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Healthy Smoothie Recipes For Kids: Your Kids Will Love These

This article details some healthy smoothie recipes for kids that they'll actually enjoy and will want again and again. Let's face it, kids today are more interested in eating junk food than they are eating healthy foods. The rate of childhood obesity is growing year on year at an alarming rate and if this issue is not tackled soon it is only going to get worse.

Showing kids how to eat healthy, highly nutritious foods doesn't have to be boring or a chore as I'll show you with these healthy smoothie recipes for kids. Now although these healthy smoothie recipes are for kids you can also enjoy them too. All of these recipes are nutritionally balanced and your kids will absolutely love them.

The first recipe is for a green smoothie that is loaded with vitamins and nutrients and includes vegetables and ingredients you might usually struggle to convince your kids to eat. In this healthy smoothie recipe for kids, the flavours that shines through is the coconut (depending on how much you use) and the cashew nut butter. You could substitute the cashew butter for regular peanut butter or almond butter. Remember to stick with a no added sugar variety.

Green Smoothie

Serves 1

Ingredients

• 2 celery sticks

• ½ cucumber

• 1 tsp cashew nut butter

• 1 tsp coconut oil

• Handful of spinach & watercress

• Half an avocado

• Splash of coconut milk, depending on how thick you like it

• Ice cubes

Method

1. Place all ingredients into blender and blend

2. Drink immediately

The second healthy smoothie recipe for kids is a delicious and very beneficial banana and cinnamon smoothie. It is very simple to make and the flavours combine together wonderfully giving it a nice creamy yet healthy texture and taste.

Banana and Cinnamon Smoothie

Serves 1

Ingredients

• 4 ice cubes

• 1 large banana

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 250ml coconut milk

Method

1. Place ice cubes, banana and coconut milk into a processor.

2. Blend on high until smooth.

3. Pour into a large glass and enjoy.

The great thing about healthy smoothie recipes for kids is the flexibility they offer you. If there are ingredients in the recipes above that you either don't have or your kids cannot have (for example if they have nut allergies) then you can easily substitute out one ingredient for another. Use your imagination when making healthy smoothie recipes for kids and even include your kids in the process. As long as you stick to using natural, whole food ingredients you'll be teaching and showing your kids that healthy eating can be fun and delicious.

Thanks for reading.

These are some of the meals I eat and recommend my clients to eat while on the wonderful lifestyle of Intermittent Fasting.

How would you like: better control over your hunger, an easy way to lose fat and build lean attractive muscle, increased insulin sensitivity, reduced inflammation, increased growth hormone, a super efficient way of eliminating toxins, the freedom of being able to eat whatever you want without any guilt?

By John Mulry

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7531540

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How to Make Healthy Recipes For Kids

If selling real estate is all about location, location, location, then when making healthy recipes for kids, it's all about presentation, presentation, presentation. You can talk all you want about all the essential vitamins and minerals and complex carbohydrates, etc, etc that a food contains, but when a child is looking at a mixed bowl of fruit, all they see is 'yuck'.

The key to getting children to try healthy foods is to present it in a fun and imaginative way. You are the only one who needs to know that what they're eating is healthy and nutritious. For the kids, it is simply a fun, interesting and imaginative way to eat food. For example, is a child more likely to eat a bowl filled with banana, red grapes, kiwi, star fruit, cantaloupe and strawberry, or a "Happy Snack Face" (bunch of red grapes for hair, kiwi slices for eyes, strawberry for nose, cantaloupe slices for ears, banana for mouth and star fruit for cheeks - all served on a brightly colored round plate).

All you need to do is take the healthy foods you want to introduce and present them so that:

It has a cool name kids can relate to, like Happy Snack Face. So before your child even sees what it is, they are curious to find out.
It is colorful - red grapes & strawberry, green kiwi, yellow star fruit & banana, orange cantaloupe.
It is arranged in a shape or pattern that kids can identify with - Happy Face.
It has kid friendly textures (in this case juicy fruits, but just as easily made from crisp or crunchy vegetables).
By arranging the foods into patterns that kids can recognize, you also have the opportunity to get them involved in the preparation. After you child devours the Happy Snack Face, you might suggest that for snack tomorrow, he prepare a Scary Snack Face. You cut up the fruits and he can arrange them on the plate. The more involved a child is in the selection and preparation of their meals, the more likely they will eat it, enjoy it, and want to have it again. Not only does this start to get them interested in what they are eating, but it also lays the foundation for healthy eating habits that will benefit them for the rest of their lives.

