A Solution For Holiday Picky Eaters

Holidays can be crazy especially for kids. There's candy and cookies  and more candy and more cookies. Nutritious foods may be picked at or given to the cat or dog.Luckily a new book can help parents deal with the kids who just won't eat or eat only snacks and sweets.It's a must have in any parent's library.

Chef Gigi Gagerro wrote this combination advice  and recipe book, Food Fight (Koehler Books 2018). Chef Gaggero specializes in nutritional awareness surrounding children and families to help take some of the stress out of being a busy aware parent.She was also the former academic director of the famed French culinary school, Le Cordon Bleu.. She also launched Kids Culinary Adventures educating kids about food's nutritional values.This is a keeper because she handles toddlers to teens and it's a book that is always needed - and even handed down.Some of her advice will cause a few raised eyebrows. She suggest going to the pet supply store and buying little ones cat or dogs bowls to eat from. The reasoning is they can imitate their favorite animals and eat foods that are only put in the bowls. Another , time honored method is letting little ones feel and play with their food. Eventually the crumbs do get into their mouths.Chef Gaggero is a big fan of Bento boxes,those compartmentalized  lunch boxes from Japan. These are excellent for making lunch fun. It introduces kids to different textures and colors as well as introducing them to portion control.Another good point is having dinner togethers even though kids may not be hungry and engaging them in family conversations.

The big question is will Chef Gaggero 's recipes get those picking eaters eating? The answer is yes! She has some fun and tasty recipes that I want to try out on the fussy adult eaters in my life. The banana rich Bananarama Munkie Bread is a fun group bake , perfect for holiday breakfasts and brunches. There is even a sammie or sandwich involving it, stuffed with whipped cream cheese and honey or maple syrup. A fun breakfast is an ice cream cone (!) filled with yogurts that's been frozen and fruit. Cinnamon and any kind of healthy crunchy topping complete it. Snack time is full of tasty recipes such as the mouth watering Parmesan zucchini fritters that combine the squash with chopped onions and cheese to give it zing.Lunch takes on an international flavor with the Vietnamese turkey pho ga, a zesty soup full of different flavors and  textures.This is a great way of showing kids world cuisines as well as introducing them to new spices and herbs.It may even get the older ones interested in making it for their friends.For dinner she chooses the kid favorite breakfast for dinner with a blueberry pancake casserole along with another kid favorite baked mac. Cayenne and nutmeg spice it up.  There are desserts, healthy ones, such as avocado chocolate mousse along with homemade cake flour  for making cupcakes.Her daughters, Gabrielle and Dakota have also contributed to the book as well.

Food Fight  is the must have book for parents this holiday season. It will help navigate those tricky days of picking around the plate. The end result is a kid who will like food and look forward to  eating

it.