Tag:

vegetables

spring salad recipes
LifestyleRecipes

Celebrate Spring With These 5 Salad Recipes

by Grandma Penny
written by Grandma Penny

The very first spring harvest brings us strawberries, peas, radishes, arugula, asparagus and more. It’s the perfect time of year to revamp your diet and start eating a little healthier. I know salads get a bad reputation, but people who think salads are boring probably aren’t making them right. There’s a lot more to a delicious and nutritious salad than dumping lettuce in a bowl. I like to get creative with my salads, and I’ve come up with a few great combinations that are anything but boring.

Here are our favorite early spring salad recipes to get you started. Good luck!

1. Strawberry Cucumber Salad

This lovely salad is so easy, and thanks to the strawberries, there’s even a good chance your kids might eat it!

2. American Potato Salad

The peppery radishes are just the right counterpoint for America’s favorite creamy salad. Potato salad is welcome at every summer meal. It’s hearty and flavorful and compliments anything BBQ or grilled. It’s one of the few salads that can be made the night before because it doesn’t wilt. Take it to your next backyard cookout or make it for your family for dinner.

3. Asparagus, Tomato and Feta

Asparagus is another miracle of spring. If you don’t grow it yourself, head to the store to buy fresh stalks. It’ll make the perfect addition to your salads, and you won’t be able to enjoy it 100% fresh for much longer. You might as well take advantage of it while you can.

4. Arugula, Pesto, and Tomato Salad

This is one of my favorite spring salad recipes to date. It’s fresh and crisp, and the mozzarella gives it an extra great taste. If you can, use fresh ingredients to get this salad’s full worth.

5. Cucumbers with Peas and Mint

spring salad recipes

This salad is simple and perfect for those spring days when you don’t want to put a lot of work into making a healthy meal. You can use fresh ingredients, but frozen peas will work just as well. The ingredient list is short and simple, and adding the dressing gives you a nice zing of flavor.

0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
how to get kids to eat vegetables
FoodHealthy EatingLifestyle

3 Tips To Get Your Kids To Eat Their Vegetables

by Grandma Penny
written by Grandma Penny

Kids and vegetables have a long, complicated history. Simply saying the dreaded “v” word can send a picky eater scurrying out of the kitchen with their lips clamped shut. But as a mom, you know getting vegetables into those little mouths is essential. You might have to get creative if you want your kids to get all the vitamins and minerals they need, so here are some of my best ideas.

1. Reap What You Sow

One great way to get your kids to eat more vegetables is to let them become plant parents. The feeling of responsibility and the awe of watching the living plants sprout and grow can inspire them to at least tolerate their existence and maybe even taste them.

Surprisingly, the easiest, fool-proof and most satisfying vegetable to grow is the radish. Radishes may not be as popular as macaroni and cheese, but kids sure love to see the red bulbs pop up after only 30 days from planting in the spring. Lettuces like mesclun mix, can also be harvested in less than a month.

2. Spiralize Those Veggies

A zoodler costs around $10, and it’s the best money I have spent all year. You can spiralize carrots and cucumbers for quick fun salads, or spiralize zucchini or other squash for a quick hot spaghetti type of meal. There’s just something about spirals that make vegetables more appetizing for kids.

Most spiral vegetables cook in seconds, and all you need to do is add sauce and a sprinkle of grated cheese. Ta Da!! Dinner in less than 10 minutes, and vegetables your kids will have fun eating.

kids and veggies

3. DIY Dressings

Salads are a lot more exciting when you let the kids make their own dressings. From a squeeze of lemon to an eight-ingredient extravaganza, the combinations for homemade salad dressings are endless.

As a bonus, you can also use the dressings as a marinade with chicken, fish, pork, or beef. To get started, I just set out an assortment of ingredients and let the kids mix and match. 

The basic recipe is one base ingredient (4 ounces), one acid (1 ounce), one flavor (use sparingly), one herb (1 tablespoon), and a pinch of salt. The thin, vinegar-based dressings are shaken in a bottle with a tight fitting lid, and the thick, creamy dressings (or dips) are stirred in a bowl with a whisk. So the first questions we ask when we get to the kitchen to make dressing is, “Shaken or stirred?” Once you decide on that, you can let the kids get creative and figure out for themselves which combinations make the tastiest dressings.