In order for a healthy recipe to be a hit with kids, it needs to be appealing, so give them what they want. Use recipes that combine imaginative names, bright colors, and kid friendly shapes for a sure fire hit. So like I said before, it's all about presentation.

By Mark Rocco

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2527782

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Healthy Smoothie Recipes For Kids: Quick, Easy and Delicious Smoothie Recipes

Coming up with healthy smoothie recipes for kids can sometimes be difficult. You want your smoothie recipe to be one that your kids will enjoy but you also want to make sure that it will be beneficial to them nutritionally. After all there is no point in having healthy smoothie recipes for kids if they're not actually healthy right? This article details two quick, easy to make and delicious healthy smoothie recipes that your kids will not only enjoy but they will want to have them on a consistent basis which will make your job of giving them healthy options to eat much easier.

The first recipe is oh so simple but it packs a powerful nutritional punch. It's a pineapple and coconut smoothie that is simply delicious. The recipe uses cashew nut butter but if you're like me and allergic to cashew nuts you can substitute out the cashew nut butter for an almond, hazelnut or regular peanut butter. Make sure you stick with a no added sugar nut butter as they are much healthier than the sugar filled nut butters available. Your nearest supermarket or grocery store should stock a no added sugar variety but if they don't you will be able to get them in your nearest health food store.

Pineapple and Coconut Smoothie

Serves 2

Ingredients

• 1/2 fresh pineapple, chopped

• 2 bananas

• 400ml of coconut milk

• 1 tsp organic cashew nut butter

• Handful of ice cubes

Method

1. Add all ingredients to a food processor and blend until smooth.

2. Drink immediately.

As you can see it's a simple healthy smoothie recipe for kids but one they'll love. The next recipe is a secret one. It's a secret because it's a clever way of getting your kids to eat more green vegetables without them actually knowing. This smoothie recipe contains spinach but the flavours of the berries and coconut milk mask the taste of the spinach so your kids won't realise it's in it at all.

Now I'd prefer to let them know it is in the smoothie and educate them on the importance of including lots of healthy green vegetables in our diets. On the other hand if you do have a particularly difficult time of getting your kids to eat green vegetables then this secret healthy recipe for kids is perfect.

Berry and Secret Spinach Smoothie

Serves 1

Ingredients

• 1 handful of strawberries

• 1 handful of blackberries

• 200ml coconut milk

• 3 blocks of frozen spinach

• Handful of ice cubes

Method

1. Blitz all ingredients in a blender and serve!

2. This is a brilliant way to get more green nutrients!!

Thanks for reading.

These are some of the meals I eat and recommend my clients to eat while on the wonderful lifestyle of Intermittent Fasting.

How would you like: better control over your hunger, an easy way to lose fat and build lean attractive muscle, increased insulin sensitivity, reduced inflammation, increased growth hormone, a super efficient way of eliminating toxins, the freedom of being able to eat whatever you want without any guilt?

By John Mulry

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7531569

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Healthy Recipe For Kids

Many find it a difficult task to get their kid to eat healthy. Most kids prefer a diet of fruit roll-ups and ice cream, however, it is crucial to get your kid eating healthy at a young age. Whole grain is very important for your kids to consume. Starting off the day with a bowl of Cheerios is a great way to get started on the recommended six ounces of of whole grain your child should consume. If he or she is a big enough eater, they can get all six ounces at breakfast! Also important is the consumption of calcium. Foods that are rich in calcium build strong bones and later on can prevent osteoporosis.

When preparing food or snacks for your kid, it is often important to prepare food that is quick and easy to make. Also important is that the snacks are low in sugar and fat, as well as high in nurtrients and fiber. This can be a challenge if your kid is used to eating candy and hot dogs all the time, so you may need to get creative.

One option is to turn chicken nuggets into a healthy snack. In order to do this you will need skinless, boneless chicken breasts, non-fat buttermilk, flour, corn flakes, salt, and pepper. Fill up one bowl with flour seasoned with salt and pepper, one with buttermilk, and one with crushed corn flakes. Cut the chicken breasts into squares. Dip the chicken breast squares into the flour. Shake off all excess flour and dip the chicken into the buttermilk. Next, coat the chicken with the crushed up corn flakes. Get as much as you can to stick. Finally, put the "chicken nuggets" on a cookie sheet that is covered with foil. Back for 14-16 minutes at 375 degrees. You can make extra if you want, because these will still be good the next day. Also, the kids can be included in the preparation, if you don't mind the mess.

