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We all know that children (and many adults) don’t like to eat vegetables. This information was reaffirmed a few weeks ago when the USDA said good-bye to the pyramid approach and launched their new graphic for illustrating how you should proportion your food throughout the day. The reason for the relaunch isn’t because there was new information about what is healthy and good, but because people just aren’t eating enough fruits and vegetables. If you don’t believe me or the research, just do a goolge search for “people don’t eat enough vegetables” and not only do you get the research and articles, you get all the excuses and complaints that people use.
Eating vegetables has always been really important in my family. I’ve been a vegetarian since high school, so all the meals that I make are vegetable based. My son, however is just as picky about eating vegetables as any typical 3 year old. It’s always a challenge. I’ve done everything from decorating his plate to look like a monkey face to hiding vegetables in muffins.
Recently, I found a great recipe idea that tackled one of the healthiest yet most despised (by children) vegetable – the green leafy vegetable. It takes the often tough and boring vegetable (I used kale) and makes it fun. It was so great that he even asked for more. Then we just devoured every bite.
This recipe is sure to please all the vegetable haters in your family. You will be amazed at how much they will eat.
Kale Chips:
1 head of kale (or swiss chard or other dark green leafy vegetable), wash and remove the tough stems and cut leaves into fun sizes
1-2 Tbsp olive oil
seasoning of your choice (salt and pepper, garlic salt, cayenne)
Mix your olive oil with your seasoning in a really big bowl. Toss the kale in the bowl with olive oil so that all the pieces are coated. Spread the leaves out on a cookie sheet lined with a silpat or parchment paper. Bake in the oven at 350° for about 10 minutes or until the leaves are really crispy like chips. Mix them around about 1/2 way though the baking. They will become a beautiful bright green color and start to get brown on the edges. You want to take them out before they get all brown.
I hope you enjoy them.
Related articles
- 5 Painless Ways to Eat More Green Leafy Vegetables (lifehack.org)
- The Truth About Kale: Nutrition, Recipe Ideas, and More (webmd.com)
- No More Pyramid!!! (f33dyourhead.wordpress.com)
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