Eating and kids

Have you ever sat down to eat with a salad while you fed your kids pizza, canned foods, or a box of mac and cheese? I feel that I hear a lot of people complain that their children don't eat healthy. I hear them say "oh, he/she doesn't like that". I also see, and have been guilty myself of feeding them something they would rather have, than what is a healthy choice for them. Everyone tells me I am fortunate because my kids aren't picky, of course they would rather eat fruit loops or things in boxes with spongebob or smiling cheesy noodles, but they don't have a choice 98% of the time. Our house rule is that everyone eats what mom or dad has made, no exceptions. They will not starve overnight and I know they like at least one thing we've made. If you mention they don't like something they will start to believe it without even trying it! Just like the rule when they first started eating, it will take them more than one exposure to accept a new food. Just stick with it!!

If you do this for your family more than 1 or 2 meals a week, we need to have a little one on one. The truth is it will get a little harder, before it gets easy, but it needs to be done! You need to begin, even if slowly, to give your kids whole, natural foods. Americans are feeding their children a TON of extra sugar, sodium, and fat. Our kids as young as 3 are becoming overweight and being diagnosed with health complications like high blood pressure and cholesterol that were only seen in adults a decade ago.

Have you seen the packs of Naan bread in the grocery store? We use that to make our own healthy choices on our homemade pizza night! Here is a fun, healthy recipe for your family to try as an alternate to high calorie takeout pizza.

1 naan (is about 190-240 cal depending on brand)
Add sauce and your favorite toppings. Using turkey sausage and turkey pepperoni and low fat cheese will decrease the calories.
Bake @400 about 10min.

Eat half with a side of veggies or a salad for a healthier option. Depending on the toppings, you could eat the whole thing without the guilt of delivery.

Our version was homemade pesto as the sauce, garlic grilled shrimp, thin slices of tomatoes, and low fat fresh and shredded mozzarella. And YES, my kids loved it, Wilson even ate 1/2 of mine!