Instead of giving your kid ice cream for dessert, replace it with a fruit smoothie. You can make a banana smoothie in a matter of minutes. All you need is a frozen banana, 1/2 cup of orange juice, 1/2 cup of yogurt, and 1/4 cup of blueberries. If you have bananas that are going bad, put them in the freezer and save them for this occasion. One you get all of the ingredients, combine them in a blender, and blend them until smooth. That wasn't so hard, was it?

It can be a difficult transition when getting your kid to give up the sweets. You might be surprised by the healthy snacks your child will enjoy. It is important to keep trying new things until you find a variety of healthy meals your kid enjoys. Sure, every kid deserves to have the occasional treat of pizza or ice cream, but try to make it just that, an occasion.

By Theresea Hughes

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2297173

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Healthy Recipes That Kids Will Enjoy!

Looking for fantastic childrens' recipes? Find a great collection at Recipe4Living!

If you have children in your life then you know it can sometimes be a challenge finding foods they like that are good for them too. After serving meatloaf and chicken fingers for the nine hundredth time, it sometimes feels like you'll never get out of the "What's for dinner?" rut. At Recipe4Living we know how hard it is to get your kids to eat a nutritious meal. That's why we've put together a collection of recipes for children that you'll like too.

Children Appetizer Recipes

Top Notch Nachos
This is a great recipe for kids or just as appetizers. Very simple to make,
but always a favorite!

Ingredients

Round tortilla chips
1 can refried beans
1 large tomato
1 can chopped olives
1 yellow onion
Shredded cheese (optional)

Directions

First, preheat the oven to 315 degrees. Next pull out one or two baking sheets. Open the can of refried beans and chop the tomatoes and onions. Put the tortilla chips on the baking sheets and place a dollop of beans on each tortilla chip. After completing, place the onions, tomatoes, and olives on too. Add cheese last if using. Put the baking sheets in the oven and bake for 35 minutes.

Children Main Dish Recipes

Easy Crockpot Stuffed Bell Peppers
This easy crockpot stuffed bell peppers recipe is great smelling, simple and made for even the fussiest of eaters!

Ingredients

6 green peppers washed, topped and seeded
1 Tbs. shortening (i.e. Crisco)
1 1/2 - 2 lb. ground beef
1 C. cooked rice
1 sm. onion, chopped
1 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. black pepper
dash of basil
1/2 C. ketchup
1 8-oz. can tomato sauce w/ or w/o seasoning

Directions

Heat shortening in skillet and brown beef. Combine meat and next 6 ingredients. Stuff bell peppers. Arrange bell peppers in large crock pot. Can be stacked. Pour tomato sauce over peppers. Cooker on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.

Children Sandwich Recipes

Mozzarella Chicken Sandwich
This sandwich provides two grain servings from the ciabatta, a little more than two servings of meat from the chicken, and half a dairy serving from the cheese. Serve with orange wedges and baked chips.

Ingredients

1/4 C. (about 2 oz.) sun-dried tomato pesto (such as Classico)
2 Tbs. fat-free mayonnaise
3/4 lb. skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/8 tsp. salt
1 tsp. olive oil
1 8 oz. loaf ciabatta bread
12 lg. basil leaves
3/4 C. (3 oz.) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
1/2 C. sliced bottled roasted red bell peppers
1 large tomato, thinly sliced

Directions

Combine pesto and mayonnaise in a small bowl, stirring to blend. Sprinkle chicken with pepper and salt. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken, and cook for 3 minutes on each side or until done. Remove chicken to cutting board, and cool slightly. Cut chicken lengthwise into thin slices. Preheat broiler. Cut ciabatta in half horizontally. Place bread, cut sides up, on a baking sheet. Broil 3 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove bread from pan. Spread pesto mixture evenly over cut sides of bread. Arrange the chicken slices evenly over bottom half. Top chicken evenly with basil leaves, and sprinkle cheese over top. Place bottom half on baking sheet, and broil 2 minutes or until cheese melts. Arrange bell pepper and tomato over cheese, and cover with top half of bread. Cut into 4 equal pieces.

Children Dessert Recipes

Individual Cheesecakes
A very nice change. Small bite size pieces of cheesecake you can snack on anytime, no need to dirty any dishes.