Here is a list of ingredients that we have used this past year.

Base ingredients:

  • olive oil
  • mayonnaise
  • sour cream
  • buttermilk
  • avocado
  • yogurt

Acid ingredients:

  • lemon juice
  • lime juice
  • apple cider vinegar
  • red wine vinegar
  • balsamic vinegar

Sweetener (optional)

  • Honey, sugar, maple syrup ,apricot jam, raspberry jam,
  • orange marmalade, pineapple juice

Strong Flavor (use sparingly)

  • fresh garlic
  • garlic powder
  • onion powder
  • crushed red pepper
  • anchovies
  • cayenne pepper

Variety flavor (let your imagination go wild)

  • Parmesan cheese, grated
  • Bleu cheese
  • feta cheese
  • pickle juice
  • chopped pickles
  • ketchup
  • tomato paste
  • mustard
  • mustard powder
  • pickle relish

Fresh and dried herbs

  • oregano
  • basil
  • thyme
  • rosemary
  • parsley
  • sage
  • dill
  • tarragon

Sometimes the simplest dressing is the best choice. The most popular potato salad recipe just calls for mayonnaise, salt, and pepper. Traditional coleslaw is just mayo, white vinegar, sugar, and salt, and basic Italian dressing is olive oil, red wine vinegar, oregano, and salt.

No matter what kind of dressing your kids create, they’ll love pouring it over a fresh springtime salad. It’ll give them a sense of pride and accomplishment, and you can even name their favorite creations and write them down in your recipe book for future use.

0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
7 Creative Ways to Get Your Kids to Eat Their Veggies
FoodFood HacksHealthy Eating

7 Creative Ways to Get Your Kids to Eat Their Veggies

by Guest Post
written by Guest Post

You know the struggle—dinner time rolls around, and all of a sudden there is unstoppable complaining, crying, and a complete meltdown at the table. What happened? You had the nerve to serve your kids some vegetables. How dare you! No one wants to fight this battle night after night—it’s exhausting. So, spare yourself the fight and get your kids the nutrition they need with these tricks to help sneak veggies into everyday meals.

1. Blend Up Some Smoothies

Many kids love juice. Smoothies or juices are a great way to sneak in some extra veggies. First, choose a selection of fruits your child enjoys, like strawberries, banana or melon, so it has a familiar, sweet taste. Then add veggies for extra nutrients. Spinach is easy to add to a smoothie and doesn’t change the flavor much. Also, consider frozen cauliflower or even some avocado for a creamy texture.

2. Give a Boost to Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese is a childhood favorite. It’s also an easy place to sneak in an extra helping of veggies by mixing in peas, broccoli florets, or spinach. Also, consider adding purees to the mix. Butternut squash can be cooked and pureed, then blended in. Since it’s orange, when the noodles are covered with cheese, the kids won’t even notice!

3. Dip it

Kids love to dip, especially raw veggies. Set out several different sliced raw veggies, such as cucumbers, baby carrots, cherry tomatoes, or bell peppers. Serve them with a dip such as hummus, ranch, cream cheese, or another favorite salad dressing.

4. Set Up a DIY “Bar”

Create a “bar” style meal where kids can choose toppings and create their own meal. For example, try a pizza bar with various veggie toppings, or a taco bar with loads of veggies such as lettuce, tomato, olives, and avocado. Or, try a soup bar, where you give them a base and let them add various veggies. This idea works great with tomato soup as a starter. Whenever children are in control of their food, it’s more likely they will eat what’s in front of them.

5. Flip Out Over Quesadillas

Most kids love quesadillas, and they’re another great option for hidden veggies. Add in a few diced tomatoes, avocados, or spinach. They won’t change the taste much because of the strong flavor of the cheese, and kids might just love the added textures.

6. Serve Up Some Skewers

Allow kids to make their own skewers. Start with chicken, steak, or a hearty fish, then lay out several vegetables to skewer. A few veggies that grill well includes zucchini, tomato, and peppers. Kids can also dip the skewer into a favorite sauce, such as teriyaki, tzatziki, or honey mustard.

