Especially when you want them to eat something more nutritious than hot dogs, hamburgers and pizza.
But don't despair, you can get vegetables into your children's diet by combining them with vegetables they like.
In France dinner is served late.
Traditional dinnertime would be around 8-8:30 p.
m.
Since this is late for wee appetites, children most often eat dinner before their parents, around 7 p.
m.
Since they eat before the adults, the children's menu almost always differs from the adult menu.
So French parents fall into the rut of serving the same old things night after night.
One of the most common and popular child's meals in France is pâtes au jambon, pasta with ham.
Ham is chopped up and mixed with pasta and a bit of butter.
It's the French version of macaroni and cheese.
It's quick, it's simple and it gets rave reviews each time.
You should try it when you're in a bind.
A bit of grated cheese can be added for a heartier meal.
catchup can be added for a little sauce.
Sometimes I slip in a chopped tomato or a steamed carrot.
Chopped finely, children hardly notice it.
Corn is another nice addition that will not receive complaints.
Potatoes are usually winners with the under 18 crowd and rightly so.
Potatoes pack a heck of a nutritional punch so don't shy away from serving them often.
Besides, kids won't complain.
Below is a recipe for a simplified potato salad recently inspired for my kid's dinner.
They loved it enough to ask for seconds! By keeping the ingredients to a minimum, it is easy to concoct a meal for the finicky palate of minors.
Other than potatoes, corn is a favorite vegetable for children.
Most kids won't fuss about a small diced tomato either.
So this salad consists of potatoes, tuna and corn.
Add a little mayo and a little sour cream to smooth it out and you've got a nice salad.
Try serving it on lettuce greens.
You can try serving it on some lettuce greens (finely chopped works best) but be warned, first time green salad eaters, may balk at the leafy stuff.
Then again, they just might surprise you like they often do.
Quick and Easy Potato Salad for Kids and Adults The adult version follows recipe.
Make sure you scoop out children's serving before adding the adult ingredients.
- 1 lb.
russet potatoes, scrubbed - 1-6 oz.
can tuna, packed in water, drained - 1 cup corn, cooked
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 1 small tomato
- salt and pepper to taste
- 3 tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped
- 1-2 tomatoes, seeded and diced
- ½ chopped cucumber (seeding and peeling optional)
- chopped green olives
Cover with cold water; boil for 25 minutes until potatoes are tender when pierced with fork.
- In large mixing bowl, combine tuna, corn, mayonnaise and sour cream.
(add adult ingredients here if using any).
Stir well to break up tuna chunks.
- When potatoes are ready, run under cold water then peel off skins.
Dice and add to tuna mixture.
Mix well.
Cut tomato in half, squeeze out seeds and juice and dice.
Sprinkle on top potato mixture.
Serve as main dish.
Note: small mouths like small pieces so chop items into small, child-size bite sizes.
Just another trick to get them to eat the things you want them to eat.