Ingredients

2 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese
1/2 C. sugar
18 vanilla wafers
1 can cherry pie filling
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
3 Tbs. lemon juice

Directions

Mix all ingredients (except pie filling). Beat 10 minutes with electric mixer. Line muffin tins with cupcake fillers and put a vanilla wafer in each cup (18 cups). Add cheese mixture. Bake in 350-degree oven for 17-20 minutes. Cool and top with cherry pie filling (or your favorite pie filling) and refrigerate.

By Kathryn Steed

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4668392

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Learn How to Cook Healthy Recipes For Kids

It's no secret that kids nowadays are particularly tricky to prepare food for. Perhaps the culprit is too much dependency on consumerism or whatnot. But suffice to say; perhaps the biggest culprit is television. What kids usually find delicious are those that are visually appealing and those that they can relate to and of course- see on television. Fast food has become such a novelty that for example; kids only see chicken as the crispy deep-fried type which as we all know is swimming in a pool of cholesterol, and not the good type at that. The thing is kids have a set idea of what good food is. And no amount of cajoling or even threatening will get them to eat anything else.

One nifty trick you can try is to try serving healthy side dishes along your main course. It doesn't matter if you're serving meatloaf or chicken or even pasta - this ingredient goes with practically anything. The answer is in potatoes. They're yummy, rich in nutrients, and generally easy to prepare. Sure, the French fries aren't that healthy and the usual mashed potatoes are getting old - but you can always try out something new.

Why not try pesto baked potatoes for a change? Here's one recipe that will definitely work with any dish. It's also guaranteed to be kid-friendly. The secret to a good dish is in the herbs. If there's one thing the Italians have gotten right, it has got to be their diet. After all, they have been known for their longevity and good health.

All you need are a couple pieces of Russet potatoes, a small bulb of onion, a couple of garlic cloves, half a cup of vegetable broth, half a cup of cream, salt, pepper, olive oil, fresh basil, and pine nuts (optional). You can opt to serve or allocate one potato per person.

To start off, give your potatoes a good scrub and poke it several times with a fork. After that, you can give them a good brush of olive oil and give them a good rubbing of sea salt. Once you're done with that, just pop them into the oven for around 30 minutes.

While you're waiting for your potatoes to roast, mince your onion and garlic and sauté them in a small amount of olive oil. Pour in your cream and broth and let them simmer for about 10 minutes. Chop up your fresh basil and incorporate it into the simmering broth. You can add a fresh squeeze of lemon just to give it a little tang. Once you're done, it would probably be time to get your potatoes out of the oven.

Cut your potatoes in half and scoop out the innards leaving a thin layer of skin behind. Incorporate the inside part of your potatoes with the simmering broth and mash it using a piece of fork. Then you can go ahead and scoop it into the potato "shells" and top it with grated Parmesan cheese. *You may include pine nut in the broth if you want a little texture.*

Then pop the potatoes back into the oven for another ten minutes or so and you're good to go. It's the perfect side dish to a healthy lunch you know your kids will always love.

By William G Dains

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5789809

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Easy Healthy Recipes For Kids That Are Made Out Of Their Favorite Foods

Every parent has the struggle of trying to get their children to eat healthy foods. There are many easy healthy recipes for kids that they will love. It is impossible for them to even tell the difference. The foods taste great and are simple to prepare.

Macaroni and cheese is not the healthiest thing for a kid to eat. There is a way to improve the nutritional value of it though. Vegetables can be added to a bowl of macaroni and cheese to ensure that your child is getting some important vitamins and minerals. The secret to giving it to them undetected, is how small you are able to slice the vegetables.

Spinach works very well for this. It is loaded with nutrients, and will hardly even be noticed in the mixture. Just chop up a few spinach leaves and conceal it in the macaroni and cheese. Children do not even notice that it is in there. The thinner and smaller that you are able to slice these leaves, the easier they are to hide in the food.

The local pizza house does not make a very healthy pizza. Usually they are coated with grease, loaded with meat, and made from white flour. Making the pizza yourself can add some great qualities to it. By doing it yourself, and making it from scratch, you will be able to decide what goes into it. Pizza is one of the easiest foods to conceal items with great nutritional value. Making your own also allows you to regulate the amount of cheese and toppings that are used.

