Using Different Foods to Change Up Your Meals

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEv6CthbjThPiqQ_aiItxo0SZGBlFPUYFxnRLr7IEQ4_6SSXyrgD8y9MDQ_xgZf1Kw-frUc-HutQAnDjKbzyGmYZLkGk9w63bRcemhE1gtWsLP-qmTdI6dxGj0pOLYxC_Msee6Bwk9Pchv/s1600/different_foods.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A collage of different foods and spices. " border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEv6CthbjThPiqQ_aiItxo0SZGBlFPUYFxnRLr7IEQ4_6SSXyrgD8y9MDQ_xgZf1Kw-frUc-HutQAnDjKbzyGmYZLkGk9w63bRcemhE1gtWsLP-qmTdI6dxGj0pOLYxC_Msee6Bwk9Pchv/s1600/different_foods.png" title="different foods" /></a></div> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 8pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444;">I love food! I love that there are so many different foods with unique flavors and I love them even more since I’ve dedicated myself to a healthy lifestyle. Eating healthy can sometimes leave us in a rut, eating the same things over and over, but it doesn’t have to be like that! I’ve got a few different foods I like to add to the meal plan when I start to feel repetitive with my eating habits. I’m sure you have felt this way before too, so I’m going to share some different foods and options that you could try.</span></span></div> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 8pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444;">Spaghetti Squash. Okay, the reason I love using spaghetti squash when I need to incorporate different foods is because of all the options for sauces! You can make a tasty pesto when you want a savory dish, or add a brown sugar and cinnamon glaze for a sweet treat. </span></span></div> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 8pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444;">Bulgur. Bulgur is a wheat grain that is high in fiber and low in fat and calories. It’s great to use in place of different foods like rice or couscous. You can add spices to it, pair it with a stir fry or find a tabouli salad recipe to enjoy. </span></span></div> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 8pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444;">Spice it up! Experiment! Spices really add flavor to different foods. Experiment with a few different spice combinations, like cinnamon and sage or chili powder and lemon peel. Peruse the internet to find the most interesting combinations and give them a try.</span></span></div> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 8pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444;">Ethnic Foods. Visit a few restaurants or grocery stores that feature ethnic foods, they are sure to have some great flavors! Go find a cool Thai restaurant or an Indian restaurant and see what they have to offer. If you like something, experiment with recipes at home to duplicate the flavor.  </span></span></div> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 8pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444;">Splurge. Okay, this isn’t actually a specific food, but it helps change up the different foods you eat. Splurge on something that is healthy and delicious, like a nice lobster dinner. You can go out, or prepare the lobster yourself if you’re feeling extra motivated. </span></span></div> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 15pt; margin-top: 8pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444;">Combinations. Think about things you really love and how you can incorporate them into different foods. For example, when the kids are feeling bored with their lunches, I’ll pop in something like an apple, peanut butter sandwich or wrap a pancake around some fruit to give them a healthy change in their meal. Or, just change the shape, try spiraling some carrots into noodles for a stir fry or soup. </span></span></div> <span style="color: #444444;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-00b30220-5a32-23f7-f9b7-5018f93f0399"></span></span><br /> <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 4pt;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #444444;">So, which different foods are you going to incorporate into your meal plans this week? Let me know what interesting foods are your favorite! </span></span></div>

abs, bulgur, cooking, fitness, food, food tips, health, meal, meal tips, nutrition, real foods, spaghetti squash, spices, Tips by Alyssa Schomaker, variety in foods, vegetables

Using Different Foods to Change Up Your Meals

I love food! I love that there are so many different foods with unique flavors and I love them even more since I’ve dedicated myself to a...

