When my first son was born, one of my goals as a doting mother, and as a registered dietitian/nutritionist, was to raise him to be a healthy eater. From the get-go, I tried my best to instill in him a love of nutritious food and balanced eating habits. I still try to teach him, at age 15, and his 11 year-old brother, healthful habits--sometimes I do so by verbalizing something interesting I learned about diet, but most often (and most successfully) I model habits I encourage them to develop.
Like so many other parents, I have undoubtedly made some feeding (and other) mistakes along the way in raising my children. Did I really need to introduce them to fast food? Should I have ever allowed so-called 'junk food' in the house? And, what was I thinking when I introduced my children to their first kid's menu (to which they've become accustomed) when dining out? Even parents like me who should know better sometimes make questionable feeding decisions.
But, does being a mother of a teen or tween mean it's too late to empower our children and instill in them better habits when it comes to choosing and eating food? Is there anything we can say and do now to help our older children not only make better food choices and eat more mindfully as they grow, but make better decisions as they increasingly eat away from home?
To the rescue comes a brand new book called Fearless Feeding: How to Raise Healthy Eaters From High Chair to High School. Written by registered dietitians Jill Castle and Maryann Jacobsen, the book is an extensive and comprehensive resource all parents can use as a toolbox to empower their children--even those in or entering the temperamental teen years--to become healthy eaters.
Below you'll find Castle's helpful responses to a few questions about feeding teens, folllowed by a delicious Turkey Slider recipe you and your teens are sure to love.
1) What's the biggest challenge you think parents of teens face when it comes to helping their kids eat well?
Parents face several challenges, including keeping up with a bigger appetite and staying on track with healthy eating. But one of the biggest challenges is communicating about nutrition in a manner which doesn’t turn off the teen (or cause more problems), is developmentally on target, and compassionate. I’ve been told by many parents that they don’t know what to say, or are afraid they will damage their child. Listening to teens, rather than lecturing, and guiding them to figure out nutrition, with factual information, and an empathetic perspective can go a long way toward keeping the lines of communication open. Teens may do some experimenting with food and nutrition, and this is normal, but it can be concerning for many parents. Finding ways to keep the lines of communication open and productive is important, but a challenge! We’ve included some information for doing this in the book.
2) If parents of teens feel like they have made feeding mistakes while raising their kids, is it too ate for them to help their teen eat a more nutritious diet and reduce their risk of not only becoming overweight but of developing an eating disorder or poor body image?
It’s never too late! Today’s parents are still in the mode of role-modeling lifestyle behaviors for their teen, as well as setting up a nutrition environment at home that reflects nutritious foods and regular meals. Parents really cannot control what their teens eat outside of the home, but can certainly guide them to make healthy choices. Communication is a key to helping the teen eat well and identifying behaviors that may be dangerous or unhealthy in the long run. A healthy self-esteem and body image is in development from early on in childhood, but parents can help their teen by being a good listener, supportive and empathetic to their concerns, while keeping the home front a model of nutritious, tasty food. We give sample dialogue in the book as well as how to communicate with teens in a productive manner.
3) What's your bottom line advice for a parents of teens to empower them to eat well and nurture themselves to grow into healthy adults?
I find teens to be incredibly observant of their parents’ behaviors—noting whether they smoke, drink, eat well or exercise. If parents can show their teens that they care for and appreciate their own bodies, eat well, and have a positive outlook on living well (without being too controlling, obsessive or strict about nutrition or exercise), this will go a long way to cementing an image of health and wellness that the teen (hopefully) will mimic, if not now, then later in young adulthood, after the developmental phase of adolescence passes. Families have a great opportunity to showcase this at family meals—so I advise getting teens around the dinner table as often as possible!
Asian Turkey Sliders
Make a meal! Pair these sliders with homemade French fired or sweet potato fries and Greek chopped salad.
Makes 10 to 12 sliders.
