Need your help..

[Spinin28]

I have made the final decision to change my family over to Clean eating, as my 9 year old can just hardly fit into a size 16 at Old Navy, they don't carry 16 Huskey in the store.
while we were in the dressing room I was shocked at how big his tummy has become, and he has cellulite!!!!!!!! I felt like crying! My twins are still very thin, but they were very premature when they were born.

Prior to this decision all my kids had been eating:
Hamburger Helper
Mac& Cheese
Shells& Cheese
Taco (yeah from the mix)
Frozen Pizza
Chicken Nuggets
Ice cream with syrup
Hot dogs
Fried chicken from the store
POP
Frozen Hamburger's
Jiff peanut butter
country crock margarine
Wheat/multigrain bread (I checked the lable and it has High fructose corn syrup)
Some fruit
Brownies
cookies
Goldfish Crackers
Oreos
Regular syrup
The list goes on

I think you all get the idea that the kids were eating a highly processed diet..

Shockingly the kids are doing very well..and they are paying very close attention to what is a good choice and what is not. I started eating cleaner about 1 1/2 years ago, but I was so afraid to make the change for the kids. I thought that the kids would really buck me and no one would eat what I made.

FYI: My 9 year old is often sluggish and has a fair amount of exercise intolerance, he tires very easily with routine play. I am hoping that this diet change will help, plus he and I talked about him getting 30 minutes of exercise every day..dance pad, bike or a brisk walk. So far he is doing wonderful..I am very proud of him.

So I have made the leap...I am looking for dinner idea's that are kid friendly and tasty.

TIA
Denise

 

[Boybert]

I would start slowly and just introduce things here and there....like ground turkey in casseroles and maybe try whole wheat pasta. You can make "fried" chicken by using breadcrumbs. Transfer over to frozen yougurt maybe. Make your own tacos w/ ground turkey or really lean ground beef and use whole wheat wraps, low fat cheese, etc. These are just some ideas. HTH!


Live with sincerity, love with passion, and dance like you mean it.

Debbie

 

[lvnascar]

My DD's like turkey burgers and lemon pepper chicken breasts. They will eat brown rice if I use chicken broth in it with Mrs Dash Garlic and Herb. And you will be surprised at what kinds of veggies they like. They really love cooked carrots. Some snacks they like are apples & pb and celery & pb. And I agree that if you use as lean of ground beef as possible, they will not know the difference. I have been introducing things in small ways, because I have a DH that will not eat ground turkey. I have been changing him slowly also.

Laurie

 

[purple_magada]

You can make healthy "nuggets" for the kiddos. Actually, here is what we are having tonight:

Preheat oven to 450. Spray a baking sheet with ff cooking spray.

Take a few slices of wheat bread (process in food processor to make crumbs), add some seasonings (salt, pepper, garlic powder, oregano) and add 2T of fresh parm cheese.

Mix together 1 egg white, 1tsp cornstarch and 1tbsp lemon juice.

I'm using fresh chicken tenders but you could cut them up like nuggets.

Dip the chicken into the egg white mixture and then cover with the crumb mixture. Spray each piece of chicken lightly with cooking spray and place on the cookie sheet.

Bake about 15 minutes and the chicken is cripsy liked fried chicken but it is baked.

You could also still do tacos but use ground turkey and use the multi-grain or wheat wraps rather then the hard taco shells.

My DH loves hot sausages. I"ve found hot turkey sausage at Weis. He has no clue that it isn't the full fat pork sausage. I buy the lite hotdog rolls to eat them on and he has no clue that they are 1/2 the calories and 1/2 the fat.

I would try to include some fresh fruits at dinner time. Sometimes I'll give my 5 year old a side dish of strawberries, canteloupe or watermelon at dinner. Try to experiment with different veggies. I'm sure your kids will find some that they love.

I've stopped buying processed stuff about a year ago. It does take longer to prepare a meal but the food is so much healthier.

Good luck!

 

[Spinin28]

Thanks ladies!
:7

 

[40something]

My kids liked this soup: I've posted this recipe on three sites this week! If your kids won't eat lettuce salads yet...then serve a side dish of green beans. Kids will usually eat green beans. I'm not a big fan of store-bought frozen vegetables that's why I didn't use them in the following recipe (I think they lack flavor but that's just me).

From the cookbook 'Almost Homemade' (Gooseberry Patch)

Quick Minestrone

2-14 oz cans chicken broth
2 Cups water
28 oz can diced tomatoes
15 oz can kidney beans
3 Cups frozen vegetable blend
1 Cup small shell pasta

Combine broth, water and vegetables in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil; add pasta. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes. Sprinkle servings with Parmesan cheese. Serves 10-12

NOTES:

I used two cans of beans and did not drain them.
I did not add the frozen vegetables, but I did add some chopped onion (handful).
I added dried Italian seasoning herb mix.
I served the soup with a mixed green salad. This was very quick and easy to make...and was actually tasty!!