Our top 5 strategies to help your picky eater eat.

/
Our top 5 strategies to help your picky eater eat.

If your kid doesn't like to eat a particular food, keep trying. Perseverance is your best bet.

I have a lot of experience with getting my 4 kids to try new foods. In fact, one of my kids was tube-fed for several years and had to be re-taught to eat from scratch, a process that took several years, what felt like a zillion tries, and a whole lot of help.

So, based on a lot of experience, are my top 5 ways to get your picky eater to eat a broader range of foods.

Read More

It's a great time to plan for your garden!

/
It's a great time to plan for your garden!

Real life offers all sorts of teachable moments, no classroom required! As little bits of greenery started to peek through the brown Iowa landscape, one of my kids asked if it was time to plan for our vegetable garden. It was a a great suggestion and offers the opportunity for some creative learning too!

Read More

Breakfast casseroles make a great dinner too!

/
Breakfast casseroles make a great dinner too!

Do you have kids that like one form of something, but not another? It happens at our house too! I have one child that doesn’t like eggs AT ALL, but really enjoys breakfast casserole…made with eggs. Hmm…

We think breakfast casseroles double as both a great breakfast or dinner option, and any leftovers are great for lunch. It’s pretty easy recipe to make from scratch and will serve a big family like ours. And, it’s an easy recipe to double and make for another family in need, especially during this crazy time!

Read More

Recipe & Video: Strawberry Shortcakes by Claire

/
Recipe & Video: Strawberry Shortcakes by Claire

The other day, my daughter Claire asked me if she could make strawberry shortcakes to pass the time. Me: but we don’t have any strawberries. Her: I saw some in the freezer. why can’t I use those? Me: great idea! 9 year-olds can be so resourceful!

Give our Strawberry Shortcake recipe a try! We’ve included a couple of substitutions since we know that trips to the grocery store are few and far between. For a little extra motivation, your child(ren) can follow along on our new youtube channel (please subscribe!) and watch Claire make the entire recipe, or just the 5 minute whipped cream. Enjoy!

Read More

Recipe: Rolls

/
Recipe: Rolls

We had a request for our favorite kid-friendly bread recipe, and we are happy to share! Bread is so much fun for kids to make; most kids enjoy getting their hands messy and it’s even better when you can eat the result. This recipe makes incredibly delicious dinner rolls and was a huge hit when Andrew made it a few days ago. A double-batch was gone in a flash. If you give it a try, let us know what you think!

Read More

Make something green! Try our kid-approved smoothie recipe!

/
Make something green! Try our kid-approved smoothie recipe!

As we draw nearer to St. Patrick’s Day, I challenge you to make something green to eat or drink, without reaching for the food coloring!

The only green foods that I can think of are plant based, so consider the upside; whatever you make green will be better for you! Give our smoothie a try; Annie just made a double-batch and it’s nearly gone.

Read More

7 Healthy Snacks for On-the-Go Athletes (and Active Kids)

/
7 Healthy Snacks for On-the-Go Athletes (and Active Kids)

Think of real food = good fuel for your body. You’re kids have been practicing hard all season, so complement all of that hard work with good nutrition when they head off to practice or compete. With a little advance planning, your kids can skip the processed, greasy, and fatty stuff typically sold at the concession stand and be on the top of their game!

Read More

Let your kids piggyback in the kitchen!

/
Let your kids piggyback in the kitchen!

It’s rare that I meet a child who doesn’t enjoy helping in the kitchen when given the opportunity. It’s more or less play, right? Yet oftentimes, as parents, it can be overwhelming enough just to get a meal on the table, let alone have your child(ren), whether toddler or teen, potentially add to the chaos and mess at an already trying time of day. But it’s so worth it, and what better time of year to make a fresh start. So, ease into a new habit by “piggybacking”.

Read More

Our Kid-Approved Gingerbread Recipe

/
Our Kid-Approved Gingerbread Recipe

Gingerbread is tied to this festive time of year. But for a long time, my kids wouldn’t eat it because they didn’t like the taste. Over the last month, we’ve had multiple opportunities to test out our Gingerbread Recipe and it has been a huge hit! Kids actually LIKE it, and adults with and without kids are asking for the recipe. We’d love to share it with you this holiday season.

Read More

Why tube-feeding my child led to the creation of Real Food 4 Kids

/
Why tube-feeding my child led to the creation of Real Food 4 Kids

Six years ago we had a lovely fall trip to the beach. Yet what I remember most about this trip was the food. Every bit of my youngest daughter’s food for the week needed to be blended in advance and transported on the plane. The four years that I spent tube-feeding were the impetus for me to start Real Food 4 Kids the week after she started Kindergarten.

Read More

What do we mean by "REAL FOOD"?

/
What do we mean by "REAL FOOD"?

We want to teach kids about food, including the healthy stuff AND the indulgent stuff. During this week's Baking Bonanza camp, we indulged big time. It was fun and delicious. I think it's OK to indulge from time to time, and when you do, make it from scratch! We believe that the more you know about where your food comes from, and how to create it, you'll be better prepared to nourish your body in a mindful way…

Read More