Ingredients:
1 pound ground turkey
¼ cup panko (bread crumbs)
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon ginger paste
2 tablespoons sesame oil
2 scallions (green onions), white and green parts, thinly sliced
12 bakery-style dinner rolls
Directions:
1. If using an oven, preheat to 400F.
2. Mix the ground turkey, panko, soy sauce, ginger paste, sesame oil, and scallions together in a large mixing bowl.
3. Roll the mixture into 10 to 12 small balls and press each into a 2-inch circle.
4. Bake the sliders on a cookie sheet for 15 minutes, or grill until done.
5. Serve the patties on dinner rolls.
Nutrient info: Each slider is an excellent source selenium and manganese and a good source of niacin, thiamin, iron and phosphorus.
Reprinted by permission of the publisher, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., from Fearless Feeding by Jill Castle and Maryann Jacobsen Copyright © 2013 by Jill Castle and Maryann Jacobsen.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of Fearless Feeding by the publisher.
How do you fearlessly feed your children?
Check out this month's ZIED GUIDE free monthly e-newsletter. This month's issue includes links to some of my recent blog posts for US News and World Report's Eat + Run blog and caloriecount.com, some great tuna and lasagna recipes, the answer to a Parents magazine reader question and so much more.
What's not to love about this delicious, nutritious twist on lasagna? Yum!
Makes 6 servings
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 large zucchinis, sliced about ¼‑inch thick
4 large tomatoes, sliced about ¼‑inch thick
2 medium onions, sliced very thin
1 sprig fresh basil, 6–8 leaves, chopped or thinly sliced Italian seasonings
ground black pepper
8 ounces shredded 2% mozzarella
Directions:
1) Preheat the oven to 400°F.
2) In a 2½- quart oval bakeware dish (such as Corningware), pour the olive oil (or spray with olive oil cooking spray). Cover the bottom of the dish with sliced zucchini. Then, spread a layer of tomatoes and a layer of onions. Top with half of the sliced basil, Italian seasonings (or other herbs from your garden), and ground pepper.
3) Then add a layer of about half the shredded cheese.
4) Repeat (except for the olive oil).
5) Bake about 30 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Hint: This recipe is especially great for using up end‑of‑summer veggies. An easy way to slice the basil is to roll up several leaves (stem edges inside), and then make thin slices. You end up with very thin strips, called a chiffonade.
Note: This recipe is adapted from Liz Manaster’s From A to Zucchini.
What are your favorite lasagna ingredients?
SOURCE: The DASH Diet Weight Loss Solution by Marla Heller, MS, RD.
Full Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher.
Here are three delicious twists on tuna* you and your family are sure to enjoy.
Change of Pace Tuna Casserole from Don't Break Your Heart Cookbook.
Ingredients:
1 (10-ounce) can condensed 98 percent fat-free, reduced-sodium cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup light sour cream
1/2 pound whole wheat rotini pasta, cooked according to package directions
2 tablespoons chopped pimiento
2 tablespoons trans-free margarine
1/2 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
2 (6-ounce) cans of tuna, drained
1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted
Instructions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a bowl, blend soup with sour cream until smooth. Add pasta and pimiento; set aside.
3. Melt margarine in a sauté pan and sauté mushrooms, onions, and celery until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.
4. Mix vegetables into soup mixture; fold in tuna.
5. Pour tuna mixture into a lightly-greased 11/2-quart baking dish. Top with almonds. Bake, uncovered, about 25 minutes or until hot and bubbly.
Cooking Tip: To make this meal more nutritious, add a 10-ounce (283.5-g) package of thawed, frozen vegetables, such as chopped broccoli or mixed stir-fry vegetables, when you add the pasta to the soup in step 2.
Nutrients per serving: Calories: 335 Total Fat: 11 g Saturated Fat: 3 g Trans Fat: 0 g Cholesterol: 31 mg Sodium: 416 mg Total Carbohydrates: 37 g Dietary Fiber: 7 g Sugars: 5 g Protein: 22 g Iron: 3 mg
Provencal Grilled Tuna Salad from Don't Break Your Heart Cookbook.
