Now that I have a kidlet of my own, I find myself wondering what his eating habits will be like when he's older. Will he give us a hard time with eating his veggies? Will he appreciate homemade birthday cakes? Will he be ok with the fact that the only "happy meals" we'll most likely give him are the ones where we're smiling at the dinner table?
I'm sure he'll have his moments. All kids do. Like when a toddler insists on ONLY drinking out of the princess cup, or when all you can get the child to eat is Mac & Cheese for like 3 months straight.
Knowing these moments are inevitable seems like half the battle so that you're not putting yourself down for an epic parental fail. But, there are ways to turn your "lose" into a "win-win-win" -- the perfect dinner trifecta. Good ingredients, kid-friendly taste and convenience for a mom and dad who might just be at the end of their rope!
In our house, gluten-free cooking is a must because of my husband's sensitivity to wheat. To be honest, it's become such second nature to cook "gluten-free" dinners that I don't even think to call them that anymore. It's just how we eat! {I still do a lot of conventional baking but the husband avoids those foods.} So, whether or not our son has the same food sensitivity, he'll grow up with a mostly gluten-free lifestyle. And I'm sure he'll have questions... or days when nothing but the comfort of Mac & Cheese will do.
Products like Horizon Organic Gluten-Free Macaroni & White Cheddar Cheese are a lifesaver to have in the pantry for those parenting moments that require calling in the reinforcements.
Just because it comes out of a box doesn't mean you can't add your own flair {and *shhh* nutritious twist!} for a quick, kid-approved dinner. Does your kiddo turn up his or her nose at anything but the classics? How about letting them innovate their own {parent approved} add-ins to get the ball rolling on broadening their picky palates?
I think getting kids to be hands on in the kitchen is a great, skill-building teaching tool that helps them take ownership of their own eating habits. Letting kids become kitchen helpers is a wonderful way to open up the dialogue about food and nutrition. Kids are naturally curious, why not play up their inquisitive nature by inviting them to participate in their food lives?
- Explore different cultures and what they eat, then try out some of the flavors of their cuisine in your own cooking.
- Buy safe, tot-sized tools that kids can get their little hands on to help in the kitchen.
- Set up a station with different {parent-approved} ingredients and let kids choose some of the items to add to a meal.
- Make the process of buying food exciting by taking a stroll through the farmer's market or grocery store and letting your littles help you select good-looking fruits and veggies.
- Take a parent/child cooking class together or set up your own "class" at home with your kids and maybe even some of their friends.
There are tons of ways to pique kids interest in food... Starting with a dish like this one might just pave the path to a lifetime of educated eaters! Follow Horizon Organic on Twitter, Pinterest or Facebook for more great mealtime solutions!
Gluten Free Spinach and Chicken Sausage Mac & Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 box Horizon Organic Gluten Free Macaroni & White Cheddar Cheese
- 2 organic chicken sausage links removed from casings
- 2 big handfuls of fresh organic spinach
Instructions
- Prepare Mac & Cheese as directed on box.
- Meanwhile, heat a skillet over medium high heat and cook chicken sausage until browned.
- When the Mac & cheese is done cooking, stir in cooked sausage and fresh spinach. Stir until spinach leaves are wilted.
- Enjoy!
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Horizon Organics. The opinions and text are all mine.
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