[lolas]

I'm a brand new foster mother (three days and going strong). I've been counting calories and upping my exercise for about three weeks now and have lost 16 pounds. I was doing fairly well on my own, but now, with the kiddos, I'm having some trouble cooking family meals that are tasty enough for them to want to eat and healthy enough for us all, but especially low calorie for me. Does anyone have ideas/easy to prepare recipes to share?

[astrophe]

I just make what I want, and if it is new, put things "on the side" so child can have hers plainer.

But she's got a broad palate -- eats all types of food kids her age won't normally go for just because she's grown used to it at home.

The only thing she def. does not like is spicy food -- and that I think is because kids with newer tastebuds feel the heat more. I didn't like spicy food til I was older.

A

[chickybird]

Depending on the ages of your new ones, you may want to let them help you cook/prepare meals. they may be more inclined to try new foods if they are involved in the process. thank you for fostering!

[lolas]

I currently have 2 boys, ages 8 and 10. They ask for junk food all day long (I have given them fruit snacks and fudge bars as snacks) and refuse to take a single bite of veggies. My guess is they don't eat very well at home. I've been cooking for them like I normally would for myself, but it is not going over so well (tonight for dinner we had grilled turkey burgers and corn on the cob).

[chickybird]

I teach special education pre-k and have taught some kiddos who were in foster homes. I've read that a new food must be put on their plate a minimum of 11 times before a kid will even attempt to eat it. If it were me (and this may not work for you), I would just keep introducing new foods. Obviously if they try something and gag on it because it's so gross to them, don't torture them, lol. But I firmly believe that moms should not be short order cooks. They will not starve as long as you offer them nutritious meals. turkey burgers and corn on the cob sounds awesome to me, but who knows what kind of "food" they've had to live on.
I am actually a Texas certified CPS caregiver and remember hearing how kids have to be provided with x amount of meals and snacks. But don't be afraid to make those snacks healthy--let them mix up their own fruit/veggie dip, make fruit salad, arrange veggies on a tray to roast in the oven, etc.
My best friend's little girl is 5 and my friend swears she is a picky eater. She's not allowed to be picky at my house. I offer a variety of healthy things she can pick from, but if she doesn't eat what I make, she knows she will go to bed hungry. End of story.
Of course, you may feel totally different about this stuff. You just find what works for you and makes you feel comfy as a mom.
Here's a recipe my nieces and nephews enjoy: http://www.finecooking.com/recipes/s...ple-syrup.aspx
I double the batch to end up with about 24 waffles. instead of syrup, we use applesauce, or fruit preserves as a dipping sauce.
Hope this helps!
Edited to add--we don't eat all the waffles at once--I freeze most of them so we can have quick, readymade breakfasts!

[cherrypie]

I never cook a meal differently because of my kids. And there isn't anything they won't try. But they never have to do anything more than take two bites of something. And I make sure there is something at every meal that they like.

[lavieboheme73]

Congratulations on your new additions and thank you so much for being the one who steps up to the plate for these precious little guys!

Here's a couple of recipes that seem to work well for my kids...hubby and I have 8 between the 2 of us. The youngest ones are now teenagers...3 18 year olds, one 17 year old, and one 14 year old...and they are junk food OBSESSED, for real! But they haven't given me much flack about these:

Pita Pizza Pockets: We did these last night for New Year's Eve dinner, and just used this recipe as a springboard. Everyone had a little bit of something in particular they added to it, or took away (I'm the only one in the house who actually likes banana peppers), and it was a whole bunch of fun!
http://www.food.com/recipe/pita-pizz...ww-4pts-356681

Hungry Girl's Cravin Cap'n Crunch Shake: Once a month, I let the kids have "ice cream for breakfast". What they don't know is that it's low-fat or fat free ice cream, and when we make shakes, they're made with soy milk. But anyway, they LOVE this one! It makes them feel like they're getting away with something, even though they really aren't.
http://www.food.com/recipe/hungry-gi...-points-314897

Hungry Girl's Choco Monkey Oatmeal: THE BEST BREAKFAST EVER!! Seriously, I loooove this stuff. Tastes like junk food, but there's nothing unhealthy about it. And the banana is mashed up in it, so they only see chocolate.
http://www.food.com/recipe/hungry-gi...oatmeal-266123

(P.S. If you don't already have the Hungry Girl cookbooks, you should definitely check them out...they have a ton of recipes that look and taste like the junk we and our kids get used to, without sacrificing health benefits. Serious thumbs up!)

Basically, you're welcome to any of the recipes I've saved on my food.com cookbook. It should be public...if you can't access it from this link, let me know. I've tested all of these that I've saved (except the Hungry Girl cocktails, of course!) on my kids with good results, and I add more as I go along. Hope this helps!

http://www.food.com/cookbook/hipster...ral-hip-351218

[usam]

Sometimes you have to be firm. I always tell my kids this is not BK and you cannot have it your way!
I make healthy meals like :
Super low fat ground turkey meatloaf with corn and baked potatos
Roasted vegetables with bulgar wheat
Pita pizzas they can make and choose their own toppings
Veggie burgers and baked fries
Marinated pork chops with salads or steamed veggies
Chicken breast baked or broiled with steamed green beans or frozen green beans.
Pasta with plain marinara sauce or 98% fat free ground beef
White fish filets baked with celery, carrots and garlic.

I personally am a vegetarian so I plan their meals and always have salads or vegetables on the side which I can eat. When you marinate chicken breasts or pork chops you can either broil them or grill them and they are really low fat. I also make various bean dishes. Like split pea soup in winter or Lima beans with dill. (I can certainly post recipes if you like.)
My kids 3 and 5 have a choice to eat what I have made or nothing at all. I know its sounds harsh but they eat everything and anything and enjoy veggies. I allow one treat day per week so they can choose McDonalds, pizza or chinese. As far as snacks go well my philosophy has always been to have things around the house so they don't feel deprived but your situation is a little different. Since they were born I have always had Herhseys kisses all over the house and they don't care if they have them or not. If they want a candy bar they ask and I allow them but in moderation.
We have a history or diabetes and heart problems in our family so that scares me.
Their snacks include popcorn, celery with peanut butter, fruit and carrots with fat free ranch, low fat string cheese with a couple of whole wheat crackers or those mini bagels, I also make my own granola which they love to snack on. I also have low sugar cereal in their little bowls around the house that they munch on during the day. I get the high fiber fruit loops and put them on their little table so if they want to munch on something its there.
What are their ages?
Anyway hope this helps!

[DesiDoo]

You should check out the website WWW.SAVINGDINNER.COM This is a great website for healthy meals. She also does a weekly menu mailer that my husband and I swear by. Check it out! I hope this helps.

[lolas]

Thanks, everyone, for the ideas! The pita pocket pizzas look delicious, Bo! And I think I already have most of those ingredients on hand. I'm definitely going to look into the Hungry Girl cookbooks and I'm also going to try to work in more meals that allow the kiddos to help out with preparation. At this point there is nowhere to go but up