4 servings
Ingredients:
4 (6-ounce) tuna steaks, each about 1-inch (2-cm) thick
3 tablespoons white wine or broth
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary or 1/4 teaspoon (1 ml) dried
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 clove garlic, minced
6 cups salad greens
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup each thinly sliced red and yellow bell peppers
Nonstick cooking spray
Instructions:
1. Place fish in a glass dish.
2. To make vinaigrette, combine wine or broth and next 5 ingredients in a jar with a tight fitting lid. Shake well.
3. Pour 2 tablespoons (30 ml) over fish, add garlic, and turn to coat. Marinate for 15 to 30 minutes, turning once. Reserve remaining vinaigrette for salad dressing.
4. Coat grill rack with cooking spray and place on grill to heat 1 minute. Place tuna on grill 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) over heat source. Cover with lid or tent with foil. Cook, turning once, until tuna begins to flake easily when tested with a fork, about 7 minutes. Discard marinade.
5. Meanwhile, arrange salad greens on 4 plates. Place hot tuna on greens and add cherry tomatoes and peppers.
6. Shake remaining vinaigrette and drizzle over salads.
Nutrients Per Serving: Calories: 273 Total Fats: 11 g Saturated Fat: 2 g Trans Fat: 0 g Cholesterol: 55 mg Sodium: 158 mg Total Carbohydrates: 8 g Dietary Fiber: 2 g Sugars: 2 g Protein: 36 g Iron: 2 mg
Acapulco Tuna Salad from The DASH Diet Weight Loss Solution.
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients:
2 6‑ounces cans tuna, very low sodium
2 tablespoons low-fat mayonnaise or regular mayonnaise made with olive oil
1 medium tomato, diced
½ small sweet onion, diced very finely
1 jalapeño, diced, seeds and spines removed
1 tablespoon lime juice
Directions:
Drain the water from the tuna and mix all the ingredients in a medium bowl.
Nutrients per serving: Calories: 112 Total Fat: 3 g (with EVOO regular mayo) Cholesterol: 40 mg Sodium: 115 mg Total Carbohydrates: 3 g Dietary Fiber: 1 g Protein: 18 g
*According to the FDA, women who are planning to get pregnant, pregnant or nursing and young children can safely eat up to 12 ounces of light tuna or up to 6 ounces of albacore tuna each week.
SOURCES:
Change of Pace Tuna Salad and Provencal Grilled Tuna Salad reposted with permission from Don’t Break Your Heart Cookbook by Shara Aaron, MS, RD and Monica Beardon, RD, LD.
Acapulco Tuna Salad reposted with permission from The DASH Diet Weight Loss Solution by Marla Heller, MS, RD.
Full disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of The DASH Diet Weight Loss Solution from the publisher.
How do you like to eat tuna?
In the clever, information-packed new book, The Clean Separation, Kara Landau (The Traveling Dietitian) helps readers who have endured a life-changing event--a break-up or end of a relationship, the loss of a job, or the death of someone close to them--use the power of nutrition to lift their spirits and move them towards the next chapter of their lives. With warmth and positivity, Landau lays out a 'business plan' that readers can personalize to help them structure their lives while minimizing stress as they move towards their 'new normal'. She also utilizes her insights about the eating habits and lifestyle practices of people from around the globe to make real-world recommendations readers can use to optimize their health and well being. Delicious recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and desserts by Susan Irby (The Bikini Chef) round out The Clean Separation to help readers follow the book's food and nutrient recommendations.
Even if you haven't recently endured a break up of any kind, you'll no doubt find this delicious Thai Tasty Chicken Wrap from The Clean Separation a delicious addition to your menu. Enjoy!
Ingredients
2 cups chicken breast, roughly chopped
Pinch sea salt
Pinch black pepper
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup diced green onion
1/4 cup chopped toasted peanuts
2 Tablespoons chopped fresh coriander (cilantro) leaves
1 Tablespoon chopped fresh ginger root
1/2 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
1 Tablespoon honey
1 Tablespoon lime juice
1 teaspoon thai red curry paste
4 8-inch high fiber flour tortillas
4 leaf lettuce leaves
Directions
1. Season chopped chicken with salt and pepper.
2. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat and add chicken. Cook, stirring occasionally, until cooked through, adding the water, as needed, to prevent drying.
