Kid food

[miss_thenorth]

In my experience, it does not matter if it looks like something else--as soon as they try it they will know it is defferent. If you know you will get an unfavourable reaction,a nd you and the mom really want to do this, you both have to know that the kids will go through a rebellion stage, so mom at home is gonna have to work with you through the transition. I wouldn't try to make food look like ohter stuff they are used to eating. I would start out by choosing form really healthy, kid friendly recipes, and get them hooked that way. There will be resistance at first, but consistency is key, and also, maybe start smalland wean them into healthy food. Like the cheetos. Give them a good nutritious lunch, and tell them cheetos are for snack, but only those who finish theri lunch will be able to have some.

 

[lwheelr]

Get online and find a recipe for Thin Wheat Crackers, like Wheat Thins. Those usually go over well, and are easy to make (we reduce the sugar a lot in them).

Also, Pizza Pockets are a good option, make ahead and freeze for days when you are in a hurry. We found that most kids will eat anything in a pocket - get creative with tasty fillings.

Grilled cheese is easy and healthy too, if you make it with good bread and cheese, and real butter.

 

[Sunny]

About the cheetos. Maybe try popcorn instead, with real butter, yummy. Or home baked pretzels..

 

[lwheelr]

There's also a recipe for homemade Oreos out there somewhere. Only substitute this for the all sugar filling:

Cream Cheese Frosting

8 oz cream cheese, at room temp
2 TBSP milk
2 TBSP butter
1/2 tsp vanilla OR 1 tbsp lemon juice
1/4 cup sugar (granulated is fine)

(Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup baking cocoa for chocolate cream cheese frosting. Add 1/2 to 1 tsp cinnamon to use with apples.)

Refrigerate anything you use it on - it does NOT keep at room temperature! Keeping for a long period is rarely an issue since anything that we put this on seems to evaporate.

This is mostly cream cheese, instead of mostly sugar. In fact, it uses very little sugar, and you can cut it down even more if you like.

We use this on cinnamon rolls, cakes, donuts, etc. So far anyone who has received a plate of our cinnamon rolls has told us how wonderful they were, primarily due to the topping.

We don't bother making any other kind of frosting anymore, we just play with this and flavor it however we want.

 

[calendula]

I have experienced something similar with my own kids. I was a single mom for a while, and I relied on convenience foods more than I'd like to admit. :/ Now that I have remarried and things are more stable, we are really getting into being more SS and staying away from prepackaged food. When we started making our own bread, tortillas, pita pockets, and canning our own foods (even ketchup), the boys were not impressed!

One thing I have found that helps is to let them get involved in meal planning and cooking. I know that may be more difficult with a 3 year old, but there are things even the little ones can help with. Every Sunday, we plan the menu for the week, and the boys pick out recipes, and help cook what they picked.

Homemade chicken nuggets are a popular choice. They also like quesadillas, pizza, and that old standy-by: PB & J Sandwiches.

 

[Neko-chan]

...

 

[Holachicka]

I wouldn't try to imitate the foods they were used to, because my kids can tell the difference and then they seem to feel tricked. I DO try to make the newer foods more fun though... carrot "worms" are fun, I just shave the carrots with a vegi peeler and give a little dip. tuna sandwiches cut with cookie cutters for shapes...

Oh another thing is to get them involved with making the meal, Maybe make sandwiches and let them pick out what cookie cutter shape to use. Do you have a vegitable garden? My son hated all veggies until I involved him in growing things. Now his favorite veggie is carrots, he gets to plant, water and pull them when they are ready.

Also check out the book deceptively delicious by jessica seinfield, it has some great and easy ways to incorporate healthy fruits and veggies into the foods you prepare!

Good luck!

 

[Homemaker]

I would really like to do this and make it work. I know that my friend would most likely feed her kids differently if she had the time to do it. But, right now she doesn't. So I would love to help. Thank you all. These are some really good ideas.
I'm going to try replacing some of there old meals with similar homemade meals. I'm not going to try to fool anyone just make a change. And I will throw in some old familiar stuff and try pairing it with a new food. We'll see how it goes.
Tomorrow is Lasagna with a small bowl of cottage cheese on the side. Then, for an afternoon snack graham crackers and bananas.

 

[Denim Deb]

Sounds good to me. I'd eat it if I was there.

 

[Homemaker]

Sounds good to me. I'd eat it if I was there.

Ha-thanks

Their mom did end up bringing some "veggie" sticks (Those chip like things from the store) and dunkin donuts. She said she felt too weird not bringing anything at all. So, they had the pasta with a few "veggie" sticks on the side and then they had the donuts later for a snack....Oh, well.