Fabulous Fish Tacos with Fiery Peach Avocado Salsa

<div style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-top: 14px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <i style="color: #6b6763; font-family: 'Proxima N W15 Reg'; font-size: small; font-variant: inherit; line-height: 24px;">shared from summertomato.com by Elyse Kopecky</i><br /> <a href="http://summertomato.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/summer-tomato-fish-tacos-dpr-sm.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.25s ease-in-out; border-bottom-color: rgb(214, 70, 50); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; color: #dc4a2d; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.25s ease-in-out; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Fish Tacos" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-13451" height="375" src="http://summertomato.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/summer-tomato-fish-tacos-dpr-sm.jpg" style="border: 0px; display: block; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="640" /></a></div> <div id="recipe-list" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="ingredients" id="icon" style="background-image: url(http://summertomato.com/wp-content/themes/grainandmortar/images/ingredients.png); border: 0px; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; height: 39px; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 34px;"> </div> <div id="list" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 552px;"> <h5 style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Proxima N W15 Bold'; font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Ingredients</h5> <ul class="recipe" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: circle; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <li style="border-top-color: rgb(236, 236, 236); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px 20px; padding: 10px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">¾ pound Pacific cod, or other mild white fish like rockfish, tilapia, halibut*</li> <li style="border-top-color: rgb(236, 236, 236); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px 20px; padding: 10px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1 tbsp olive oil</li> <li style="border-top-color: rgb(236, 236, 236); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px 20px; padding: 10px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1 tsp dried oregano**</li> <li style="border-top-color: rgb(236, 236, 236); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px 20px; padding: 10px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1 tsp chili powder</li> <li style="border-top-color: rgb(236, 236, 236); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px 20px; padding: 10px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">½ lemon, thin slices</li> <li style="border-top-color: rgb(236, 236, 236); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px 20px; padding: 10px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">4 sprigs fresh cilantro</li> <li style="border-top-color: rgb(236, 236, 236); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px 20px; padding: 10px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">sea salt</li> <li style="border-top-color: rgb(236, 236, 236); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px 20px; padding: 10px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">pepper</li> <li style="border-top-color: rgb(236, 236, 236); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px 20px; padding: 10px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">4 tortillas (I buy locally made stone-ground corn tortillas)</li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="clear" style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <br /> <div id="recipe-list" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 20px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="other-ingredients" id="icon" style="background-image: url(http://summertomato.com/wp-content/themes/grainandmortar/images/ingredients.png); border: 0px; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; height: 39px; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 34px;"> </div> <div id="list" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 552px;"> <h5 style="border: 0px; font-family: 'Proxima N W15 Bold'; font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Other Ingredients</h5> <ul class="recipe" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: circle; margin: 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <li style="border-top-color: rgb(236, 236, 236); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px 20px; padding: 10px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1 large avocado, diced</li> <li style="border-top-color: rgb(236, 236, 236); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px 20px; padding: 10px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1 juicy peach, diced</li> <li style="border-top-color: rgb(236, 236, 236); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px 20px; padding: 10px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1 pint cherry tomatoes</li> <li style="border-top-color: rgb(236, 236, 236); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px 20px; padding: 10px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2 Tbsp cilantro, minced</li> <li style="border-top-color: rgb(236, 236, 236); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px 20px; padding: 10px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1 Tbsp fresh lime juice</li> <li style="border-top-color: rgb(236, 236, 236); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px 20px; padding: 10px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1 large clove garlic, minced</li> <li style="border-top-color: rgb(236, 236, 236); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px 20px; padding: 10px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1 jalapeño, minced (for mild salsa remove seeds)</li> <li style="border-top-color: rgb(236, 236, 236); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px 20px; padding: 10px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">½ tsp salt</li> <li style="border-top-color: rgb(236, 236, 236); border-top-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px 20px; padding: 10px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">¼ tsp fresh ground pepper</li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="clear" style="border: 0px; clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <div class="prep" id="recipe-list" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 10px 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="preparation" id="icon" style="background-image: url(http://summertomato.com/wp-content/themes/grainandmortar/images/preparation.png); border: 0px; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; height: 39px; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 34px;"> </div> <div id="list" style="border: 0px; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 552px;"> <h5 style="border: 0px; color: #6b6763; font-family: 'Proxima N W15 Bold'; font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Preparation</h5> <div style="border: 0px; color: #6b6763; font-family: 'Proxima N W15 Reg'; font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-top: 14px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Preheat oven to 450 degrees.</div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #6b6763; font-family: 'Proxima N W15 Reg'; font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-top: 14px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Divide fish on two squares of parchment paper and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle fish with oregano, chili powder, sea salt and pepper. Place lemon slices and cilantro sprigs on top of each fillet.</div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #6b6763; font-family: 'Proxima N W15 Reg'; font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-top: 14px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Fold parchment over fish to create packets. Roll edge of paper to tightly close each packet. Place on rimmed baking sheet. Roast in oven until parchment puffs up and browns lightly,12 – 15 minutes (depends on thickness of filet).</div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #6b6763; font-family: 'Proxima N W15 Reg'; font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-top: 14px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> In a large bowl toss together avocado, peach, cherry tomatoes, cilantro, lime juice, garlic, jalapeño, salt and pepper. Taste and add more jalapeño (if you’re brave) and/or salt and pepper.</div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #6b6763; font-family: 'Proxima N W15 Reg'; font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-top: 14px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Warm tortillas in the oven (wrap in foil) or in a frying pan on the stovetop with a drizzle of olive oil.</div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #6b6763; font-family: 'Proxima N W15 Reg'; font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-top: 14px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Remove fish from oven and carefully cut open packets. Insert fork into thickest portion to check for doneness. Fish should flake easily and be opaque in color. If it needs a few more minutes, reseal parchment packet and place back in oven, but be careful not to overcook.</div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #6b6763; font-family: 'Proxima N W15 Reg'; font-size: 16px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-top: 14px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Top warm tortillas with pieces of baked fish and a heaping spoonful of salsa. Chow immediately.</div> <div style="border: 0px; color: #6b6763; font-family: 'Proxima N W15 Reg'; line-height: 24px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-top: 14px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <br /></div> <div style="font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit;"> <br /></div> </div> </div>

