellent way to get them excited about eating healthy foods.

Unbeknownst to each other, they both chose pizza for their DIY dinner tonight. Aleyah decided to create a Cuban sandwich pizza, and Anna made a Hawaiian “taco” pizza. I must say, I was really impressed! They stretched the dough, cut veggies for their salads, made homemade dressing, and cleaned up! And both pizzas were delicious, and I even truly liked Aleyah’s dressing for her spinach salad (a mix of the leftover honey mustard dressing, a touch of greek yogurt and mayo, minced garlic, ground ginger, and poppyseeds). They also began to work together and made an apple and yellow pepper salad with a drizzle of honey and fresh lime zest- so proud of my girls!

Cuban Sandwich Pizza

  • Whole wheat pizza dough

  • Honey mustard dressing (equal parts mustard and honey and a touch of olive oil)

  • Swiss cheese

  • Cooked pork

  • Uncured ham

  • Chopped dill pickles (NO food coloring!)

Stretch out dough to desired thickness. Spread on dressing, top with cheese, pork, ham, and pickles. Drizzle with a little more dressing. Bake in a 400 degree preheated oven for about 20 minutes. 

Hawaiian Taco Pizza

  • Whole wheat pizza crust

  • Tomato sauce

  • Shredded mozzerella

  • Uncured ham

  • Pineapple

Stretch out dough into a rectangular shape and to desired thickness. Spread on sauce, top with cheese, ham, and pineapple. Pull up two edges to meet in the middle and pinch together. Bake in a 400 degree preheated oven for about 20 minutes. 

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by M. Terry on February 28, 2014  •  Permalink
Posted in Family, Food, Nutrition, Recipes
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Posted by M. Terry on February 28, 2014

https://wholetothecore.com/2014/02/28/girls-overtaking-the-kitchen-kid-created-dinner/

A Kid’s Meal – Earth’s Best Baked Chicken Nuggets & Lettuce Wraps

Last night, Scott was off at church, I mowed the yard, and the kids cleaned and vacuumed the Armada. So this seemed like the perfect night to surprise my kids with one of my Whole Foods purchases from the other day- chicken nuggets! Earth’s Best Baked Chicken Nuggets were on sale at Whole Foods, I had 2 store coupons, and 1 manufacturer’s coupon making these a deal I couldn’t resist! The kids LOVED them and are thrilled that I have another box in the freezer. Here are Earth’s Best Baked Chicken Nuggets ingredients (and these are the reasons I’m okay serving this as a dinner “treat”):

Chicken Meat, Water, Contains Less than 2% of the Following: Evaporated Cane Juice, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Rice Starch, Sea Salt, Spice. Battered & Breaded with: Whole Wheat Flour, Water, Wheat Flour, Corn Starch, Evaporated Cane Juice, Sea Salt, Leavening (Baking Soda, Cream of Tartar), Garlic Powder, Yellow Corn Flour, Yeast, Onion Powder, Spice, Sunflower Oil, Extractive of Turmeric. Breading Set in Expeller Pressed Canola Oil and/or Soybean Oil and/or Safflower Oil.

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Along side these nuggets, I served large romaine leaves and our container of pre-cut veggies. My kids have recently begun to create their own lettuce wraps with fresh veggies and dressing, and it seems to be a fun “trick” to get them to eat more vegetables. A fast and easy weeknight dinner (served on paper plates 😉  ) – a need we all have on those crazy nights!

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by M. Terry on September 27, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Food, Nutrition, Product Review
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Posted by M. Terry on September 27, 2013

https://wholetothecore.com/2013/09/27/a-kids-meal-homemade-earths-best-baked-chicken-nuggets-lettuce-wraps/

A Bright Reminder for Kids (Young and Old!)

ikeaTonight at church, I was able to cook and create dinner with our kids for our summer Wednesday night activity. After making and thoroughly enjoying a healthful meal, I passed out these IKEA utensils to each child. These are to serve as a reminder that our plates should be colorful – full of the rich and bright spectrum of fruits and veggies that God created!

