Healthy Little Mickey-Lovers

[gaia2009]

After reading all of the fabulous posts on here, I decided that there was no better place to ask my own question and get input than here!

I'm about to move in with my sister who's currently in the early stages of a nasty divorce. She has 2 kids, my little thespian, Jacob, and the next woman president, Taylor. Since more likely than not I'll be dropping to part time status at school and taking online classes, I'll be doing all the cooking. I'm a vegetarian, they're not, and they eat tons and tons of processed food like applesauce and goldfish, etc. I'm a fresh food, preferably organic, person, and I was hoping to get some fun Disney-inspired healthy snacks and meal ideas. I've already been to i-farms.com and gotten their really fun snacks and recipes. Here's a couple of ideas I currently have, and if anyone has more, please share! I need all the help I can get!

-Buy some Mickey-shaped sectioned food containers (if they exist, lol) and make little snacks trays with vegetables, dips, cheese, crackers, peanut butter, etc. Basically, I'll make one of those new Disney Foodles coming out that I can't buy here because the local Kroger grocery store is in Georgia. I do not live in Georgia.

-Get a character cookie cutter and cut out their sandwiches for lunch. Also, make 2 different sandwiches on 2 different colors of bread and cut them into 9 squares, then make 2 checkerboard sandwiches.

-Stop letting them drink processed and sugary juices and buy unprocessed and sugar-free drinks and get more water in them!

-Make up a chart for the kitchen, and whenever they eat, have them put a sticker or magnet under a section for each protein, grains, dairy, fruit, vegetables, and water, and come up with a rewards system.

-Instead of giving them real chicken nuggets, see if they can tell the difference with soy chik'n nuggets.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

While I applaud you trying to give them a healthier diet, I would not appreciate my sister coming in and taking over my kids like that. Before you do anything I would speak to your sister. The chart idea also would really make me mad. I do not make food an issue in our home. Making it an issue by putting so much pressure to eat right (charts, magnets etc.) will only lead to eating problems. I speak from experience. We eat healthy and we have discussions about healthy foods but I don't make it a big deal. Also- there is nothing wrong with them eating chicken nuggets. There are healthy ways to make them. I am not a vegetarian so I would be a little annoyed by you trying to eliminate foods from my children. I am not flaming you so please don't think that is my intent. It's just that as a Mom I think you are overstepping a bit. Offer up all the healthy snacks you want but don't force the kids and definitely don't start making it some kind of reward/chart system. That is not good for kids mentally. As far as snacks. Most kids like to dip so how about some hummus or yogurt dips? Kids also like hot dogs and I do give them regular hot dogs on occassion but I mostly give them veggie dogs. They like them and they are not full of all the stuff in a real hot dog. Apples and peanut butter is another really good snack. I also like peanut butter on a chocolate rice cake. I also like to make pancakes with fruit in them. The kids love them and they don't need syrup and I let them eat them like a burrito. They just roll them up! Popcorn is also good. You could even let them help you make it on the stove! The you can pick whatever flavor you want to make it. Good luck! I think it is great that you care about your family so much!

 

[PaulaSue]

What did you sister day about this plan? It sounds good but a bit overstepping/much if she didn't ask you to totally change thier diets. Healthier is better but cutting meats out, as a Mom I am not into that for my girls.

 

[gaia2009]

My sister is all for trying to get everyone to eat healthy, and I'm only looking to replace the chicken nuggets; the ones my sister buys literally are drenched in grease when you pull them out of the oven. I have no issues cooking meat, I just don't eat it. I went over all of this with her when she first asked me to move in, and the only thing that worried her was if I would be cooking them tofu every night. I don't like tofu, and I have a strict policy about getting onto people about eating meat. We have good communication and we get along well, and she's even planning on signing us up for jazzercise classes (I'm not 100% sure what that is, but sounds interesting). I apologize if I came across like I was barging in on her life and taking over. But no, I asked well in advance if all of this was ok, and the only thing I said had to happen was that we couldn't clean with chemicals, since my allergies flare up and I break out into huge, stinging, red rashes now with stuff like bleach and ammonia.

But I am still hoping for suggestions for my niece and nephew, since I only lived with them before for a little over six months, and that was three years ago. I'm really overweight, and I don't want them to have to go through all of my doctor's visits or take a ton of medication and have to write down everything I eat. And, I want my time with them to be fun all around, since they're going to be confused and maybe even resenting me moving in and their dad moving out.

 

[homeschoolmomof4]

How about smoothies? We use plain organic yogurt, frozen strawberries, OJ and some milk and whip it all up in a blender. Get a fun straw and tada! A great healthy snack or even breakfast with the addition of some whole wheat toast.

As far as the nuggets, if they're not keen on soy nuggets, how about making your own? Cut up chicken breasts, coat in egg whites, dredge in seasoned whole wheat bread crumbs, and pop on a cookie sheet in the oven until browned.

 

[swim-mom]

Look for the Disney receipe site they have strawberry soup, which my children love...............sorry but you do need to add sugar. I think I add 1/2 or a cup of it to the mix which is not alot considering you use 2 big bags of strawberries.

I have four children and they love it and it is very very good for them too. If you can not find it PM me and I will send it to you!!

Good luck,

 

[gaia2009]

Oh man, I remember when I used to eat meat that I made my own chicken tenders with reduced-fat Bisquick and Eggbeaters, they were SO good! I'll definitely give your recipe a try, sounds like it'll taste closer to what they're used to.

Strawberry soup? Whoa... I'll have to check and see if I have that recipe from the site already, but you'll be hearing from me if I can't find it! Thank you both!