Healthifying Kids Meals - Parsnip Chips and Tomato Bocconcini Salad

Continuing on my scrumptious theme of finding ways to entice kids to eat well and with variety, here is dinner tonight.

Husband picked up some delicious grilled fish from our local, which we squeeze with lots of lemon. I chopped up gorgeous red baby roma tomatoes and added chunks of baby bocconcini and snatches of fresh basil. If you leave the basil pieces large enough, kids who don't enjoy dark leafy greens (like my kids), can pick them out, but the gorgeous basil scent is still infused through the cheese and tomato.

Drizzle with cold-pressed olive oil, cracked black pepper and a little sea salt. On the side I have cucumber circles which the kids always devour, and snowpeas which the kids will nibble at, but mostly just enjoy removing the little peas inside. So what I do is split the snowpeas so the little grass green buds inside peek out, tempting little fingers to pluck.

I also encourage (sometimes even dare) both kids to take a bite of the outer pea casing, commenting how crunchy and fresh and sweet and green they taste. Most times, they will eat one, other times no. But I'll keep trying in a few meals' time. I truly believe the key to accepting a new food is to keep on trying.

The other thing I did tonight was shred a parsnip into a wok of hot vegetable oil to make parsnip chips. Fry the slivers until just browned and quickly remove with a wire ladle. Make sure the oil is really hot and drain on absorbent paper immediately.

Avoid the centre of the parsnip, which can be stringy. You could also do this with carrots or sweet potato. I serve these sprinkled with a little sea salt, cracked pepper or herbs. Cajun spice is also good if your kids could handle it.

FOR MUM AND DAD...

Tomatoes (serving size 150g)
Fat 0g
Saturated Fat 0g
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0g
Sodium 7mg
Total carbs 6g
Sugar 4g
Fibre 2g
Protein 1g

FOR KIDS...

Tomatoes
Contain lots of vitamin A which makes you see well, gives you glowing skin and helps you grow. There is lots of vitamin C, too, which helps heal you and fights infection and the baddies in your body. It also helps you absorb iron which makes your blood really red and strong. Tomatoes contain a small amount of iron and calcium which strengthens your bones.

FOR MUM AND DAD...

Snowpeas (serving size 160g)
Fat 0g
Saturated Fat 0g
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0g
Sodium 6mg
Total carbs 11g
Sugar 6g
Fibre 4g
Protein 5g

FOR KIDS...

Snowpeas
Contain huge amounts of vitamin C, loads of vitamin A, good iron and calcium. Calcium makes your teeth strong and better able to fight cavities.

FOR MUM AND DAD...

Parsnips (serving size 78g)
Fat 0g
Saturated Fat 0g
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0g
Sodium 8mg
Total carbs 13g
Sugar 4g
Fibre 3g
Protein 1g

FOR KIDS...

Parsnips
Contain vitamin C and a small amount of calcium and iron. This odd looking vegetable also contains folate which is vital in the making of your DNA - the stuff you're made of! It also helps make your blood strong.

My kids gobbled up every last parsnip chip. Joy!

For more information, see nutritiondata.com.