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by M. Terry on July 10, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Food, Motivation, Nutrition
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Posted by M. Terry on July 10, 2013

https://wholetothecore.com/2013/07/10/a-bright-reminder-for-kids-young-and-old/

Fun at Food Revolution Day

This past Saturday was my “Mother’s Day”. With a husband in the ministry, Sundays are just not an ideal time for me  celebrate a special occasion, so Saturday was my day to claim as my own. My mom came over in the morning and allowed me to get in a run before we took the kids to Food Revolution Day.

It was a beautiful day at Rockledge Gardens thanks to the weather and the luscious landscaping. The kids enjoyed the fountains, ponds, and the butterflies that fluttered about them.

We test-tasted

  • carrot salad
  • carrot juice
  • black bean and salsa dip
  • peanut butter and strawberry sandwiches
  • green smoothies
  • spicy vegetarian sausage

I also had the opportunity to hand out samples of my Spiced Fig Hummus in hopes of drumming up some future business as I get ready to apply for my food license!

They had the opportunity to plant cucumber seeds as well.

They also received an “Eat the Rainbow” chart which is an excellent visual aid to get kids (or yourself) to eat each color of the rainbow every day. Click here to download the chart, or get the kids even more involved by having  them make their own chart of rainbow colors.

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by M. Terry on May 21, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Family, Food, Nutrition
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Posted by M. Terry on May 21, 2012

https://wholetothecore.com/2012/05/21/fun-at-food-revolution-day/

Why I Love Thursdays!

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Thursdays begin our down time for the weekend. One of my favorite things about today is picking up our organic box of produce from Lily’s Organic Produce. After we pick up Aleyah from school, we swing by and get our fruits and veggies. When we get home, I put the kids to work washing, cutting, and eating. Today, Anna gave the corn on the cob a haircut before they went into the oven. She also helped cut the romaine. Joel helped season the zucchini and squash before they also went into the oven, and Aleyah helped with the romaine after her homework was finished. And what they cut up and fix, they more often than not will also eat. I also love that this box is an assortment of produce, and it makes me try various items that I might not normally purchase at the supermarket. So here’s to Thursday nights at the Terry household!

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by M. Terry on April 26, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Food, Motivation, Nutrition
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Posted by M. Terry on April 26, 2012

https://wholetothecore.com/2012/04/26/why-i-love-thursdays/

Fill ’em When They’re Empty (With Veggies That Is!)

The above picture is what happens when you’re children have had a full day of school, special activities, and a play date at the park. When we got home, they had a “picnic” on the floor while watching one of their favorite Disney cartoons. The pictured tray was filled with cauliflower, snow peas, and carrots when the show began. When it was over, my children were full of these wonderful veggies! It counteracted the green-frosted cupcake their father let them share at school 🙂

So, if you want to get your kids eating garden goodies, make sure they are hungry and offer it to them without any alternative. They will eat it when they are super hungry, and hence begin to acquire a taste for vegetables.

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by M. Terry on March 23, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Food
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Posted by M. Terry on March 23, 2012

https://wholetothecore.com/2012/03/23/fill-em-when-their-empty-with-veggies-that-is/

Crudite S’il Vous Plait

It’s almost dinner time, the kids are doing homework, and everyone is a little grouchy. A crudite tray is my solution to this problem. I always try to keep fresh fruit and veggies sliced so I can place them out as dinner times approaches. My kids know that they are allowed to come to the table and munch away as I finish up dinner. This keeps them from whining before dinner, and it also fills them up on a variety of fruits and veggies so we are not battling over eating them during dinner. I am sometimes asked how I get my kids to eat vegetables. This is one of the best solutions I have!

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by M. Terry on August 22, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Nutrition
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Posted by M. Terry on August 22, 2011

https://wholetothecore.com/2011/08/22/crudite-sil-vous-plait/