ENCOURAGE HEALTHY EATING HABITS
Of the many challenges parents face daily, encouraging healthy eating habits for their children can be one of the most vexing. While the consumption of nutritious foods like vegetables is good for kids while they’re young, it can also serve an important role in encouraging lifelong healthy habits. One strategy for achieving that goal is to pair familiar foods with vegetables and prepare them in interesting ways. This tactic – pairing foods kids already enjoy with the foods you want them to start eating willingly – is called “associative conditioning,” and can help encourage children to try the new food, according to research conducted by Elizabeth Capaldi-Phillips and Devina Wadhera and published in the “Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.” For example, prepared beef products like hot dogs, deli roast beef, salami and summer sausage provide sources of nutrients like protein, zinc and vitamin B12. In addition to the direct benefits, these meats can also be used in recipes like Green Bean Twists and Salami-Babs to help encourage the consumption of vegetables. Easy-to-make recipes such as Jerky Trail mix, Fried Bologna Cups and Beefy lettuce Cups also provide simple snacking solutions for kids that include the nutritional benefits of both beef and veggies. Find more family-friendly recipes and tips to encourage nutritious eating habits from the North American meat Institute, a contractor of The Beef Checkoff, at meatpoultrynutrition.org.
Fried Bologna Cups
Recipe courtesy of The Beef Checkoff Yield: 8 bologna cups
Vegetable oil spray 8
slices beef bologna
Potato-Vegetable Filling (enough for one bologna cup):
1/4 cup mixed vegetables
1/4 cup mashed potatoes
1 tablespoon grated cheddar cheese
Apple Salad Filling (enough for one bologna cup):
3 tablespoons chopped apple
2 teaspoons minced celery
1 teaspoon golden raisins
2 teaspoons light mayonnaise 1 teaspoon plain, low-fat yogurt
Spray large, nonstick skillet with vegetable oil spray. Set skillet over medium heat and lay bologna slices in pan, as many as will fit in one layer. let bologna fry until it cups. Transfer cups to serving plate and fry remaining bologna in same fashion. To make Potato-Vegetable Filling: In small, microwave-safe bowl, stir together vegetables and potatoes; microwave until hot. To make Apple Salad Filling: In small bowl, stir apple, celery, raisins, mayonnaise and yogurt. Spoon desired filling into each cup. For cups with PotatoVegetable Filling, top with grated cheese.