The Way to His Heart

What's the one food you could never live without?

When I read this question aloud my husband immediately answered for me, “Chocolate!” I tried to reason with him and come up with other examples, but always after I mentioned one food, chocolate came up afterwards. I always finish a meal with a bite of chocolate. I use it as a palate cleanser, that and I just love it and will find any reason to make something chocolaty! Popcorn really comes in at a close second though, it's just that after eating it I have to have some chocolate!
I think I would be miserable if for some reason I couldn't eat chocolate anymore. My daughter was diagnosed with a severe peanut allergy and I consumed a few tablespoons of peanut butter a day. I never realized it was a staple in my diet until I couldn't eat it anymore. That was difficult and I didn't even "love" it!

What's a treat your kids love that's actually healthy?

My two year old daughter is in that lovely phase where she will love something one minute and hate it the next, but she has always loved squash. Even though she loves it, I still try to mix up the flavors a bite so it doesn’t become boring. My Summer Zucchini bites have some onion in them so she is also being introduced to that flavor.
Another great snack for her is granola. It’s a great way to get fruits and protein and it is portable! While fruit isn't difficult to get my daughter to eat, whole grains can be.

What's your best tip for feeding a picky eater?

I married a very picky eater and now I have a two year old so my life revolves around picky ones! I find that you can only hide so much in dishes. Although, there are many times where we have a "don't ask, don't tell" policy in my kitchen! Instead, I try to cook the less desirable foods in different ways. Always mixing things up. I also will make one item that is new or less desirable and the rest of the ingredients something that is known and loved. I always try to make the food visually appealing. I find that if the plate has many colors it will be eaten much faster! If your child, or husband, doesn’t like the typical meal serve it canape style. Make it fun, make it pretty, and make it tasty!

What are your favorite Blog Posts?

• Mexican Stuffed Shells
• Lox Rangoons
• Lemon Raspberry Layer Cake