Getting Your Picky Children to Eat a Variety of Foods

Have you ever wished you could have one small appliance that could help with all of your cooking? Such a thing does, in fact, exist. It's called a George Foreman Grill.

If you've got a Foreman Grill, you're good to go in the kitchen. The compact "lean mean grilling machine" can cook up just about any type of meat or vegetable, so you could use it to make dinner every night if you wanted. On some models, there's even a bread warmer, which makes completing your meal easy-just pop in a roll and add it to your grilled meat and vegetables. Here are some easy recipes do suitable for George Foreman Grills. And if you're new to cooking, don't worry; anyone can make a delicious and healthy meal using the following tips as a guide.

1. Grilled chicken with zucchini.

This recipe really shows off what the Foreman can do. It's simple to make and turns out a tasty meal. First, salt and pepper your chicken breast. You can add other spices if you like, like garlic power, red pepper, or tarragon. Then, cut the zucchini length wise and chop it into small strips; add salt, pepper, and olive oil. When the Foreman Grill is hot, put the chicken and zucchini on the hot plate and close the top. In minutes, you'll have a tasty meal with virtually no fat!

2. Mixed vegetables.

George Foreman Grills are perfect for vegetarians, or for anyone who loves a hearty helping of vegetables. For delectable mixed vegetables, simply chop your choice of broccoli, squash, mushrooms, carrots, pea pods, or anything else that looks good. Toss with salt, pepper, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar. Throw the mixture on the Foreman Grill and after a few minutes, voila, you've got a perfectly cooked mixture of succulent grilled veggies ready to eat.

3. Perfect steak and potatoes.

Yes, you can even use your George Foreman to make this man's meal. Season your steak with salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. Slice some lightly boiled potatoes and add salt. Then, throw both on the Foreman and let it sizzle, checking back occasionally to ensure your steak doesn't overcook. In the end, you'll have a perfect steak minus the fat that accrues when cooked in a pan.

These recipes are just a few of the thousands of meals you could make with your George Foreman grill. Best of all, after you finish grilling, clean up is a cinch. Just wipe down the grill trays and empty the container that collects the fat. So if you can only have one kitchen appliance, go for the George Foreman Grill. It's an all-around winner.

Keywords: George Foreman Grill, grilling, quick cooking, vegetables, meat, healthy ways to cook

Describes methods of introducing new foods to children, and how to disguise food so kids will eat it.

If your kids eat only bland, beige food like macaroni and cheese and chicken nuggets, you're not alone. Most children are picky eaters, especially if they've been given their way in the past when they've complained something didn't taste good. If force feeding your children vegetables doesn't appeal to you, there are still ways to ensure your kids have a healthy diet. The best way to do this is to feed your children diverse foods early and disguise new flavors within a familiar dish.

Most kids who are extremely picky simply haven't tried a lot of foods. They get used to a few flavors and then don't want to branch out. If you feed your children a variety of fruits, vegetables, and grains when they first begin eating solid foods, they will usually develop a taste for these flavors. A good way to do experiment with new foods for your toddlers is to take the family out to eat at a low-cost restaurant with a salad bar. Fill a plate with small amounts of multiple foods-cherry tomatoes, olives, cubed ham, cheese, cucumbers, etc. Let your child try all the different samples in his or her highchair. With this method, you'll be able to see which tastes your child enjoys. They important part is that you expose your children to these different flavors at a young age, before they can complain about not liking something because it looks yucky.

If you're trying to persuade older children, say, those three and up, to try new foods, you will likely have more of a challenge. At this age children will refuse food because it's unfamiliar; they're likely to dismiss a dish without even trying it because it looks funny. Often, the problem food group is vegetables, but you may be trying to expand your child's fruit or grain repertoire as well.

No matter what food you're trying to introduce, the best way to get a picky eater to try something new is to disguise it. Try using whole-grain pasta in macaroni and cheese, instead of bleached white pasta. If your children like broccoli but not peas, mix some peas in with chopped broccoli. Make veggie burgers instead of meat hamburgers. Or add a slice of tomato to a grilled cheese sandwich. This method may not always work, but when it does it will likely increase the nutritional value of your kids' diets.

The good news is most children eventually grow out of being picky. The bad news: until then, it will be an uphill climb for your, their parents. But if you keep trying to introduce new foods, picky eating habits may not stay around for long.

Keywords: picky eating, cooking for children, vegetables, disguising food