Foodie Mama

Monkey Munch

2011-06-05T14:53:00.003-04:00

This recipe for Monkey Munch is a family favorite. I've never met anyone that doesn't like it. It makes about 3 large Ziploc bags full. You could easily half the recipe, but I always makes the full amount and it always gets eaten. At Christmas, I use red and green sugars. At Easter, I use pastel colored sugars.

Monkey Munch

1 box rice Chex

1 box Teddy Grahams, any variety

1/2 box Fruity Cheerios, or Fruit Loops

1/2 bag pretzel sticks

2 packages vanilla flavored almond bark candy coating

1 C. M&Ms , any variety

Colored sugars

Wax Paper

Line 2 large cookie sheets with wax or parchment paper and set aside. In a large roasting pan, combine Chex, Teddy Grahams, Cheerios, and pretzel sticks. Melt almond bark in microwave or double boiler until smooth. Pour into roasting pan and stir until thoroughly incorporated. Divide the Monkey Munch equally among the wax paper lined cookie sheets. Sprinkle M&Ms over and stir to combine. Spread the Monkey Munch out on the cookie sheets in an even layer and sprinkle with colored sugars. Allow to dry for 1 hour. Gently break up the Monkey Munch with your fingers and store in Ziploc bags.

Picky Eaters

2011-06-04T22:29:00.002-04:00

I have created foodie kids. I am extremely proud of the fact that my children will eat practically anything. I say practically because each child has an exception. My son has an adversion to beans; it doesn't really matter what kind. I can't blame him! They are not my favorite either. My daughter has disliked green beans since she was a baby. Again, not my favorite either. I am noticing a trend here. :)

No matter, I couldn't be more proud of their eating habits. My children will gladly eat things that most children would likely turn their nose up at: sauerkraut, brussel's sprouts, shellfish, sushi, eggplant, asparagus. You name it and they will eat it!

My kids have always been great when it comes to eating. Since they were old enough for table food, I have given them a variety of fruits and vegetables and have continued to do so since then. However, I always hear people say that their children are picky eaters. Here is my top 5 tips for getting picky eaters to expand their food horizions:

1. Add vegetables into favorite foods. If your children love spaghetti, add some diced zucchini, onion, and carrot into your marinara sauce. Altering some of their favorite foods to include vegetables or fruit is an easy way to get your children used to eating things that they may not love.

2. Get your children into the kitchen. Children are much more likely to eat their supper if they participated in cooking it.

3. Allow your children to grocery shop with you. Take them to the produce section and allow them to choose some fruits and vegetables that they would like to eat for supper. They might just surprise you with their choices!

4. Avoid expressing your own food dislikes in front of your children. If mama hates broccoli and grimaces at the sight of it, chances are the kids aren't going to love broccoli either.

5. If first you don't succeed, try again. If your child has never eaten asparagus, don't expect them to love it on the first try. Encourage them to try it and then reintroduce it at a later date. Research has shown that it can take up to 5 different tries for a child to begin to like a new food. Also, remember that even foodie kids have dislikes. If you have tried a dozen times and they still don't like it, maybe they just don't like it.

Foodie Mama's First Post

2011-06-04T01:39:00.001-04:00

Hi All! This is my first blog post for Foodie Mama. So, to start I thought I would share a little about myself. I am a young mama of two from Central Virginia and I am a FOODIE. Happily, in the fall I will be beginning my first semester of a culinary arts program to pursue my life-long dream of becoming a professional foodie.

My biggest passion in life, aside from my beautiful family, is food. I love everything about food! I love cooking it, thinking about it, talking about it, reading about it, watching programs on it, and most importantly eating it!

I have two wildly entertaining children. My son is 5 and my daughter is just-shy of 4. Ever since they were born, I have tried to instill my love of food into them. Cooking with my children is some of the best memories that I have made with them thus far and I cherish every moment that they spend with me in the kitchen.