Fooling Our Kids: It’s a GOOD Thing!

Recipe #1 “Healthy Popsicles”

Kids hate vegetables.  Fact.  Telling a child that it’s “good for you” is a guaranteed way to instill a lifetime of vegetable aversion.

A child's diet of choice?  Snacks and sweets, chips and burgers .  As parents we can’t surrender to our children; even as adults we crave the same fare.  Such a diet cannot incorporate the vitamins and minerals we need for healthy growth.  In some cases unwanted excess weight is the result as well as a weakened infrastructure (our bones and ligaments) needed to support that added weight.

It is necessary to teach them to eat healthy, but let's do it wisely.

Today I present to you our first fruit and vegetable recipe. Your children (of all ages, Hi Dad!) will be unaware that they are eating vegetables: they will only taste the flavor and see the vibrant colors of orange and kiwi, not the dreaded green spinach and orange carrots.

INGREDIENTS:

4 Kiwi fruit
9 Oranges
1 lg or 2 small Carrots (4 oz. pureed)
I Handful raw spinach (2 oz. pureed)
Popsicle molds
Popsicle Sticks, candy sticks, skewers (whatever is handy)

PREPARATION:

Wash vegetables and peel the kiwis. Cut oranges in half and extract the juice

Combine the kiwi and spinach in a blender or juicer and puree thoroughly. Strain the resulting puree to remove any seeds or pulp that has not been liquefied. Set to the side.

Combine the carrots and orange in a blender or juicer and puree thoroughly. Strain the resulting puree to remove any seeds or pulp that has not been liquefied.  Set to the side.

Molds for popsicles are available in most supermarkets or craft stores. I have many molds but, alas, I live in the Bermuda Triangle. Things appear and disappear mysteriously. Yesterday, looking for ice cream molds, I found my pasta machine!  The next time I need that machine I will surely find my popsicle molds. … :)

In case popsicle molds are unavailable buy small disposable cups. I bought 4 oz. clear shot glasses. I have a family like chickens; they peck away at the food all day long. I figured the smaller shot glass portions were the way to go.

My friend Lucy used disposable cups from her child’s last birthday as molds and plastic spoons as sticks.

Not very elegant, but VERY practical! … :)

To continue: Fill your molds halfway with the kiwi mixture, center your “spoons” (lol) and freeze long enough to become semi-solid (approximately ½ hour). Plastic wrap on top is helpful to keep the “sticks” centered. Next cover with the orange mixture, finish freezing (approximately ½ hour more) and enjoy!

I can assure you that no one will suspect they are eating spinach and carrot popsicles. DO NOT TELL THEM! <grin>

In this recipe, do not add sugar because the fruit is sweet enough. If you do feel it necessary to add sugar please consider stevia as a natural alternative.

Stevia is a natural sweetener with zero calories that is derived from a plant native to Paraguay. Stevia is currently the only alternate sweetener allowed in Europe and helps to lower blood sugar levels in diabetics. Stevia is available in most supermarkets, not expensive and there are several companies that are marketing.

I hope you enjoyed this recipe and next week I will give you another fruit and vegetable creation. Have a healthy day! ... :)