Get Your Kids to Eat Their Veggies

What’s a mom to do if her child refuses to eat vegetables and only wants chicken nuggets morning, noon, and night? Easy, she gets creative during mealtimes and allows her child to do the same! As many of you know, I’m a huge fan of the Atlanta-based company Moms on Call and turn to their series of parenting books for advice on anything and everything baby and toddler related (how to swaddle correctly, sleep schedules, feeding schedules, the list goes on and on!).

Moms on Call is a wonderful resource for all of us moms who aren’t sure of what to do when faced with a finicky eater and are pretty much at wit’s end. Do you allow dinnertime to become super stressful each evening as you beg/plead/try to force your child to eat the healthy foods they’re not crazy about? Or, do you just give in and let them eat whatever they want to avoid a major meltdown?

Well, Moms on Call offers numerous suggestions on how to handle that picky eater in your family and still keep mealtimes fun. One of my favorites is to serve your child their lunch or supper alongside a muffin tin full of sauces (ranch dressing, hummus, barbecue sauce, etc.) to dip their food in. The muffin tin instantly becomes a fun “dunk tank” for meats and vegetables and you’ll be amazed at all the new foods your picky eater is willing to try! I have to say, I’ve tried this numerous times with my little boy and it works wonders!

That being said, ranch dressing is definitely the preferred dipping sauce at our house (I’m not surprised, are you?) and I have a fantastic recipe for homemade ranch dressing that’s quick, easy, and delicious! Even better, it doesn’t contain MSG or any of the other chemicals that are in many store bought dressings and dressing mixes. Trust me, after making the recipe below just once for your family, you’ll never buy ranch dressing again! Enjoy!

P.S. For more information on Moms on Call, check out their website www.momsoncall.com. Their series of books and other products makes a great gift for that new or expecting mom on your list!

Homemade Ranch Dressing

Makes 1 ½ cups

½ cup mayonnaise (I prefer Duke’s Mayonnaise)

½ cup sour cream

½ cup buttermilk

½ teaspoon dried parsley

½ teaspoon dried chives

½ teaspoon dried dill weed

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

¼ teaspoon onion powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

In a large bowl, mix mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, dried parsley, dried chives, dried dill weed, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or until ready to use.

**If you prefer a thicker Ranch Dip, omit the buttermilk

Photo courtesy of Wikemedia Commons