7. Consider Foods with Veggies Added

There are many prepared foods that have vegetable purees added, particularly kid-friendly foods like pasta, chips, and crackers. The purees bring additional nutrition when compared to the standard version. Although these will not replace the need for vegetables in your child’s diet, they can be a first step for picky eaters to get in a few extra nutrients.

 

Sneaking in veggies can be a great place to start getting kids used to new flavors. But, a little patience will also help. It can take some kids up to 20 exposures to a new food for them to want to try it. So, keep putting the veggies on their plate (and slipping them into their favorite foods) and give them some time to become veggie lovers.

 

Author Bio

Ana Reisdorf, registered dietician, enjoys helping parents find ways to get their kids to eat healthier throughout the day. She also writes for Walgreens, where you can find a variety of vitamins and supplements for the whole family.

 

RELATED POSTS

7 Sneaky Spinach Recipes For Kids

10 Clever Ways To Get Your Kids To Eat Their Vegetables

9 Kid-Friendly Paleo Recipes

 

7 Creative Ways to Get Your Kids to Eat Their Veggies

0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
stuffed pepper recipes
Family RecipesFood

Easy & Delicious Stuffed Pepper Recipes

by Karly Wood
written by Karly Wood

I’m all about easy recipes that make dinner less stressful, especially when it comes to using simple ingredients that are also healthy. Lately on my regular scrolls through Pinterest, I’ve found that stuffed bell pepper recipes seem to be really popular. Once I started researching, I found out why: the options are endless for making nutritious meals with all types of fillings! Whether you’re a meat eater or vegetarian, an adventurous foodie or a comfort food gal, there’s a stuffed bell pepper recipe for you. Keep reading to see a handful of simple and delicious stuffed pepper recipes.

stuffed pepper recipes

Source: WineAndGlue.com

1. Taco Stuffed Peppers

These taco stuffed peppers are a great twist on your regular taco Tuesday, especially if you’re trying to ditch the taco shells for something a little healthier. You favorite ingredients are all here: black beans, ground turkey or beef, CHEESE, corn and salsa. These are great for busy school nights, and can even be frozen and reheated later.

Check out WineAndGlue.com for the full recipe, and even more simple meals with 5 ingredients or less!

stuffed pepper recipes

Source: SouthernBite.com

2. Grilled Twice Baked Potato Stuffed Peppers

While these grilled twice baked potato stuffed peppers are more labor intensive and are probably better suited for a lazy weekend dinner, they are no less delicious. Bake a few potatoes and when they’re done, scrape out an combine with tasty sides like bacon, sour cream, cheese, green onions, butter and spices. Then spoon into pepper halves and either grill or bake until everything is warm and delicious!

Grab more Southern-inspired recipes at SouthernBite.com!

stuffed pepper recipes

Source: DamnDelicious.net

3. Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers

If you feel like going meatless (or are just a vegetarian!) these quinoa stuffed bell peppers will leave you satiated. This particular recipe is spicy inspired, full of green peppers, pepper jack cheese and the regular makings of Southwestern fare, like corn, beans and tomatoes. They cook in 30 minutes and make a great busy night dinner.

You’ll find even more amazing recipes at DamnDelicious.net.

stuffed pepper recipes

Source: ASpicyPerspective.com

4. Cheesy Broccoli Rice Stuffed Peppers

This recipe takes a traditionally unhealthy (but oh so tasty) American dish of cheesy broccoli and makes it a little more nutritious. By packing the broccoli, rice and green chili mixture into a bell pepper, you’re getting that extra dose of veggies that its perfect for a side dish or even a main meal.

Snag this recipe and other spicy favs from ASpicyPerspective.com.

stuffed pepper recipes

Source: PeasAndCrayons.com

5.  Cheesy Spinach Stuffed Peppers

Sneak extra veggies into the kiddos meals with this cheesy spinach stuffed pepper recipe! Rice, spinach and lots of yummy cheesy make this the perfect side dish next to some protein like chicken or steak.

PeasAndCrayons.com has this recipe and other baby and toddler friendly meals!

stuffed pepper recipes

Source: WryToastEats.com

6. Greek-Style Stuffed Peppers

Everything you love about Greek food is here in this recipe: artichokes, lemon, dill and tzatziki for dipping. This meal is perfect for hot nights and probably served with chilled Greek beer or glass of white wine!