clean dinners, clean eating, cooking, deliciousness, fish, Healthy recipes, nutrition, salsa, tacos

Fabulous Fish Tacos with Fiery Peach Avocado Salsa

shared from summertomato.com by Elyse Kopecky Ingredients ¾ pound Pacific cod, or other mild white fish like rockfish, tilapia, ha...

10 ways to get your children to adjust to a clean eating lifestyle

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I don't know about you but, I really struggled and still do with getting my three kids on board with clean eating. My oldest Son Gavin was never a good eater! I mean he ate NOTHING! It was a very tough thing for my husband and I to go through watching our child refuse to eat food. My pediatrician had told us when he was two that we should not worry at this point about "healthy" foods but, just make sure that he is eating. I think his approach was anything is better then nothing. So, now that he is older and quite a good eater, I must add, we have really been working with our kids to eat healthy and make good choices when it comes to food. This is definetly a work in progress but, continue to educate my children because I feel like it is very important and want them to feel as good as I do from consuming whole, real foods!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGw9GzSVJwMIa8EGfUm-M2CgVwcNcT4rZKveqtklRSjNwdY-l7qQfp1l-sZjeIl4zXCHuVDnWY2iGBpwr4R7PhohSBaHCB30exBNHEDkoa3-lKxK_1DwXDYZeaqngeBVa2ezNBgltM2w_7/s1600/How-to-get-your-kids-on-board-with-healthy-eating-and-living.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGw9GzSVJwMIa8EGfUm-M2CgVwcNcT4rZKveqtklRSjNwdY-l7qQfp1l-sZjeIl4zXCHuVDnWY2iGBpwr4R7PhohSBaHCB30exBNHEDkoa3-lKxK_1DwXDYZeaqngeBVa2ezNBgltM2w_7/s640/How-to-get-your-kids-on-board-with-healthy-eating-and-living.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These are some of the ideas and things we have been doing to incorporate our children into eating clean foods....</div>1. <strong>Serve vegetables as an appetizer.</strong> While you set out the rest of dinner, keep hungry kids occupied with veggies. (I love carrot sticks and fresh cut bell pepper.) When you serve veggies before dinner, they’re more likely to be eaten.<br /> <br /> 2. <strong>Offer control. </strong>Picky eating is often about control, not taste. Offer two options (“Shall we have peas or broccoli trees with lunch?”) and give your child the power to choose one.<br /> <br /> 3. <strong>Remember tiny tummies</strong>. Do you often think that your toddlers aren’t eating enough? But when they describe all the child ate that day, it’s really plenty of food. Children’s tummies are quite small, about the size of their clenched fist. What looks like a reasonable snack to grown-up eyes might be an overwhelming portion for little ones.<br /> <br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwfRKazprAfT_vzzsBsrH1tZAU0kDDY4RzNu0otLK1scgCtpQep6Ux5oV5nFWlwU_jWse4vVDSkqSww0Jd0Puuc_A_MbGt772ar-oKRkyNeWnbGVkUx7D3yPh6rCJpsKgVKbeW0ysjqfF/s1600/healthyfood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwfRKazprAfT_vzzsBsrH1tZAU0kDDY4RzNu0otLK1scgCtpQep6Ux5oV5nFWlwU_jWse4vVDSkqSww0Jd0Puuc_A_MbGt772ar-oKRkyNeWnbGVkUx7D3yPh6rCJpsKgVKbeW0ysjqfF/s320/healthyfood.jpg" width="320" /></a>4. <strong>Never underestimate the power of a silly face or use animal shapes.</strong> At snack time, try arranging cucumber slice eyes with a ranch dip smile and carrot teeth, or peanut butter eyes and a celery mouth on an apple slice head. And what kid can resist this BEAUTIFUL butterfly!<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> 5. <strong>Make it interactive.