Instead of using white flour for the dough, try using wheat flour. Wheat flour is much healthier than white. If the all wheat crust is unappealing to your child, substitute some of the white flour in a recipe with wheat. Another great idea is making your own sauce from scratch. This is much easier to do than you would imagine. All you need is a can of tomato sauce and one can of tomato paste. A wide variety of things can be added to the sauce to give it flavor, and a higher nutritional value.

Vegetables can easily be hidden inside the sauce. Try chopping up a bell pepper into very thin and small pieces, and then add it into the sauce. A touch of fresh garlic can be roasted and added to it also.

Garlic is very beneficial to your body. It contains a large amount of antibiotic properties that will strengthen the immune system, and aid with digestion. It is also possible to run a mixture of vegetables through a blender that can be added to the sauce.

These easy healthy recipes for kids, that are made from foods they already love, are easy to do. Simply adding a healthier element to their favorite items will ensure they are receiving proper nutrition. Children often do not like change. Sometimes changing their entire diet will make them not want to eat at all. Your child will not even detect these easy improvements.

By Trevor John

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6635926

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Favorite Healthy Recipes For Kids

Parents know that it is challenging to come up with fast and healthy recipes for kids. Kids can be very finicky eaters, especially when it comes to vegetables and grains. Moms, Dads and chefs all over the world are always swapping new ideas for meals and ways to ensure a child will eat healthy and good tasting food.

One of the biggest challenges facing parents is how to get a child to eat their vegetables. Instead of pouring fattening melted cheese all over broccoli, try hiding the unpopular green villains. Mix the veggies with chicken and a cream sauce and then roll it up in a doughy casing. Use either a tortilla (corn or flour), a crepe, or a pita pocket.

A Quiche made out of eggs, lean bacon and vegetables is both easy, quick and relatively cheap. Buy a ready-made pie crust at your local market and in a large mixing bowl, combine 5 eggs, broccoli (or any other vegetable) and cooked bacon pieces all together. Then pour the mixture into the pie crust and stick it in the oven at 425 degrees for a half hour. This is a healthy and delicious treat for the whole family.

Kids always crave certain foods such as pizza. A pizza can be made very healthy and made quickly. You can really go wild with the veggie toppings and load a ready-made pizza dough full of them. First cover the dough with a marinara sauce, sprinkle mozzarella cheese (an naturally low-fat cheese) over the sauce and then pile on the veggies. Stick the pie in the oven at 400 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes.

Chicken nuggets are also a favorite. When baked instead of fried, these are very nutritional meal items. Set your oven to 400 degrees. Take raw chicken tenders and dip them into beaten 2 or 3 egg yolks. Then take the nuggets or tenders and dip them into breadcrumbs. The breadcrumbs that are commonly sold at grocery stores work great. Place the chicken on a greased pan and set in oven for a half hour. Grilling the chicken nuggets is also a great idea. This dish goes great with rice, mashed potatoes or just a little bit of fruit as a dessert.

A popular breakfast recipe for little ones is whole grain pancakes. Kids will think you are feeding them a sweet snack instead of a healthy meal. Whole grain pancake batter is sold right along side the regular pancake batter at your local grocers. Instead of fatty maple syrup, opt for a non-preservative berry spread to top the pancakes.

For a midday snack: apple sticks, strawberries, and other sweet fruit will always win them over. Children and teens are natural fans of fruit and often don't request any additional toppings or dipping sauces. If their favorite fruit is not in season, frozen fruit is just as nutritious and delicious when thawed.

Remember that a child will crave what he or she is fed the most often. There are many healthy recipes for kids that will always be a hit. Your children will thank you for it, someday.

By Trevor John

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6641305

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Healthy Recipes for Kids

Healthy recipes for kids have to be quick, flavorful and nutritious. Getting kids to eat vegetables sometimes requires some major negotiation. Finding a way to get vegetables
into the mouths of babes is easy when they are part of a fun meal that they help prepare.

Creating innovative ways to get kids involved in the preparation of meals is the first step in getting them to eat their veggies. Creating a healthy recipes with kids provides two benefits: healthy eating and a quality fun time spent together.

Kids Recipes for Create My Own Soup

Have the children count the carrots and zucchini pieces. Let them spell their names
with the noodles if you have alphabet noodles. You may find other novelty
noodles shapes like cars or animals. You can create a theme for the project.

You can cut star shapes out of the carrot slices and zucchini
(use an aspic cutter) then set aside.

