Make Your Own

Not sure if this should be a recipe or a nutrition hint... hmm....

Anyway, if you haven't heard this yet, here's some new news: Children are more likely to eat something they had a hand in making.

On that note, here are some "make-your-own" suggestions we like around here:

Pizza
English muffins are the easiest "crust" choice since you don't have to worry about whether or not they are cooked. We've also used whole-wheat pitas and Matt's homemade dough recipe (so yummy- might have to get him to share that one on here).
Top with sauce (lately I've been blending tomatoes with some oregano and garlic), cheese and the kids' choice of toppings. Favorites here are pepperoni, olives, chicken, ham, pineapple and tofu.
Rating: Well, Rooster won't eat whole-wheat English muffins so I try not to use those. And only two of us choose the tofu (TK and me). But EVERYONE loves to make them!

Nachos
Try to get the healthier tortilla chips out now. Then let the kids choose from beans, ground turkey meat, shredded chicken, olives, tomatoes and cheeses (cook everything before you put it on the chips). Make on paper plates and microwave for individual servings or make directly on a cookie sheet and bake. You just need the cheese to melt since you already cooked the rest. Have salsa, guacamole and sour cream available to add after heating.
Rating: Are you kidding? It has chips so of course everyone likes it! M only likes cheese on hers but I have hope.

Burrito Bar
This is a common dinner around here lately because it pleases everyone. I cook ground turkey with spice mix (yes, you've been seeing this a lot on this blog lately, Rooster is so selective and yet he loves this so I've been making it often). I also cook black beans in the crockpot all day, then mash them. I shred cheese and lettuce, cut tomatoes and avocado, and open sour cream and sometimes olives. Now put out some tortillas and make your own burrito! If you run out of tortillas, make the nachos (above) for lunch the next day.
Rating: 2 Thumbs Up from Everyone!

Chef Salad
Lettuce. Fresh spinach. Nuts. Cheese. Lunch meat (if you eat it). Seeds. Olives. Baby Corn. Broccoli. Carrots. Hard-boiled eggs. Seen a salad bar? You get the picture. You're likely to have lots of leftovers!
Rating: Rooster's usually not thrilled and the girls are hit-and-miss with this dinner. One of TK's favs. They all like to cut up their own boiled eggs. Thrilling, right??!!