Life Saver

LIFE SAVER
DAVE GROTTO, REGISTERED DIETITIAN AND AUTHOR OF 101 FOODS THAT COULD SAVE
YOUR LIFE!, SHOWS YOU HOW TO GET YOUR KIDS TO MAKE HEALTHIER CHOICES

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Mom and dad’s diet is often a reflection of their kids'. We’ve all
heard the opposite is true and that it’s all about parenting but I
have found so often that mom would rather throw in the towel
than argue about what’s for dinner. So, instead of mom making
two separate meals, the kids often win out and the path of
least resistance is to prepare what the kids want for everyone.

The solution is not drawing a line in the sand, but rather to encourage your kids to get in the game, take the lead and get them to make decisions about what foods are served before they are served. Research shows that kids who help make purchasing decisions at the grocery store and help prepare those foods at home are more likely to take ownership of those food choices and actually eat them.

When I decided to write the 101 Foods book, I realized that talking about “good-for-you-foods” is all well and good but if you can’t get your kids to eat them, then why bother? So instead of taking a purely stealth approach to get our kids to eat healthy foods (which we certainly have used successfully for foods that our kids would simply not eat at the time!) my wife and I decided to get our kids involved right from the start. We made it kind of like an adventure. We told the kids that we were going to try a lot of new foods and that we needed their help in deciding which recipes would be the most appealing to other kids. They were excited. I even had little chef coats made with their names on them to show them that they were an important part of this project.

The bottom line is that foods that appeal to kids have taste and fun as their center focus, not nutrition. Gearing recipes to a kid’s palettes is key. All of the 101 recipes in my book were taste-tested and re-taste tested by my three daughters. Only after receiving a unanimous three-thumbs up were they worthy of inclusion.

Here are six things you can do to help your kids adopt a lifetime of healthy eating:

1	Encourage your kids to go shopping with you as a partner, with the understanding that they will be helping you create menus for the week.
2	When you are in the produce section of the grocery store, ask your children which fruits and vegetables they would like try
3	Let your child help you in the kitchen. Assign them tasks that you feel are safe but they feel are meaningful.
4	Visit a farmers market or go berry picking together.
5	Grow a garden together and give your child the responsibility for tending to it.
6	Try foods as a family. Make it an adventure!

SNEAK ATTACK OF HEALTH
Have your kids try this fun and tasty recipe (by the way, its nutritious…shhhhh!)

Strawberry Shortcake
Servings: 12
Prep and cooking time: 25 minutes
This recipe contains four powerhouse foods

Ingredients:

Strawberry Topping:
1 quart fresh strawberries washed and halved
¼ cup agave nectar

Shortcake:
2 cups Hodgson Mills Insta-Bake Baking Mix
2 tbsp. butter
2/3 cup soy milk (plain or vanilla)
2 tbsp. agave nectar (optional)

Directions for the Shortcake:
1. Heat oven to 425 degrees.
2. In medium bowl combine Insta-Bake and butter until crumbly.
3. Add soy milk and agave and stir to make a soft dough. Mix until dough pulls away from the bowl.
4. Spread into a sprayed or nonstick 8 or 9-inch cake pan or drop by spoonful onto a sprayed baking sheet.
5. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown, may be longer for cake pan. Yields 10-12 individual shortcakes or eight pieces.

Directions for the Strawberry Topping:
1. Poured the washed and halved strawberries into a medium bowl and add the agave nectar.
2. Using a potato masher, smash the strawberries to desired consistency.
3. Place a piece of shortcake into a bowl and ladle the strawberry topping over the top.

Break It Down:
Calories: 170; Total Fat: 3g; Saturated Fat: 1.5g; Cholesterol: 5mg; Total Carbs: 33g; Dietary Fiber: 3g; Sugars: 14g; Protein: 3g; Sodium: 180mg;

Focusing on taste, fun and getting kids involved is the key to assuring healthy eating habits – whatever you do, don’t mention the word “nutrition!”

Dave Grotto, RD, LDN is a registered dietitian, past spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association and author of 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life. He is also the advisory chair for the Produce for Kids™ and PBS Kids health initiative to improve the eating habits of children.

To pick up a copy of his life-changing and life-saving book, go to www.amazon.com.