Want to encourage your kids to to embrace making healthy meal choices? Start by encouraging them to view healthy cooking as a fun activity. There is an old adage that if children help to make it, they will eat it. By introducing children to the fun that the family kitchen holds, you’re helping them make the farm to plate connection, while getting their hands dirty. Cooking together as a family creates a bond and memories that will last a lifetime. It’s also a great way to infuse math, science, history and art into your everyday conversations. Remember, cooking is fun and it doesn’t matter how messy you get, the idea is to create a love for healthy eating that will span a lifetime. Jump over to Inhabitots to learn seven ways to get your kids into the kitchen.
I enjoy sipping hot mint tea while reading a book, especially when the weather is cold and blistery. There is something warming and soothing about mint that makes this tea seriously addictive.
Ingredients
3 teaspoons organic sugar
1 teabag organic green tea
3 sprigs of fresh organic mint
1 cup boiling water
Directions Put the organic sugar, organic green tea bag, and organic mint in the serving cup. Add the boiling water and let steep for 3 to 4 minutes. Stir and compost the tea bag.
Zaalouk is a classic Moroccan salad that can be enjoyed either cold or warm and is served with bread. Its smoky flavor and many fragrant spices make it a highly popular appetizer for any occasion.
Ingredients
1 medium organic eggplant (cubed)
2 large organic tomatoes (peeled and diced)
3 organic garlic cloves (pressed)
4 tablespoons organic olive oil
organic salt and freshly ground organic pepper
1 teaspoon organic cumin
1 teaspoon organic chili powder
1 tablespoon distilled organic white vinegar
1 tablespoon chopped organic parsley, for garnish
Directions 1. Preheat the oven to 400º. Place the eggplant in a baking dish and brush it with olive oil. Roast the eggplant for 40 to 50 minutes. Remove from the oven and mash the eggplants with a fork.
2. In a medium frying pan, cook the tomatoes with garlic and olive oil over medium heat for 5 minutes. Add the mashed eggplants and cook for another 10 to 12 minutes, mashing them with a spatula to completely blend them with the tomatoes. Remove from heat and mix in the salt, pepper, cumin, chili powder and vinegar.
My mom often prepared this salad with rice when I still lived in Morocco. I have always loved it. Recently I tried with quinoa instead of rice and liked it even more so I’ve been making it regularly as a satisfying lunch or side dish.
Ingredients
1 cup organic quinoa (rinsed)
2 cups water
10 ounces canned organic tuna (optional)
1 cup organic pitted black olives
1 cup organic corn
Ingredients for the Dressing
3 tablespoons organic mayonnaise
2 tablespoons organic lemon juice
1 tablespoon organic olive oil
organic sea salt and freshly ground pepper
Directions
Put the quinoa and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Lower the heat to low, cover and cook for 15 minutes. Remove from heat.
Place the quinoa in a large bowl. Add the tuna, olives and corn. Make the dressing by whisking together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper in a separate bowl. Add the dressing to the salad and stir. Serve at room temperature or cold.
Dukkah is a Middle-Eastern dip of varied ground seeds and nuts mixed with olive oil. It makes an easy, delightful appetizer that’s ready in minutes.
Ingredients
1/4 cup organic sesame seeds
1/2 cup organic sunflower seeds
1/4 teaspoon organic cumin seeds
1/4 teaspoon organic peppercorns
sea salt (to taste)
3/4 cup organic extra virgin olive oil
organic bread of your choice
Directions
Toast the sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, cumin seeds, and peppercorns in a skillet over medium-low heat for 3 to 5 minutes until fragrant. Transfer to a coffee grinder, add the sea salt and grind it until powdery.
Put desired amount in a bowl and stir in enough olive oil. Serve with bread.
Want to encourage your kids to to embrace making healthy meal choices? Start by encouraging them to view healthy cooking as a fun activity. There is an old adage that if children help to make it, they will eat it. By introducing children to the fun that the family kitchen holds, you’re helping them make the farm to plate connection, while getting their hands dirty. Cooking together as a family creates a bond and memories that will last a lifetime. It’s also a great way to infuse math, science, history and art into your everyday conversations. Remember, cooking is fun and it doesn’t matter how messy you get, the idea is to create a love for healthy eating that will span a lifetime. Jump over to Inhabitots to learn seven ways to get your kids into the kitchen.