Ingredients:

*1-2 carrots

*1 zucchini

*4 cups low sodium chicken broth

*1/4 cup shaped pasta

*Dash of sage

*3/4 cup chopped, cooked chicken

*Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

*Scrub the carrots and zucchini lightly with a vegetable brush.

*Cut the vegetables into 1/4-inch slices.

*Cut star shapes out of the carrot & zucchini and set them aside.

*In a medium sized pot, bring the broth to a simmer over medium heat.

*Add the carrot stars.

*Simmer for about 3-5 minutes until carrots start to become tender.

*Add the pasta, zucchini and chicken.

*Continue cooking the soup for another few minutes.

*Stir occasionally until the pasta is done.

Makes 4 servings.

*Let the kids find their names or count the number of stars in their soup bowl.
The kids will enjoy the adventure and fun, you will feel good knowing they are eating their vegetables.

Color is an important eating trigger for kids. The more color that is introduced into a meal, the more
likely children are to sample the food. The benefit is that foods with vibrant colors are healthy foods like vegetables and fruits. When planning meals with kids, introduce as much color as possible.

By Christine Steendahl

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/433316

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Healthy Recipes For Kids - Your Kids Are Important

In the life of today's world, it seems as if everyone is trying to look for a quick and easy recipe that is healthy. When you finally come across that one recipe that you have been looking for, you find that it requires a ton of stuff. You plan the meal, sit down and make that grocery list, drive to the store, do the shopping, check out, pay the bill and drive back and prepare that meal.

Then, when you sit down to have that dinner, the inevitable thing always tends to happen..those complaints. There are many healthy recipes for kids that are both quick and easy and we are sure your children will not complain.

When it comes to the development of those tiny children, nutrition is a vital role. It may sound tempting to you, but just slapping in a pizza and calling it a day is not enough. This is why we are encouraging you to make healthy recipes. You will be able to create your own recipes simply by changing around a couple of recipes or learn how to cook with a different type of gadget.

For example, if you use a rotisserie, then you will be able to come across many healthy recipes. When you cook the meat on the rotisserie, that crease and fat will be dripping away from the meat. When you use certain types of seasoning mixes, you will find that dish will come out tasting better than it ever did before.

One way to make a healthy recipe would be to take a normal one and reduce the amount of sugar and unhealthy stuff that it requires. You will be able to substitute certain items with healthy ones. Instead of using sugar, then you could try using applesauce for the sweetener. We know this may sound a bit strange to you, but it does work. For those healthy recipes for kids, try sneaking in some vegetables in those recipes whenever you can. For example, if you are making meatloaf for supper tonight, then add in some onions and chopped up peppers. If you are cooking soup, then add in some good vegetables that your family enjoys. For that omelet, slip in some spinach. As you see, you can make healthy foods without changing much at all.

By Trevor John

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2378058

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3 Quick and Easy Healthy Recipes for Kids

Junk food just looks good doesn't it? I mean it's colorful, cream-filled, and just down right pleasing to the eyes. Take for example what my kids want for breakfast every morning. Without doing any name dropping here - it's cream-filled, has sprinkles and has the word sundae in it. I mean come on, what kid wouldn't want that first thing in the morning, right?

We, as parents, have a lot of competition out there when it comes to trying to get our kids to eat healthy. Instead of caving in and throwing our hands up in frustration, let's get creative shall we and make healthy recipes for kids?

Think about the foods that your kids beg you to buy at the grocery store. How can you make the same thing that is fun and yummy looking, right at home with healthy ingredients instead? It is possible! Part of it is just the packaging. Oh, those cute little characters they throw on there that our kids just can't resist. Or those free little toys that you have to buy 5 boxes AND send in money for shipping and handling. You just gotta love those advertisers!

So, maybe we can't create cute little boxes and bags with free toys inside. (Well, I guess you actually could if you wanted to, but who has the time for that!) What we can do is make food fun. Here are 3 quick and healthy recipes for kids that I think your little ones will eat up in no time. They can also make these with you, which in their eyes will make it taste better already.

Fruit Kabobs - Now this is one colorful recipe and so much fun to make!

Small cluster of green or red grapes

Tangerine

Banana

Apple (any kind)

Wooden Sticks

Take the grapes off of the stem, split the tangerine into sections, slice the apple and banana. Alternate pushing each piece of fruit onto the wooden stick. Lay the sticks on a decorative platter and serve.

