Ok, last night I got excited about roasting butternut squash with minced shallots and garlic topped with a drizzle of olive oil.  My kids, on the other hand, were not so thrilled.  It goes without saying that my gourmet flights of fancy go unnoticed, especially with my two toddlers around.  Their food repetiore has wittled significantly since they became free-thinking human beings.  They don’t like this or will not try that…eating has become a constant negotiation.  Although, I refuse to beg them to eat their brocolli, peas or asparagus, I have thought about dessert bribery, but I know that’s a no-no!  So, what if I am a mom with a mission: to get my kids to eat (and enjoy) healthful food?!   Is that so bad?  Well, not if the outcome is me offering string cheese at the end of an uneaten, rejected meal.   

I will continue to try….that’s all I can do.  What’s your secret strategy to the never-ending family food wars?  I’d love to know…

I must admit that I love the symbolism behind Fat Tuesday (or “Shrove Tuesday”).  It’s Mardi Gras, too  – a day to eat, celebrate and enjoy fatty foods before the big Lenten fast begins the following day.  Isn’t it just like the human condition to overdo it with rich, decadent, calorie-laden foods before a forced lifestyle change (aka dietary change) is thrust upon us?!  Most people think of Fat Tuesday as a chance to celebrate with a couple of humungous Hurricane drinks and plate of decadently filled crepes.

On Fat Tuesday when I was growing up, my family indulged in homemade thin pancakes for dinner filled with jam, rich nutella, a nut/sugar mixture, or prune preserves called Lekvar.   Of course, they were topped with a dusting of confectioner’s suger and sometimes maple syrup - so it wasn’t only Fat Tuesday, but Sweet Tuesday, also! 

My inclination now that I have my own family is to do that same.   Yet I still err on the side of substituting some of the not-so-healthy ingredients for some-better-for-you ones.  Instead of  using all white flour, I cut part of it with whole wheat flour, toss in a tablespoon of ground flax seed, fill them with fresh berries and top with a drizzle of agave nectar.  Ok, so my toddlers won’t know the difference, but how about my husband?  I could offer savory crepes filled with part-skim ricotta, sauteed spinach and mushrooms with a pinch of nutmeg.  That works for me! Does that mean I still need to have bacon on the side or greasy hash browns?  Well, there’s always soy bacon…

In my pursuit of calorie control and health-enhancing foods, I can’t forget that one indulgence does not spell disaster, but signifies life…

What are you making on Fat Tuesday — I’d love to know.

I just finished taping a segment for my local TV station on health eats for Super Bowl Sunday. Just because Game Day is one of the biggest eating days of the year (behind Thanksgiving), doesn’t mean we can’t indulge, yet incorporate some nutrient-dense foods into our party table.   Get your family and friends eating fruits, vegetables and healthful nuts and dark chocolate sweet treats along with some bites of what I call the “other” stuff (fried, cheesy and batter-dipped foods).  Deprivation is not the key on a festive day, but making the right choices is…

So choose:

-  Avocado-based dips with baked chips 

-  Colorful and crunchy veggie and fruit kabobs 

-  Healthful nuts like pistachios – in the shell they are a great portion-controlled treat (there’s 49 in a serving and the shells are a great reminder of when you’ve had enough!)

- Handmade chocolate-dipped dried plums, apricots and apples.  Great way to indulge a sweet tooth in a healthy way!

So enjoy Super Bowl Sunday and remember, of the 1,200 calories that most people consume in snacks alone, according to data from the Calorie Control Council, make the majority of your calories count with nutrient-rich veggies, fruits, whole grains and good fats.  And you’ll be on the winning team, for sure!