The holiday meal. In our extended family, food items like brussel sprouts are a standby for the holidays, as is turnip and apple. We also serve salad, carrots with lots and lots of onions, wine…you get the picture. It’s not all that kid-friendly, except perhaps for the pumpkin pie. Especially not the sprouts – in fact, I find them somewhat unfriendly as well and tend to steer clear of the tiny cabbages. Shhh, don’t tell!
While your preschooler may adore a dish of sprouts and vegetable dishes amply strewn with onions, mine does not. Extended families that have children present may want to think about having a few dishes that will please the little ones. Here are some Thanksgiving feast ideas that are sure to please a preschooler:
1. Salads with dressings and croutons. If you’re making a salad, make it with lots of optional dips, add-ons, croutons and seasonings. My daughter will eat lots of Caesar salad because the dressing and the croutons are the main attraction.
2. Baby vegetables. In our family, baby carrots are a hit, as is baby corn. Even cherry tomatoes get eaten, while my daughter avoids the big ones.
3. Dips and sauces. While my daughter loves broccoli, many kids don’t. Add a sauce or a dip, and the food becomes a fun activity. Sauces and dips don’t need to be artery-cloggers either. Base them on avocadoes, olive oil or flax seed oil for an infusion of good fats.
4. Highlight some sweet vegetables. Kids often prefer the sweeter vegetables like beets, peas, and corn. Make dishes that feature a few of these favorites.
5. While pickles and olives don’t quite count as a vegetable in my books, they are a favorite with the kids, especially when they come with fancy baby forks.
6. For the preschooler who balks at “mixed” dishes, have a few items that are plain and straightforward, like steamed peas with butter.
7. Gently steam the vegetables. Veggies that are overcooked can be more difficult to pick up with a fork, and vegetables like broccoli are far more palatable with a small amount of cooking.
8. Make a few dishes that are less spicy and not quite so full of onions and garlic. These days I adore onions and garlic. When I was a child, not so much. Have a few dishes that are on the milder side to please the sensitive tastes of small children.
Thanksgiving meals can be frustrating for families who have kids with picky eaters – or just normal kids who don’t like many of the fancy dishes that we make for the holidays. By making a few dishes that the children will enjoy, you can reduce food battles on Thanksgiving and throughout the holiday season.
What holiday dishes do your kids love to eat?