Monkey Mix - This is an on-the-go snack. It's great for kids' lunches too.

3 cups Cheerios

1 cup banana chips

1 cup flaked coconut

1 cup chocolate chips (substitute raisins if you'd like)

Mix all the ingredients together. Keep it stored in a gallon Ziploc bag.

Fish in a Pond - This is such a fun recipe to eat. Finally kids can play with their food!

Goldfish crackers

4 celery stalks, cut off leafy tops

½ cup cream cheese (low-fat is good to use)

1 drop blue food coloring

Put the cream cheese into a bowl and add the drop of food coloring to make it look like a pond. Put goldfish in a separate bowl. Give the kids a piece of celery and let them dip it into the cream cheese pond and then go fishing by sticking it into their bowl of goldfish. Make it a game to see how many fish they can catch.

Those are some fun recipes aren't they? Try them out and definitely get your kids in on the action. Next time your little monkeys gets hungry, tell them to go grab a scoop of monkey mix.

By Tanner Bradstreet

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/552590

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Five Simple Healthy Recipes for Kids

Those of you with children may find it difficult to offer healthy recipes for kids throughout the entire day. This may be especially troublesome these days if your children have already developed some poor eating habits or if they are among friends who are consistently eating fast food and bags of potato chips.

However don't worry, with a little bit of persuasion and vital teachings from your part, you can open your children's eyes to the wonderful world of healthy nutrition.

This is the perfect opportunity to educate your children about the importance of eating healthy, and what the long term repercussions can be if a person does not monitor what they eat. It's never too early to educate them about healthy nutrition in the hopes that from your teachings they grow up taking care of their bodies and never have to worry about health related issues of being overweight or obese.

Here are some healthy recipes for kids to get you started building your arsenal of meals that will be conducive to a nutritious and well balanced life. As you explore these options, take note of what your family enjoys eating and additional possibilities that you may think of. Often merely tweaking a few ingredients can produce an entirely new meal without needing much extra work.

1. Beef Bowl with pudding dessert.
Grilled or baked strips/chunks of meat with a layer of brown rice, beans, and any vegetables you know your family prefers. You can even add beans if you'd like, or potato wedges instead of rice. As a dessert, a small helping of pudding with a dash of whipped cream and a cherry to top it off.

2. Grilled chicken wraps with jello dessert.
These can be fantastic choices to offer your family because aside from the grilled chicken, you can include a variety of vegetables or other low calorie options that will taste great such as lettuce, beans, brown rice, tomatoes, onions, or even some shredded low fat mozzarella cheese. Use a whole wheat tortilla instead of tortillas made with refined flour.

3. Whole wheat pasta with turkey meatballs and frozen yogurt dessert.
Instead of eating the standard pasta made of refined enriched flour, opt for 100 percent whole grain pasta since it is loaded with vitamins, minerals, and high in fiber so you will eat less of it to get full. Ground turkey is also better for you than regular ground beef, or you can ever select the garden meat variety that is vegetarian to make your meatballs or meat sauce.

4. Soup and Salad.
There are a variety of soups such as vegetable, lentil, and minestrone that are all healthy and great tasting. Spice it up for kids by throwing in a few goldfish crackers and they will happily eat it all. A bowl of soup and a salad with their favorite toppings and a light salad dressing, PRESTO... you have a healthy meal on your hands.

5. Tuna pita pockets with applesauce dessert.
Whole wheat pita pockets provide the perfect "container" to place an assortment of healthy edibles within, and kids will treat it just like a taco. Tuna with lettuce, olives and some parmesan cheese can be a great starting point.

The healthy recipes for kids listed above are all far better and lower in calories than the majority of fast food or pizza delivery options available around you. Use these meals as building blocks to get you thinking of other possibilities you could prepare for your children. Depending on the age of your kids (5-10), you may want to get a little creative with the presentation of the meal. It's the simple things that matter, so think how you can present the healthy meal in a way so that they will start asking you to cook this meal again in the future. Sometimes by merely adding a decorative garnish such as a fruit cutout or curly orange/apple peel can inspire your child to want to eat the meal. If adding that little extra is all it takes to get them eating in a healthier manner, the minute or two spent on the presentation is well worth it.

If your children are older (11-18), then definitely a more serious conversation should take place. You can even gather specific articles and pictures from the Internet that will work wonders for motivation. Nothing works better than a graphic representation of a coronary bypass surgery.

