Most Popular Post To Date? Here it is...

This year I will be delving into the archives, pulling out a few gems from this blog and discovering what we have covered so far. 

It has been a wonderful journey creating this blog and since May 2010 when I started this project. We have touched on many different topics that can help children enjoy fruit and vegetables. 

So this month we start with the most viewed post of all time from this blog (at the time of writing this!) with over 870 people around the world learning how to include vegetables in Children's lunch boxes in a fun and appealing way.

Enjoy!

Lunch Box Vegetables

Making Vegetables Fun

Green Little Fingers

When I saw the new campaign by a leading UK supermarket I felt like jumping for joy...no it wasn't a free supermarket trolley dash (though I have always wanted to do that!)...it was because of a topic very close to my heart. Something beneficial to help the future of our next generation understand more about food and nutrition. A way for families to develop their 'green fingers' together.

Things have changed remarkably in the last 10 years, I remember when I was at school, many years ago and vegetables and salad weren't even an option...factory made doughnuts, toxic blue fizzy drinks and every monosodium glutamate flavoured crisps you could think of ruled the canteens. 

Thanks to pioneers such as Jamie Oliver, awareness surrounding children's health has taken off and each day more and more emphasis is being placed on freshly prepared foods containing the good stuff...fresh fruit and vegetables. This is not to say the battle is over, the continued awareness, campaigns and education through schools, blogs and media help to create a fresh start for all children. I believe they deserve it.

Below are links to a great campaign, encouraging children to develop their green fingers, get into the garden or create a window box...educating them where food really comes from, creating a strong and healthy foundation in life. 

What would you like to see? 

A child thinking food comes from a plastic packet, that food needs to come in fluorescent colours and cooking is popping something in the microwave...

or 

A child growing up with nutritional awareness, confidence in the kitchen and passion for fresh fruit and vegetables. 

Lets help spread the word together...

Campaign: http://www.sainsburysbank.co.uk/money-matters/strawberry-window-garden.shtml

In depth Guide: http://www.sainsburysbank.co.uk/library/default/resources/crafty-garden-ideas.pdf

Supermarket Power

How do you decide which to buy when selecting fruit and vegetables for your family? 

Do you go by look? Size? Value for money?...

I posted a while ago a picture of weird but wonderful carrots found in the garden (see below)...this video shows a French supermarket that takes it to a whole new level. Brilliant stuff and yes I agree this would be wonderful if brought to all supermarkets worldwide to reduce food waste.

Whilst its important we don't buy mouldy, rotten foods for our kids, some would say we have been conditioned too much in our society to only select those carrots that are completely straight or the perfect round apple with no lumps. 

Quite often these odd looking vegetables can be a huge source of entertainment for children, which in turn helps them to enjoy more fruit and vegetables. 

What do you think?

Pasta Pasta Pasta

Getting kids to eat vegetables can be easier than originally thought sometimes. We just need to use a little creativity and present food attractively with tasty flavours. Virtually all kids LOVE pasta and by incorporating vegetables with pasta can be a great step forward. 

Usually by adding vegetables to a tomato style pasta sauce can be a great start. Here is another way to add in the vegetables. This pasta dish is with sauteed diced onions and grated carrot, courgette cooked until tender...simple and delicious. Simply add a little olive oil, toasted sesame oil, soya sauce and a pinch of some dried herbs.

What ways have you found helps?

Pickles, Pickles and more Pickles

Happy 1st of April everyone! Those of you in the UK, happy April fools! 

Recently I was helping out at 'La Escuela de Cocina Natural y Energetica' in Barcelona in the practical class. A great bunch of new students eager to learn, full of enthusiasm and 'ganas' as they say here to try new recipes. In that class we demonstrated how to make homemade pickles. 

There are many pickles around the world from gherkins (originally from West Africa, later West Indies and then central Europe), to sauerkraut (which has been documented in ancient Korean and Roman texts, later becoming a regular in German and Eastern European countries), and much later Branston pickle in the UK which is like a chutney. Originally pickles such as sauerkraut were created using a natural fermentation process. Simply by adding salt and water to shredded cabbage and allowing it to take on a process called lacto-fermentation, a natural pickle is formed full of healthy bacteria goodness. 

The thing to note nowadays is that many shop bought pickles do not contain healthy bacteria. Manufacturers have sped up the process by simply adding vinegar, sugar and salt to create the sour flavour. This does the complete opposite to the natural version. Instead of promoting a healthy digestive system, the vinegar can irritate the bowels and create excess acidity, depleting important minerals from the body.

The great thing with natural pickles is that not only are you helping you and your kids to have a healthy digestive system, they can also stimulate appetite for kids who have lost their appetite. 

NOTE: Pickles are advised to be eaten in very small amounts for young children as they contain salt.

Simply empty a clean jam jar, fill with sliced carrots (or another vegetable), and add salt water (one large 500g jar takes 1 large heaped tablespoon of salt). Leave the jar in a cool dry place (lid off!) covered with a cheese cloth for 3 days to start the fermentation process. After 3 days you can put the lid on and place in the fridge. Ready to eat in 10 days!

TIPS: If you find they are too salty, simply exchange some of the brine for fresh water and leave for another 24hrs in the fridge before eating. 

Try this with your children and involve them in the process. They will love the salty, sour taste of these pickles!

Mmm Carrot Cake!

Who said sugar free, dairy free, wheat and gluten free can't be sweet,  indulgent and deliciously creamy? This is a great, moist carrot cake with a zingy, lemon cream topping...perfect alternative for iced cakes and a great way for children to enjoy a healthier treat . To add more fun simply use a shaped cake mold and decorate the cake with fruit, nuts or a smiley face :)

Recipe to follow soon in the recipe section of this blog!

Pan Fried

Add more interest to vegetables this springtime...

We can serve bright, colourful, crunchy, sweet and delicious vegetables which will be far more appetising to children than mushy, over boiled vegetables that do no favours in getting kids to eat vegetables.

Try this:

Pan fry some lightly steamed carrots (cut once length-ways), sliced cooked beetroot and asparagus or green beans with a little olive oil and few drops of soya sauce or tamari. This is great served with avaocado pate and as part of a meal (see recipe section of this blog for the avocado pate recipe).

A delicious, colourful, and appetising way to serve vegetables that will go down well with all family members!