Making Meal Times Fun
It’s important for children to have a good relationship with food and develop a healthy eating pattern. One of the best ways to enthuse children about their food is to get them in to the kitchen…
A simple bagel can be turned into a Bagel Snake with houmous and sliced veggies. Simply slice the bagels in half and then cut each half down the centre to form a semi circle. Cut out the head of the snake from one of the pieces of bagel and the tail from another. Spread the bagels with Houmous and decorate with strips of cucumber, chives and halved cherry tomatoes. Finish off by using a sliced olive as an eye and a carrot stick as a tongue.
The Tortilla Wrap
The tortilla wrap is another kiddies’ favourite and so quick and easy to make. Lay the wrap flat and spread a dollop each of Guacamole, Salsa and Sour Cream. Top the wrap with sliced peppers and strips of cooked chicken. Roll it up, slice in half and serve.
Colourful Crudités
Or you could let their creativity run wild, providing them with a range of colourful crudités sticks and dips so they can make their own tasty masterpieces.
Lunch Boxes
Dips are great for children’s lunch boxes too, especially the mini pots, and will help them on the way to five-a-day.
Research published in the British Medical Journal in January this year found that only one per cent of kids lunchboxes would meet nutrition standards. We all know it can be a struggle making sure your child’s lunchbox is both appetising and nutritionally sound (as well as speedy to prepare!) but help is here.
Fresh dips (such as houmous) with carrot sticks or pitta bread are a great hit with children. Or why not spread houmous onto wholemeal bread and top with crunchy grated carrot for a healthy lunch that your kids will love!
Tex Mex is a great way to help your kids get their 5-a-day too with guacamole, salsa and sour cream and chive. The avocado in guacamole has antioxidants vitamin E and potassium, while the onions and tomatoes in salsa provide the antioxidants lycopene and quercetin.