Some kids are finicky eaters, even at summer barbecues. Others choose only the unhealthy menu items. My grown kids are all pretty open-minded when it comes to food. So are my grandkids. Still, there are some things they just won't eat, no matter the circumstance. Let's face it, there's always that one kid at every summer party that isn't happy with the food, no matter what you smother it with. Nevertheless, here's some healthy summer barbecue fare that will make most kids happy.
Grilled sweet potatoes are a family favorite. Kids love them. They're packed with nutrition. We slice, then wrap ours in foil. Some of us like ours with sliced onions and garlic cloves. Others request brown sugar and cinnamon. Sweet potatoes can also be used in potato salad to up the nutritional value. Why not invite some healthy sweet potatoes to your summer cookout?
What kid doesn't like grilled corn on the cob? Soak corn ears overnight for optimum roasting. Peel back the husk, remove the silk and add spices with a spritz of olive oil. Then close the whole thing up and toss it on the grill. Kids gobble it up like there's no tomorrow. Make sure to serve your family only non-GMO corn for optimum nutritional value. It's hard to find (check farmer's markets), but well worth the extra effort.
I don't know very many kids who refuse guacamole. Yes, it's a dip, but it's still healthy. Don't forget, guacamole isn't just for chips. Use it as a salad dressing to get kids to eat their veggies. Skip the chips and dip celery or carrot sticks in guacamole. Dress veggie fajitas with guacamole too. Guacamole goes great with all kinds of summer barbecue foods.
Shish-kabobs are fun for kids to eat. Did I spell that right? That's OK. Your kids will love this summer barbecue food no matter how it's spelled. Make it healthy by spearing plenty of vegetables. My grandkids love roasted pearl onions and peppers on theirs. They'll even eat roasted Brussels sprouts. There's something about food on a stick that always appeals to kids. You might even be able to wrap some of those speared veggies in spinach. Shhhh. They'll never know.
There's always watermelon. If you can't get kids to eat anything else at your summer barbecue, play that watermelon card. It's healthy, sweet and delicious. I've never seen a kid turn it down. Plus, they can have loads of fun spitting seeds at each other. Oh, come on, they're outdoors, what harm could it do? Letting kids be kids is a healthy choice too.
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5 ways to get kids to like the healthy stuff
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