3. In a large mixing bowl, toss together the cooked chicken, green onion, peanuts, coriander, and ginger root.
4. In a small mixing bowl, stir together yogurt, mustard, honey, lime juice, and curry paste. Mix well and then add to chicken mixture.
5. Place wrap onto a flat working surface. Top each with 1 lettuce leaf, spread with 1 1/2 Tablespoons yogurt mixture and top with 1/2 cup chicken mixture. Fold one edge of wrap in towards the center slightly. Fold both side edges over filling.
6. Spray non-stick saucepan and heat over medium-high heat. Add wraps and heat until lightly golden. Serve warm or cold as an on-the-go snack.
Tasty Tip:
Make chicken mixture ahead of time for the ultimate go-to snack for mid-week. These wraps are delicious served hot or cold.
Nutritional Analysis:
Serving size: 1 wrap
Calories: 292.5
Fat: 10.4g
Saturated fat: 2.4g
Carbohydrates: 23.7g
Protein: 31.5g
Fiber: 9.7g
Sodium: 355mg
Is there a nutritious, delicious meal you like to cook or eat after a break-up or loss?
Source: The Clean Separation by Australian dietitian Kara Landau (The Traveling Dietitian) with recipe contributions by Susan Irby (The Bikini Chef).
Full disclosure: The publisher sent me a complimentary copy of the book.
I'm thrilled to share the story of an inspiring woman who has set a goal to #moveitorloseit for all the right reasons. Check out our interview below to see why my RD colleague and Twitter friend, 37 year-old Alexandra Lautenschlaeger (@alexikscott) from Spartanberg, South Carolina and Frankfurt, Germany is the #moveitorloseit Model of the Month for February:
What is your fitness goal and why did you decide to tackle it at this point in your life?
My goal was to finally relieve myself of grief from losing my fiancé four years ago from complications with diabetes. I did not treat my body well and gained weight and went on blood pressure medication. As a dietitian, I felt like a failure. In 2011, I started keeping track of my exercise, but that only helped me maintain my weight. Finally I decided that I wanted to take up running to get my body back in shape and shed some weight. I chose a training program on the RunKeeper app to do a sub 65 minute 10K.
Are you planning to run the 10K solo or with others?
I have a “team” on my RunKeeper App, but I found a friend and dietitian who also wanted to do achieve the same goal. We decided our goal this year was to join a running training program. The partnership and the program help me stay accountable. I run solo, but it is nice to know that the App and my friend are great reminders to keep at it and stay focused.
What does your weekly workout routine look like?
According to the App program, I run Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sunday with a long run. Eventually I will do intervals to increase the length of time and speed at which I run.
Have you experienced or do you anticipate any obstacles that will challenge you while training (and how have you/what will you do to overcome them)?
I was laid off from my previous job, which was an hour commute each way. Now that I am in a new job, and while it’s a 45-minute commute, I now have 30 minutes extra to get to the things I need to do and fit fitness into my plan. My new year’s resolution was to be happy and good to myself, so no matter what, I will make this work. There may be times I run slow, but I think, “at least I am doing it no matter how much it hurts.”
How does exercise/fitness/physical activity make you feel? What's in it for you?
Besides the fact that my training will help me stop gaining weight (and may even help me lose some), it gives me instant gratification and it helps relieves some of the stress under which I have lived for far too long. I have noticed small results already and most of all, am so happy that I am sleeping so much better.
What would you say to inspire others to set a fitness goal or simply become a regular exerciser?
Fitness can become a way of life, but you have to start small. So many people join the gym at the beginning of the New Year and overdo it in the beginning and then fall off the wagon soon after. I am very impatient, so it was a challenge for me to pace myself. We all want results yesterday, so it is important to set a good pace that will allow you to continue. It is not always pretty, but exercising and having a great goal, whatever that is, really does make you feel so much better.
If you'd like to be my #moveitorloseit Model of the Month (or would like to nominate someone who inspires you), email me at elisa@elisazied.com.
