Make My Kid Eat.

Deborah, who posts the most mouth watering recipes over at The Humble Housewife is hosting a competition which she describes below:

I get several emails each week asking for recipes that will appeal to kids. As a mother of two picky toddlers I know that this is a constant challenge for many of us. So why not pool our knowledge? So to celebrate my 100th blog post I am hosting a competition to find the best recipe for kids.

Competition, food, blogging, children, great prizes...I can do that I thought and promptly signed up for it before going off on a three week holiday. So here is my recipe that will hopefully encourage your kid eat some healthy food.

Many years ago I was listening to a nutritionist on the radio who was saying that burgers and chips are not necessary bad for children if the burgers are homemade and contain some vegetables they can be better than other seemingly healthy foods. After listening to this I have experimented with making burgers and this works for us. I haven't included weights because I use what is handy adding a dollop of this and that so it doesn't matter if you are not precise.

Burgers

I pack round steak mince
I onion
1 courgette
handful green beans
1 yellow pepper
fresh breadcrumbs
1 egg, beaten
A good dollop of tomato ketchup

You can use any vegetables you like, I tend to use green vegetables as these are the ones my children are least keen on.

Grate the all the vegetables (this take seconds in a food processor). I find that by grating the vegetables they are hidden in the food and the children can't see them and therefore don't complain.

Put all the ingredients into a large bowl and mix well with your hands.
Shape into balls and flatten.
Bake for 20 minutes at 180 oC

I serve these burgers topped with iceberg lettuce in lightly toasted wholemeal pitta bread.

Instead of chips I served the burgers with chessy potatoes skins

4 large baking potatoes
Grated cheese
Sour cream
Chopped chives

Pierce the potatoes with a fork and microwave for 10 minutes.
Place in a hot oven for 30 minutes.
Remove, cut in half and scoop out the potato.
Cut each half in half again and lay out on a baking tray. Sprinkle the grated cheese over the top and bake for 15 minutes.
Mix together the sour cream and chives and serve as a dip.


Finish the meal with a fresh fruit salad of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, nectarines and grapes.

If your child is old enough to help in the kitchen there is lots for them to do, they will enjoy mixing the burger mixture with their hands or chopping the fruit. If they have helped to make the dinner they may be more enthusiastic in eating it.

The compteition ends in two days so pop over to Deborah to sign up if you have the (the prizes are fantastic).

I appologise for the quality of the photographs, our camera is quite basic and I find it really difficult to take pictures of food.