I have to confess, when it comes to preparing healthy family meals, especially for the youngsters, I am not much of a planner.
I get inspiration with what my mother cooks, as well as from cookbooks and well-loved recipes shared by friends. In the end, it all boils down to my mood, to my husband's and kids' requests for the week, and what produce are available come grocery day. But in any household with little ones, the main challenge is how to make them eat healthy food.
For this post, I have complied several dishes I previously featured, all with vegetables, that proved to have a high acceptance rate with the kids! =)
Kids love crunchy food, so "hiding" the veggies in a crunchy shell is always a safe bet.
CRISPY VEGETABLE SPRING ROLL
I have not featured this yet, so here's what you need for this dish:
Spring roll wrapper
Oil
Minced garlic, white onion, ground lean pork (optional) or chopped shrimps
Salt, pepper, liquid seasoning to taste
Shredded cabbage, carrots, and turnips (singkamas) - you can proportion it to your preference but ours have more cabbage in it
* As an alternative to turnips, we also use bean sprouts and firm tofu for the filling.
To cook:
Saute garlic and onion in oil, add ground meat/shrimp, and mix all the veggies until cooked.
Transfer in a colander to drain.
Lay wrapper and scoop a few tablespoons and wrap in spring roll wrapper.
Fry until golden.
For us adults, a vinegar dip is a perfect condiment. Great as afternoon snacks too!
Stock wrapped spring rolls in freezer, or refrigerator, for a ready-to-cook dish that's juicy, crunchy and deliciously healthy!
Here are more easy-to-cook dishes with vegetables to add to your menu. Just click on the name for the recipe.
shrimp and broccoli are my girl's favorites
fried rice mixed with assorted, chopped up veggies or leftovers
a complete meat-veggie-dairy-grain combo in a toasted sandwich
pureed roasted butternut squash and carrots
a hearty meat and veggie soup that can be eaten alone or with rice
fried, crunchy, naturally healthy snack to munch on
It's a good thing my kids actually enjoy eating some vegetables, like carrots and cabbage, gooey okra and protein-rich beans, crisp broccoli, to onions and bell peppers rich in antioxidants.
Here's how you can let them have fun while appreciating vegetables and the food they eat:
- Give them their own vegetable list to the grocery
- Have them pick the vegetables from the market or chiller section while naming the veggie
- Involve them in the preparation of the meals - like separating the cabbage leaves, breaking the string beans in pieces, and showing how to safely chop vegetables
- Allow them to saute and stir
I hope you can try add any of these dishes to your menu! :)
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