Kids Cooking and Cookbook Blog

When kids come home from school, where do they usually go first? To the kitchen, of course! They are starved. They want something – anything- that is ready to eat, right?

Kids need a jolt of nutrition at this time of day. It helps if moms and kitchens are ready for the burst of activity when they come home. Kids want to know “Where’s the food?”!

Here are 3 how-to’s that can set the stage for encouraging your children to snack smart without any lectures about healthy foods from you:

1. Have healthy snack foods where children can reach them easily, such as lower shelves of cupboards, refrigerator, and pantry. Let children know where to look. Keep the food for only occasional treats on a higher shelf or totally out of view.

2. Use see-through containers for prepared foods, such as washed and cut up veggies, so kids can see inside.

3. Keep fresh fruit on the counter or table where kids can see it.

Here’s an easy and tasty snack for after-school snack time. The 15 minute wait will be worth it. Or these could be prepared beforehand and will be ready to heat.

Quick Quesdillas

1 (7-inch) wheat soft tortilla
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/3 cups grated Cheddar cheese
1 sliced green onion.
Salsa

Spread tortilla with mustard. Sprinkle cheese and onion. Roll snugly. Wrap in foil and bake at 350F for 12 minutes. Dip into salsa.

For another easy way to encourage kids to get interested in food preparation, head on over to http://www.imagesunlimitedpublishing.com for children’s cookbooks. That’s where you’ll find Cooking Around the Calendar with Kids – Holiday and Seasonal Food and Fun. Here are year-around ideas for snacks as well as foods for all occasions. Author Amy Houts lists several recipes for Cinco de Mayo, including a number of recipes for tacos, nachos, fajitas, and tortillas. Help your kids choose one of her recipes for this upcoming day of feasting and celebration.

To your health and that of your family,

Lee Jackson
Books for cooks and apple lovers, kids, families and
parenting professionals
http://www.imagesunlimitedpublishing.com
See new book: Healthy to the Core!