WryToastEats.com is the best place for straightforward cooking and learning the restaurant scene in NYC.

stuffed pepper recipes

Source: HomemadeHooplah.com

7. Cheesy Spaghetti Stuffed Peppers

Even your picky eaters won’t be able to say no to these cheesy spaghetti stuffed peppers! Regular spaghetti is mixed with a combination of various cheeses and hearty sauce, then cooked in peppers. These look so amazing, they may be on the dinner menu in our house tonight!

You’ll find some pretty tasty recipes from HomemadeHooplah.com!

stuffed pepper recipes

Source: SavoryTooth.com

8. Easy Italian Stuffed Peppers

Italian sausage is the name of the game in this bell pepper recipe. Other filling ingredients include rice, onions, chives and one of my favorite cheeses, asiago. It’s cooked in a homemade sauce that really makes this recipe unique and pretty gorgeous too!

You HAVE to check out SavoryTooth.com, a site dedicated to making one dish meals for busy people everywhere.

 

stuffed pepper recipes

0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
fruits & veggies
FoodHealthy Eating

6 Spring Recipes Using Seasonal Fruits & Veggies

by Leena Kollar
written by Leena Kollar

Trying new recipes is fun. And while you usually have a specific reason for trying a new recipe, sometimes finding one “just because” is fun too. Like “just because” it’s spring, and you want to try something seasonal. Instead of just looking for a general spring recipe, why not narrow it down to slightly healthier options? Fruits and veggies are always best when they are fresh and in season. During the spring, there are fruits and veggies that you can totally use to mix up some delicious dishes. I wish I could share a recipe for every seasonal fruit and veggie, but these 6 are the ones that I think you’ll have the most fun trying. Bon appetit!

spring recipessource: The View From Great Island

1. Apricot Pie

Why not start with dessert, right? Mmm mmm, this looks yummy! I’m a sucker for fruit pies, and this would be a great choice to serve at a spring get together. Or, “just because” it’s Thursday. Or any day. Stock up on those fresh apricots next time you’re at the farmers’ market, and then hit the kitchen to whip this up.

You’ll find the full recipe and baking instructions on The View From Great Island.

spring recipessource: The Girl Who Ate Everything

2. Spinach Parmesan Rice Bake

Most kids cringe when they hear the word “spinach.” But maybe “parmesan” and “rice” will win them over. If not, there’s more of this deliciousness for you to enjoy! This healthy meal could be served as a main dish or a side. Perhaps you could even make a spring spinach salad to have beforehand.

Check out the full recipe details from The Girl Who Ate Everything.

spring recipessource: Barefeet in the Kitchen

3. Pineapple Jalapeno Salsa

Add a kick to your dinner table by serving this sweet and spicy salsa as an appetizer. Perfect for a night with friends, enjoy this with tortilla chips and a margarita. It would work for a Cinco de Mayo celebration too!

Head over to Barefeet in the Kitchen, where you’ll find the list of ingredients and directions for making this.

spring recipessource: Lil’ Luna

4. Asparagus & Tater Toss

If your children resist when you offer them asparagus, try adding bacon and potatoes to the mix. In fact, maybe try wrapping the bacon around the asparagus to trick them into eating it. Or, just make this seasonal dish and enjoy it, whether or not they decide to join you.

The ingredients and instructions can be found on Lil’ Luna.

spring recipessource: Little Sweet Baker

5. Mango Pudding

You know, I’ve never been big on mango flavored anything. I think it’s somewhat an acquired taste. But this pudding sounds sooo yummy! With coconut milk and coconut garnish, this probably has a sweet taste that will delight anyone and would be lovely as an after dinner dessert.

Check out the recipe video tutorial on Little Sweet Baker.

spring recipessource: The Seasoned Mom

6. Southern Pea Salad

I’ll tell you right now, this is not a kid-friendly recipe. With ingredients like peas, red onion, pimento and Greek yogurt, this is better served as a side dish at your next ladies’ brunch. This recipe is super easy, super healthy and super perfect for your seasonal spring recipe book.

The Seasoned Mom tells you how to toss it together.

0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail