Tip #3 for getting your kids to eat beans: Turn beans into something familiar, like chicken nuggets.

Did you happen to see the Jamie Oliver episode where he put a nasty chicken carcass into a blender and shaped it into chicken nuggets?  The kids, knowing what was in it, still ate it!  They ate it because it looked like chicken nuggets!  Our falafel had the same idea, except with CHICK-peas, instead of a chicken carcass.  lol, get it??  My kids didn’t know what was in it, but they loved these!

I started with this recipe from Allrecipes, omitting things I didn’t have.  My final recipe was this:

Chick-en Nugget Falafel

(printer friendly)

• 1 can garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained

Mash into bowl. I use a pastry blender.

In a food processor, I put

• 1/2 onion
• Parsley (from my kitchen window…mmmm)
• 1 clove garlic

Blend the onion mix with the mashed beans:

Then in separate bowl combine:

• 1 egg
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 dash pepper
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 TBL olive oil

Mix with bean dip, and slowly pour in 1 cup bread crumbs.   Mix enough bread crumbs until your dough is not too sticky to shape.

Shape into chicken nuggets and either bake or fry.  I “grilled” in a cast iron pan with a small amount of olive oil.  Then I made that Origami Fry bag.

WE LOVED THESE!!  Just so you know!

Still need Ideas to get your kids to eat their beans?

• Tip #1  Add pureed beans to baked goods
• Tip #2  Use beans as dip
• Tip #3 Chicken-En Nuggets
• Tip #4 Roast Them!
• Tip #5 Mixing in the beans

Today’s healthy meals idea is going to be a little different.  SHK reader Christine was looking for some toddler menu ideas and so, rather than a family meal plan, this week I’ve got a meal plan specifically for preschoolers!

A few weeks ago, Blue Mountain Organics sent me a treat to try!  It was the snack bar Coco Joy.  I did not share it with my kids! It was too delicious, and I needed a treat.  It’s raw, vegan, organic, and contains only the most simple ingredients, yet soooo yummy.  The only thing in these snack bars is:

Coconut, Cashews, Dates, Almonds, Agave, Cacao, Vanilla.  

So, if you are looking for some raw, vegan, organic, awesome food, check them out.

*Don’t forget the printable meal plans are here.

(Bringing our lunch at Disneyland)

Healthy Tip for the Day:  Stop using food to comfort your kids.  Usually it’s unintentional, nevertheless you should be mindful to know if you are doing it.  You are doing guilty if you’ve ever said, “You skinned your knee?” followed quickly by,  “Do you want a snack?”

Photo of the week:

Went to the zoo with TJ and the rest of the first graders from our Elementary School.  We had a blast of course!

My kids have been hard at work earning their tickets to Disneyland.  We have 15 fleece blankets to tie, and we get 5 free Disney tickets.  My mother in law gave us ALL the fleece.  My Grandma lives in So.Cal, so we’ll stay with her! I think I’m more excited than the kids!  The best part is that my semester will be over and I can finally relax!  (blurry pic, sorry)

New menu plan!

*The lettuce wrapped taco idea was provided by reader Chelsea. Here is what Chelsea said:

Here’s an idea you can share. I use the leaf of cabbage as a taco shell… Well it wasn’t a taco but it had a delightful chicken salad in it and we held it like a taco! One child holds it like a taco and eats it that way and they other just uses it like a bowl. I am sneaky though.. The cabbage was in the chicken salad too.

Thanks Chelsea!!  If you have a healthy meal idea that I share on the blog, I will send you a FREE Healthy Habits Plate for sending your ideas to me!  (Limited time only). So Chelsea, send me your address, and I’ll send you a plate!  Thanks!

This week I’ll share:

• Tofu Smoothie
• Applesauce bread
• Cottage cheese pancakes

If you’ve been in the yogurt section lately, you may have noticed Yoplait has Greek yogurt now for $0.99.  We like Greek Yogurt (extra protein, and extra creamy!).  Also, Yoplait’s flavored Greek Yogurt has regular sugar, as opposed to the High Fructose Corn Syrup.

I’m not aware if these coupons rotate or not, but currently there is a coupon for $0.30 off Yoplait Greek Yogurt on the coupons.com site!  So get it before it rotates away.Click Here

Post note: Dear Kim- We also like Dannon! We aren’t picky

I got a sweet note from a preschool teacher following my presentation on healthy eating several weeks ago.  Just goes to show you… kids are super teachable!