Keep in mind as you build your library of healthy recipes for kids, maintain an ongoing recipe book where you continually add new healthy meals that your family enjoys. Pretty soon you will have a book full of healthy recipes for kids and if you want, you can even let your children decide which meals to cook out of the recipes you have collected. This way they will feel more connected to what is prepared and served that day.

By Gregory L Gomez

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7394562

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Healthy Recipes For Kids

Healthy eating is important for proper growth in kids. Parents want to give their children a variety of nutrient-enriched food and drinks to help them to grow stronger and healthier. Usually, life patterns are set in childhood and early puberty. Following a healthy diet routine and using healthy recipes will give them the benefit of enjoying a strong body for the rest of their adult lives.

Healthy recipes for kids can be prepared by knowing facts about the food we eat. There is high-protein, high-fiber food that works for kids, and nutrient-empty, processed junk food that works against them. Studies show that on average, kids receive around thirty-eight percent of their daily calories from fats. The bad fat is responsible for creating free radicals in the body, which harm our good cells--including the brain cells. This fat negatively contributes towards obesity, heart disease, allergies, and other harmful conditions.

Sensible diets make sure that your kids are well, prevent the risk of developing dangerous diseases, and keep the foundation for solid mental as well as physical health. Junk food and unhealthy food can leave your child open to food hazards and infection, especially during rapid growth periods.

Statistics show that the obesity rate in kids is four times higher than it was in 1960s.This leaves children more susceptible to problems like diabetes, growth disorders, and sometimes even cancer.

Good food doesn't mean bland taste. Kids can easily be lured to eat healthy food by presenting it in a colorful and decorative manner. The carrot will look enticing if it is shaped like a cartoon figure, spinach can taste yummy if combined with a dash of cheese, and cereals will be wiped clean from the dish if presented in attractive serving plates. The trick is to educate them about the food, list the benefits, and make kids feel that they are eating something special and different each day.

By Max Bellamy

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/198874

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Cake Recipes for Kids

Searching for cake recipe for kids?

And you found one. It's a nice picture, simple recipe, it looks yummy. BUT! Have you ever wondered - could "for kids" mean anything else? If you didn't - shame on you! But YES! It does, it should! From their birth kids need healthiest nutrition, proper rest, proper activity - to develop, to grow, to be healthy and strong. And then - kids, meet sweets, mostly SUGAR (not so nice to meet you)!

White sugar!

That teeth killing, weight gaining, insulin raising evil! White sugar is a refined sweetener, adding nothing but calories and taste to foods. Sugar can depress your immune system, and that's not what we want from sweets. It contributes to infertility, and that's not what we want from sweets. It does bad things, and that's not what we want from sweets.

So what about fat?

Most of us know about good fats and bad fats; good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. But, let's face it. Most of most delicious sweets that we know are full of bad fat. And bad fat - they raise our risk of heart attacks and strokes by increasing blood cholesterol levels and do many, many, many other bad things to our health.

But that's not all!

Gluten!

Gluten is a compound protein that composes about 80% of the protein found in the grains wheat, barley, and rye. There are many bad things that gluten brings to our health, but the most important one is:

"Gluten prevents the absorption of nutrients"

Nutrients that your kids NEED to grow healthy and strong!

So what do we all want? We want better, the best!

So, "cake recipe for kids" should be:

Delicious - cakes, cookies, cupcakes, muffins, truffles, mousse, souffles, ice cream...
Nice looking - round, yellow, chocolate, square, with fruit on top...
HEALTHY - low glycemic desserts, low-fat cookies, gluten-free dessert recipes with chocolate...
Kids are a group with biggest need for healthy nutrition. Their health is essential for developing well, for making good results at school, training, at home, at dating. It's the best period for them to learn, to adopt healthy living and eating habits. Our nutrition is mostly bad because of our habits, from our early age. But we can change that, we don't want to quit! And we shouldn't stop enjoying in desserts!

Imagine making easy chocolate desserts, or easy vanilla cake. And you know, if you eat it you'll be healthier, your kid will be healthier. Isn't that funny? YES! But is it TRUE? YEEES! There is a way! Search for cake recipes for kids, and you won't find what you should actually be searching for. Rare of them, very rare are what kids really need - H E A L T H Y!

So what desserts to make and to be sure that they are actually healthy desserts?

Check the resource box, and you will find out more about this topic and about what are the best cake recipes for kids.

By Josh K Ratzqumo

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7122329

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