Do you want to eat more fish but don't know where to begin when it comes to cooking it? Here are four tips from The Food Lover's Healthy Habits Cookbook to help you gain fish-cooking confidence:
Grill it. While you can get a special fish basket for the grill, you don’t need one as long as you use the proper technique. First, preheat your grill and make sure the grate is clean and dry. Then oil the grate and your fish. When the fish is done cooking, it will release when gingerly nudged by your spatula. If it does not release from a clean well-oiled grill, then it’s simply not ready! Give it a little more time; the fish will release easily when done.
Saute it. A nonstick skillet will allow you to get a crispy, golden brown sear on your fish. Yes, you’ll still need a spritz of oil, but nothing beats a nonstick skillet when it comes to cooking fish on the stovetop.
Broil it. All you need to do is coat a sheet pan with nonstick cooking spray, place your fish on top, season, and broil. It’s quick easy, and leaves no scent behind. The rule of thumb for cooking fish is 8-10 minutes for every inch of thickness.
Get the right tools. Let’s face it, fish has a different texture from other proteins, which is part of its appeal, but that’s why it may be a bit challenging in the kitchen. I’m not one for unnecessary gadgets, but a fish spatula is a good investment. It’s extra flexible, which means you can really get under
Here's a delicious recipe to help you put your fish-cooking skills to the test:
Arctic Char with Blistered Cherry Tomatoes
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
4 (6-ounce) Arctic char fillets
3⁄4 teaspoon coarse salt, divided
1⁄2 teaspoon black pepper, divided
4 garlic cloves, halved
3 pints multicolored cherry tomatoes
1⁄4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil
2 shallots, thinly sliced
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400°.
2. Heat a large ovenproof skillet over high heat. Add 1 tablespoon oil to pan; swirl to coat. Sprinkle fillets with 1⁄2 teaspoon salt and 1⁄4 teaspoon pepper. Add fillets, flesh sides down, to pan; sauté 2 minutes. Place pan in oven; cook at 400° for 3 minutes or until desired degree of doneness.
3. Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add remaining 2 tablespoons oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add garlic; cook 2 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring occasionally. Increase heat to medium-high. Add tomatoes; sauté 2 minutes or until skins blister, stirring frequently. Remove pan from heat. Sprinkle tomato mixture with remaining 1⁄4 teaspoon salt, remaining 1⁄4 teaspoon black pepper, basil, and shallots; toss to combine. Serve with fish. Serves 4 (serving size: 1 fillet and about 3⁄4 cup tomato mixture).
Sustainable Choice: If Arctic char is not available, substitute frozen wild Alaskan salmon.
Nutrition info:
CALORIES 380; FAT 20.4g (sat 3.8g, mono 11.7g, poly 3.6g); PROTEIN 31.4g; CARBOHYDRATE 20g; FIBER 2.9g; CHOLESTEROL 65mg; IRON 2mg; SODIUM 514mg; CALCIUM 49mg
Source: The Food Lover's Healthy Habits Cookbook (Oxmoor House, December, 2012) by Janet Helm, MS, RD and the Editors of Cooking Light Magazine.
What's your favorite fish? How do you like to prepare/eat it?
The Food Lover's Healthy Habits Cookbook: Great Food & Expert Advice That Will Change Your Life (Oxmoor House, 2012) by the Editors of Cooking Light and Janet Helm, RD--my colleague and friend (and the popular creator of nutritionunplugged.com and co-creator of healthyaperture.com), is a real gem. It can be a great asset to anyone who has set New Year's resolutions to improve the way they cook, shop, eat, and live. Here are three of the many reasons I love it so:
1) It's gorgeous to look at. The photos of the recipes show you how healthful foods can be appealing. Images of real people, including those who are in need of new habits (eg the "time-pressed professional" and the mom of a "snack-happy family" plus the many experts (including several colleagues and friends) add a lot of warmth and character--and relatability--to the book.
2) It's a positive, can-do type of food and nutrition cookbook. Unlike books that tell you what not to eat, this book takes a cup half full approach to convey science-based but practical, useable food and nutrition information and cooking advice. It's broken down into 12 healthy habits--be portion-aware, eat mindfully, and veggie up and more--which makes it easy for readers to use. They can pick and choose the sections they read (and act on!) based on their unique dietary and lifestyle challenges and food preferences. The book incorporates hundreds of practical tips to help you make better food choices when food shopping, improve your cooking techniques, and incorporate more healthful foods into your diet and that of your family. It's the kind of book that is likely to stay on your kitchen counter rather than collect dust on your bookshelf.