We are learning the letter Y this week.  Yesterday I put the words "Yum" and "Yuck" on the board and asked them to each name a thing that is yummy and yucky.  They named for our "Yum" list:  apples, strawberries, oranges, carrots, bananas, grapes, etc.  All good!:)  For our "Yuck" list they named a can, a piece of wood, carpet, etc.!  After a few weeks they still remember your lesson, especially the book about the goats and all the bad things they ate!  For 4 year olds that’s really good.  You made a great impression on them.

Thanks!

Heather

After every life event I have the same thoughts,

After my next test, I’ll spend more time in kitchen….

After TJ’s birthday, I’ll make more bread…

After the PTA fundraiser, I’ll soak my beans, rather than get them out of a can.” 

And what happens next: Another bigger and more time consuming thing!

So as a result, this menu plan is going to be Crockpot week or:

“I have no time to be in the kitchen” plan, but if possible, I’ll stick the kids in the kitchen in my place.”

If you have a healthy recipe you think our family would enjoy for future menu plans, feel free to email me a link, or the recipe, and I’ll be happy to link to your recipes in future meal plans! Thanks!!!

Disclaimer: All my children are in school, and I actually send them sandwiches in their lunch every day. These lunches are ideas if you need variety! 

Printable Meal Plans

If there is ever something in my menu that I didn’t post the recipe or link for (generally because its in one of my cookbooks), feel free to email me, and I’ll get it to you. amy@superhealthykids.com

What to look forward to this week: (subject to change if something doesn’t turn out right)

• Party/ Finger food
• Red Cabbage
• Coconut nests
• Crockpot recipe
• Indoor activity idea

Here is a new menu plan… If you get a chance, go check out the cute sidebar image for the link to the printable menu’s!

Also, we need your help!

This group; XX1st Century Kids 1st foundation is trying to win $50,000 to provide low income kids in the Chicago area with healthy food and lifestyle choices.  They just need your votes to win!!  Go here to vote!

I just finished watching Food, Inc.  Great Movie! The take home message is to buy local, and in season food! If you haven’t seen the movie yet, did you know you can download and “rent” the movie to watch from Amazon for $2.99!  I just realized this!  Right under “Buy”, you click WATCH IT NOW, $2.99 to rent.  

Although I’ve mentioned them before, after watching the movie, I was so glad we buy our meat local (beef and pork at least).  If you live in Utah and are looking for a local meat supplier, you must check out The Christiansens farm for well fed, well treated, organic, and super awesome meat!  Hollie Christiansen is my neighbors- sister.. which is how I found out about their farm. 

Last night, I pulled out our bag of frozen Edamame to snack on while I prepared dinner.  The kids devoured it! I forgot how much they liked this great snack the first time I bought it.  It’s definitely coming out more often this week.

As always, head over to the side bar, or Menu Archives to print the menu!

Don’t forget…. Monday is the last day to enter for Crest Pro-Health supplies,

and FRIDAY is the last day for the V8-V Fusion Visa $100 Gift card!

Here is next weeks menu for all those who like them.

And the printable menu plans on my side bar, or menu archives.

And a big announcement: I won a major award!!

Thank you Michelle from Family Fitness.

If I can narrow down the blogs I want to award to a few, I will pass it along. Such a tough task!

Also, I’d love for you to check out a website from my new friend Traci (Online friend, that I hope to meet someday )  Traci, who posts grocery bargains on HEALTHY FOOD on her website Healthy Deals and Steals!!  Thanks Traci for doing all the legwork for us.

Headed out tonight to see my friends very talented daughter starring in Les Miserable at her high school.  I’ve actually never seen it (not even the movie), so I’m excited.

Like I said, this week’s menu has got to be easy meals. Without much time in the kitchen, this week’s menu plan is going to have to do. Not exciting, but very necessary.

Head over to the sidebar for the printable version.

I’ve been having fun in my Nutrition class at the University of Utah.  One interesting point the teacher brought up was the necessity of a balanced diet.  When you eat fruit and not veggies, you are getting a good amount of vitamins, but not minerals.  The reverse is obviously true… eat vegetables and no fruit, you have a great source of minerals, but not necessarily vitamins.