</strong> Who says you shouldn’t play with your food? Steamed artichokes with lemon butter for dipping, roasted asparagus with a little cup of grated parmesan, lettuce wraps for stuffing with seasoned chicken or beans and veg — kids love interacting with their food! For bonus points, give each component a cool name — “trees with snow” will add a dash of giggles to a dish of broccoli with parmesan.<br /> <br /> 6. <strong>Delegate sous chef duties</strong>. At the market, have everyone pick out one fruit or veggie they’d like to have that evening. Then, let them add their chosen food to the pizza, soup, or salsa. When children are involved in the cooking, they’re much more likely to try the result.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.tumblr.com/523b9617c80635ef92a6140b840530ed/tumblr_inline_mn0l3kjUl51qz4rgp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" class="toggle_inline_image inline_image constrained_image" height="400" src="http://media.tumblr.com/523b9617c80635ef92a6140b840530ed/tumblr_inline_mn0l3kjUl51qz4rgp.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>7. <strong>Be a veggie pragmatist.</strong> As a busy mom, I know it is not always possible to browse the market with your children. And to be honest with three kids grocery shopping can actually be quite enjoying when I get the oppurtunity to go by myself. When that happens, reach for frozen vegetables. The nutrient profile on vegetables that are flash frozen are just as good  and frozen veggies are more forgiving of busy schedules and fickle toddler tastes.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> 8. <strong>Zucchini bread is not a vegetable. </strong>Quite a few recent books suggest ways to “sneak” fruit and veg into children’s meals. Boosting nutrition is all well and good, but it’s also important to teach children what things look and taste like in their natural state. Don’t just sneak a cheeky puree into the pizza sauce. Let them know it’s there, and let them see how it’s prepared.<br /> <br /> <br /> 9. <strong>Don’t give up.</strong> Studies show that children have to try a food 10-15 times to like it, and I’ve certainly found that to be true. Encourage children to play with a new food, touch it, smell it, and above all taste it, but keep things lighthearted. Remember your child isn’t just being contrary being suspicious of new food is an entirely reasonable instinct, especially for children.<br /> <br /> 10. <strong>The no-thank-you bite</strong>. If your child refuses outright to try new things, introduce a “no-thank-you bite” rule. With this rule, if a child doesn’t want to eat something, that’s fine  so long as she takes a small bite and says “no thank you.” If she still doesn’t like it, chalk it up to one of those 10-15 necessary new food exposures and move on.<br /> <br /> I hope you find these tips helpful! Remember it is a work in progress and your children will eventually start eating more real foods over time!<br /> <br /> Alyssa<br /> XXOO<div style="float: right; margin: 4px;"><a href="javascript:void((function(){var%20e=document.createElement('script');e.setAttribute('type','text/javascript');e.setAttribute('charset','UTF-8');e.setAttribute('src','http://assets.pinterest.com/js/pinmarklet.js?r='+Math.random()*99999999);document.body.appendChild(e)})());"><img alt="Pin It" class="aligncenter" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v419/green_tea/pin.jpg" /></a></div>

appetizers, bite, children, clean eating, cooking, food, healthy, interactive, nutrition, real foods, snacks, toddlers, vegetables, veggies

10 ways to get your children to adjust to a clean eating lifestyle

I don't know about you but, I really struggled and still do with getting my three kids on board with clean eating. My oldest Son Gavin w...