By: Pauline Hackemann

Have you tried giving your children wheat bread and they won’t eat it, because they are used to white bread – or are they bored of the same old sandwich on the whole wheat (preferably sprouted wheat) bread you have always given them? There are tons of books on making food enticing for kids, but many involve heavy involvement and so here are just a few ideas that are fast and simple for every day.

I recently began cutting the bread into shapes after toasting it (we always toast it even for lunch sandwiches for school). The kids loved it, and the names I gave the sandwiches. It began with the "moon" sandwich I cut from an egg holding shape (originally meant for for fried eggs to keep their round shape). I then went on to use large cookie cutter shapes. Giving the sandwich a name also seemed to work. Now my kitchen produces penguin sandwiches, moon, polar bear, heart and Easter egg sandwiches. I bought a set of heart shapes which come in handy for different sized breads and you can also buy toast branding cutters now, that will write things into the toast, although I think they work best with the starchy white variety. After a while then they want "square sandwich again Mama". My three year old especially is enticed by animal shapes and I recently bought a dinosaur cutter just for toast made of green plastic. He then enjoys eating the feet "now he can’t run away Mama, I bit off it’s feet" and the head etc.

I also realized that they can have fun with savory food, no only when baking. I got pickles out and pieces of ham and some toothpicks. My 5 year old then proceeded to copy my initial "pickle rolled in ham". I rolled it in ham and then put a toothpick through it. She loved creating these and then brought some to her Dad on a plate after eating some herself.

On a trip to Hobby Lobby we found hot dog plates made of cardboard, the kind you find at fairgrounds with red writing on them. So one night I created a dinner out indoors with brats in whole wheat buns in these containers on plates with mashed potatoes (leave the skins on as the vitamins are under the skin!) and corn on the cob. They loved it. We also bought healthy hot dogs (health food store – soy based I believe) and if some are left over on the next day one can use toothpicks after cutting them up – get your kids to poke the toothpicks in.

You can also buy thicker ham and then cut that into a shape for their snack plate – or cheese, carrots, rice balls etc. - mozzarella pearls can become eyes if cut in half.

While I don’t go out of my way every day to make their plates pretty, on occasion on the week end or for snack or when it is raining we do something fun with food. I do make sandwiches for my daughter (to avoid fast food school food) and make shapes on most days. Mini Bundt pans are also fun – Nordic Ware makes train trays and miniature bunt pans and flower pans. These can be fun for them to mix and create…

The trick is to keep re-enforcing fun with healthy foods, and involve the children in the process as well (baking together is fun, too). We also spend time making ice pops for example. The kids love making stripy ones and choosing the juices and then eagerly anticipate eating them when they are frozen. It is a good way to avoid chemicals and food coloring and excess sugar. Don’t let artificial drinks and food in the house so that they won’t miss them. We still battle with candy and throw it away after parades, after letting them have a few pieces – at this age they still forget about it, but I know when they get older it will become harder.

And remember you can be their best !

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