3) Diet? What diet! Unlike many of the food/nutrition/health books you'll no doubt see stacked up at bookstores and hyped online at this time of year, this one doesn't have the word "diet" in it--so there's no risk of insulting anyone when you give them a copy as as a gift!
I give this book two enthusiastic thumbs up--way up--for you, your family, and anyone you love who loves food but wants to enjoy it without sabotaging their health.
What habits do you want to improve this new year?
Full disclosure: I received an advance copy of the book from the publisher.
As parents, we're all overstretched and time crunched--not just during hectic holiday time, but year-round. For many of us--even those who have nutrition degrees!--feeding ourselves and our families in a healthful way sometimes takes a back burner to more pressing things, like going to basketball practice, getting to dance class, or doing something as simple as taking a shower! Fortunately, we don't have to sacrifice all to get nutritious food on the table--all it takes is a little bit of planning and some help from the pros.
To the rescue is culinary dietitian Michelle Dudash. In her terrific new book, Clean Eating for Busy Families, Dudash helps families whip meal times--and tasty meals--into shape with practical, time-saving ideas. Here are some highlights from our conversation.
EZ: As a mom, what do you see as the biggest challenge parents face when trying to get meals on the table for their families?
MD: I think the biggest challenge parents face when it comes to family meals is trying to fit everything in during the mad early evening rush. The kids need to get picked up or dropped off. Little ones need bathing. Parents want to squeeze in their workout. That’s why it’s so important to be prepared for mealtime by having a stocked pantry and fridge with the staples and simple go-to recipes that produce excellent results with minimal clean up and prep time.
EZ: What do you personally find to be the biggest challenge when feeding your family?
MD: The number one challenge I face is getting dinner on the table at a reasonable time. I try squeezing in a few workouts during the week at the end of the workday, and also pick Scarlet up from school. The smoothest sailing, relaxing nights are those that include meals made in the slow cooker (like my Slow Cooker Beef & Vegetable Tacos), ready to pop into the oven (like my Skinny Chicken Parmesan with Spinach), or the delicious leftovers from the night before (Sizzling Sesame Noodles with Pork, Cabbage & Scallions).
EZ: What advice--or first steps--do you recommend to overextended parents who don't think they have enough time to prepare healthy meals for their families?
MD: My advice for busy parents is to take three simple steps:
1. Properly stock your kitchen. In the time that you would call in your takeout order, drive in traffic, wait in line and pay, get in and out of your car and back home, you could have prepared a fresh meal at home, provided that you had the needed supplies standing by. My book Clean Eating for Busy Families offers weekly, monthly and quarterly shopping lists, breaking grocery shopping down into manageable pieces to provide healthy meals. I also recommend always having a piece of paper stuck to the fridge where family members can jot down things they need from the store. It’s a running list that is ready when you are.
2. Plan meals ahead and have a go-to recipe arsenal. Planning ahead can be as detailed as writing out a monthly or weekly calendar of dinner menus, or as free-spirited as simply having three fresh proteins and vegetables on hand for the week for dinnertime. So, plan your meals out Saturday, do all of your shopping on Sunday and as soon as you get home, you’ll be ready to get dinner going.
3. Make one-dish or make-ahead whenever possible. One-dish meals that contain a vegetable, protein and starch (complex carbohydrate) are lifesavers..and dish savers! Recipes that you can make ahead in the slow cooker or have ready to just pop in the oven open up space during the mad evening rush.
EZ:Which recipe (or recipes) in your book are your favorites and why?
