It’s time to get back to basics, Gorgeouses. I have been a bad BAD foodie. I’ve been JUST GETTING BY in the kitchen lately, and my children’s PICKY EATING is, I think, a reflection of my lack of passion about the food they eat. And, in turn, my lack of passion about food is a direct result of my utter EXHAUSTION lately. Which is, in turn, a direct result of bland diet which is, in turn, a direct result of my lack of passion about food.

OY! It’s a chicken-egg scenario. Only, of course, I don’t eat chicken. Or eggs. Or dairy. Or anything animal. Which makes PASSIONATE FOOD a bit of a challenge — both for myself and the kids.

SO, to end this DOWNWARD SPIRAL into doom and gloom and BLAND FOOD. I’m menu planning. At least for the kids. And, I’m getting out all my ammunition, as follows:

1. Better Food for Kids

2. The Eat-Clean Diet for Families & Kids

3. Wholesome Meals for Babies and Toddlers

4. Organic Baby & Toddler Cookbook

5. Brain Foods for Kids

That’s A LOT of kids’ and kid-friendly cookbooks. I have NO excuse for not getting edible food on the table.

And, I KNOW, I’m being hard on myself. Most kids are picky eaters. There’s not a WHOLE lot I can do. But, I want to try a little harder to APPEAL to their senses….

I’m not sure how much I’m going to take from the books, but there are tons of ideas in all of them. I’ll share recipes with you throughout the week. Anyway! Here goes. Weekday Menu Plan for THIS WEEK. CHECK IT!

BREAKFAST:

Will be easy this week. I’m going to make my — now famous, apparently — nutrient-packed VEGAN MUFFINS. When I run out of those, I have our favourite waffles….

LUNCH & DINNER:

Monday:

Lunch: Macaroni and cheese (a healthier version than Kraft). Sliced tomato and cucumber, and a fruit. I’m going to sneak in some PUREED butternut squash into the macaroni and cheese. The squash adds a richness to the colour, a subtle sweetness to the taste, and, of course nutrients and fiber.

Dinner: BAKED SALMON (recipe from Better Food for Kids to come). The monkeys LOVE salmon, and I never make it. Let’s give it a try…. I’ll bake some SWEET POTATO wedges, and steam some broccoli (sprinkled with almonds?) on the side. Recipes to come.

Tuesday:

Lunch: (Aka HELL DAY because I teach yoga at 1pm, which leaves me only HALF AN HOUR, after I pick Monkey up from preschool, to feed them). Leftover Mac and Cheese, sliced tomato and cucumber, and a fruit.

Dinner: Organic (Hallelujah brand) Chicken fingers and veggies (because I’m getting tired just LOOKING at this menu plan, AND Josh-O has dinner plans).

Wednesday:

Lunch: HUMMUS and vegetable wraps. Mmmm, something I can enjoy with them. VEGAN LUNCH. You should see my little Rascal eating a wrap. So fancy!

Dinner: IT’SGRANDMA’S COOKING.

Thursday:

Lunch: Peanut butter and jam on a bagel/toast. Milk/chocolate milk (for the monkey). Fruit.

Dinner: FRITTATA TIME! (recipe to come)

Friday:

Lunch: Hummus and pita, veggies, fruit.

Dinner: IT’SGRANDMA’S COOKING.

Who am I kidding. It’s such a lot of cooking and cleaning ALL THE TIME — this motherhood thing. Nobody tells you there’s going to be SO MUCH COOKING and cleaning ALL THE TIME. So, here I am telling you.

I also noticed that my kids wouldn’t eat MOST of the recipes from the above cookbooks. So much for my ammunition…. I’ve been flipping and re-flipping through them all and thinking MY KIDS WILL NEVER EAT THAT! Sigh….

So, you tell me, Gorgeouses! What are some of your favourite kids’ meals? (And, you don’t have to be a parent to answer this!)

Even the title of this post is boring — if not cliche. I know. It’s just what I need to do to get back on the bandwagon of posting here. Seriously, though? It’s DANG difficult to write a food blog when you’ve hit a WALL in your food, cooking and kitchen creativity.