MD: While I love all of the recipes in the book, my favorites are those that are my husband’s and 3-year-old’s favorites! Scarlet’s favorite recipe is Pecan-Crusted Chicken Tenders with Dill Dip (we call chicken nuggets), which tastes even better than deep-fried versions. She also loves the Scarlet-Approved Lemon Cilantro Edamame Hummus. When I gave her a taste, she said, “I want more” and ate it by the spoonful. She also loves the Turkey, Vegetable & Oat Mini Meatloaves with Marinara Sauce (we call them meatballs, since I cut them up for her). When she tried the Toasted Sesame Salmon Nuggets with Sweet-Savory Scallion Sauce, she thought they were chicken nuggets, so of course, she devoured those.
EZ: How does your daughter like to help you in the kitchen? How can families involve their kids in the cooking/prepping process and what do you think the benefits of involving kids in the kitchen are?
MD: Scarlet absolutely loves to help me in the kitchen. She asks, “Can I help?” I let her break eggs (a bit of a mess), stir ingredients, flip pancakes and quesadillas (with my hand over her hand, being very careful), sprinkling cheese and spreading almond butter on toast. Scarlet is now 3 years old. She is better at stirring and aiming ingredients into the bowl. She wants to be so independent and wants to do everything.
I really think kids can be a great help in the kitchen and can save you time, too. Little ones can wash and spin vegetables and set the table. Scarlet recently set the table for the first time—yes! Older kids can chop, clean up, and cook things. When kids help in the kitchen, they feel empowered and are excited to eat things that they make. They love to be helpful and it builds their confidence.
Where can people find your book?
Visit my website www.michelledudash.com for direct links to online stores where you can purchase now, or find the store nearest you like Barnes and Noble, Whole Foods, and independent book stores.
So what are you waiting for? Dudash's book makes a great holiday, birthday, or hostess gift--or gift for yourself! Check it out!
If you're a modern-day parent like me, you've likely fed your kids--and yourself--a fair share of chicken tenders. For a delicious, nutritious twist to this often calorie- and fat-laden staple, culinary dietitian Michelle Dudash has whipped up her own unique version for her delectable--and practical--new cookbook, Clean Eating for Busy Families. These chicken tenders make a great lunch or dinner treat, whether served fresh from the oven or cold--the way I like 'em best!
I’ll admit it. I love to eat breaded, deep-fried chicken strips dipped in creamy ranch dressing, and on rare occasions, I will order them while out running errands all day. I prepare this recipe at home after a decent lapse since my last fix.
Total Prep and Cook Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 4 servings, 2 to 3 tenders each (with 2 tablespoons dip)
Ingredients:
For chicken:
½ cup pecans
1/ 3 cup whole-wheat flour
2 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons dry mustard
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon expeller-pressed canola oil
½ cup panko bread crumbs
1 large egg
1 pound chicken tenders, larger pieces cut in half lengthwise
For dip:
¼ cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
¼ cup light mayonnaise
1 teaspoon lemon juice
¼ teaspoon dried dill
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon onion powder
1 pinch salt
1 pinch freshly ground black pepper
Directions:
To make the chicken: Preheat oven to 475°F and line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Whirl pecans, flour, paprika, dry mustard, garlic and onion powder, salt, and pepper in a food processor until pecans are ground to a powder, about 30 seconds. Drizzle in the oil with the motor running, blending completely. Transfer mixture to a shallow dish and stir in the panko bread crumbs.
Beat egg in a second shallow dish and add chicken tenders, coating them completely. Transfer each tender to the breading, turning to coat evenly. Arrange chicken on the prepared pan. Bake until golden brown and nearly firm, 8 minutes.
To make the dip: Stir all the dip ingredients together in a small bowl.
Enjoy the cooked chicken immediately with the dip.
Recipe note:
Chicken tenders come from the undersides of chicken breasts and are naturally portioned into strips, saving you time in cutting them. If you don’t have chicken tenders, substitute chicken breasts cut into 4 x 1-inch strips.
Nutrition Information Per Serving: 418 calories; 20 g total fat; 3 g saturated fat; 34 g Protein; 23 g carbohydrate; 4 g dietary fiber; 120 mg cholesterol.
Reprinted with permission from Clean Eating for Busy Families: Get Meals on the Table in Minutes with Simple and Satisfying Whole-Foods Recipes You and Your Kids Will Love, by Michelle Dudash, RD (Fair Winds Press, December 2012).