I’ve just been trying to get myself together after the big “I’m-Quitting-the-Blog” fiasco. I was THIS close to quitting this blog, too, but then I cooked this and that, and kept thinking “OH, the GORGEOUSES WOULD LOOOOVE THIS!” One of these days I’ll get to posting those recipes. Hopefully next week.

I’ve just been taking a bit of a break from my manic blogging lately — and from my manic EVERYTHING, including cooking, and even grocery shopping. It’s just ENOUGH with the PRESSURE, you know?

So, I haven’t forgotten about this blog, and I do plan on posting here more regularly when I start COOKING more regularly and (dare I hope) passionately again!

THAT SAID, I’ve been focusing A LOT on feeding my kids interesting meals lately — mainly lunches. I want to be one of those moms who makes great, fun meals for her kids. I want the kids at school to be envious of MY kids’ lunches! But, I’m lazy! And, there’s only so much cooking (AND cleaning!) one can do in a day!

Anyway, lately, I’ve been making an effort, and it’s paid off. Both my kids have been eating really well. Hallelujah! And, really? The effort isn’t that major. Lately, it’s called WRAPS — hummus wraps! egg wraps!…

…and it’s called muffins from a box (organic of course — and reasonably priced), with a sneaky little mashed up banana and maybe even a half-cup of cauliflower added….

…and it’s called FINE ART….

It’s AMAZING the difference a FLOWER DESIGN or HAPPY FACE can make to a plate. It’s the difference between the monkey REFUSING to eat and the monkey EATING EVERYTHING on her plate, I tell you. AND, there’s an added benefit: my monkey’s the only one in her preschool class who can draw a face. And, it’s ALL because of MY culinary artistry — I can make a happy face out of ANYTHING (ketchup is my fave medium, though).

I’m planning a big chicken dinner (that I don’t eat, unfortunately) for tomorrow. If it’s good, I’ll post it fashizzle.

ALSO! You haven’t seen Lori the nutritionist here in a while. THAT’S because she had a baby! CONGRATULATIONS, LORI! She’ll be back soon with brillers informative posts and to answer your questions!

LOVE!
xo Haley-O

PS! I HAVE to start remembering to turn comments on! I think a setting’s on or something. SORRY! And, thanks for your emails! Comments are on now….

I’m working on the whole vegan thing. But, I’m SICK as a dog right now, and, OF COURSE, my mom’s attributing my mysterious (NO ONE is sick right now) sickness to my veganism…. But, I PERSEVERE.

In the meantime, a you know, I cook ORGANIC poultry dishes for my monkeys — one of whom is a VERY. PICKY. EATER. So, the fact that she ate THIS dish I made the other night speaks volumes. AND, by the way, the hubs LOVED it….

Check it!

MOROCCAN CHICKEN COUSCOUS

INGREDIENTS (Serves 4):

1/2 cup couscous
1 tbs unsalted butter (optional)
1 tbs olive oil
1 small onion (finely chopped)
2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (cut into bite-sized pieces)
2 peaches/nectarines (diced, peeled)
1 garlic clove (minced)
1 tsp cumin
1 pinch of ground coriander
1 handful of sliced almonds (toasted, for added umph)
1 small handful raisins (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Place couscous in a heat-safe bowl and pour boiling water over it until it’s just covered.
2. Cover couscous and let stand for 8-10 minutes, or until all the water’s absorbed.
3. Mix in the butter (if using), and fluff up the couscous with a fork.
4. MEANWHILE, heat half the oil in a large skillet and sauté the onion, stirring occasionally until softened.
5. Add the remaining oil, the chicken and the garlic and cook the chicken completely — until it’s cooked through and tender.
6. Add spices and cook for another minute or so.
7. Gently mix in the couscous, peach, almonds and raisins (if using), and heat through — stirring occasionally.

Serve with a gorj green salad, and you’re good to go!

Don’t forget to give thanks for the meal, to the chicken…. And, ENJOY!

Recipe adapted from Wholesome Meals for Babies and Toddlers: Healthy Food Your Kids Will Love to Eat, p. 102.