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Ask A Los Angeles Expert: Healthy Recipes Kids Can Make

kids eating
(credit: Kristian Dowling/Getty Images)

Encouraging kids to play in the kitchen builds confidence as well as the foundation for healthy eating. Chefs and food experts agree that cooking with kids breeds success. This means shopping ahead for ingredients, gathering the right cooking utensils and most importantly, discussing the rules of the kitchen – safety first. The folks at Raddish, a monthly themed subscription box inspiring family cooking, shares three easy-to-make recipes.

Samantha Barnes1 raddish kids
(credit: Raddish Kids)

Samantha Barnes
Raddish
(310) 450-3462
www.raddishkids.com

Samantha Barnes, middle school teacher and mom entrepreneur, hopes families everywhere will share in the simple pleasure of cooking together through her newly launched business, Raddish. Through her background in the classroom, she realized that many of her students were young foodies, but lacked the knowledge and kitchen experience to make healthy lunch choices. Kitchen Kid, a mobile culinary school for kids and families, is just another successful business on her resume.

Over the Rainbow Salad_v1
(credit: Raddish Kids)

Over the Rainbow Salad
Ingredients: (1-2 Servings)

  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes
  • 1 cup snack-sized whole carrots
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
  • 1/2 cucumber, chopped
  • 1/4 purple cabbage, chopped
  • Your favorite salad dressing

Directions:

  1. Arrange cherry tomatoes in a large arch.
  2. Lay carrots under the tomatoes followed by a row of bell pepper, cucumber and cabbage.
  3. Serve with salad dressing for dipping.
raddish kids - Meatball Sandwich
(credit: Raddish Kids)

Meatball Sandwich
Ingredients for meatballs:

  • 1/2 small onion, grated
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 1-1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 cup dried bread crumbs
  • 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella
  • 1 package of ground turkey meat (20 oz, dark meat preferred)

Directions:

  1. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Crack egg into mixing bowl.
  3. Scramble with fork.
  4. Carefully grate onion on medium box grater holes.
  5. Add to egg.
  6. Add ketchup, salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, bread crumbs and mozzarella.
  7. Mix thoroughly.
  8. Add meat to mixture.
  9. Gently mix with your clean hands.
  10. Scoop heaping tablespoon of meat mixture.
  11. Roll into a ball.
  12. Set on a lined baking sheet.
  13. Bake meatballs for 15 minutes.

Ingredients for meatball sandwich:

  • 1 jar store-bought marinara sauce
  • Shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 4 whole wheat hot dog buns

Directions:

  • Warm sauce on stovetop.
  • Heat buns.
  • Build bobsled meatball sandwich – place meatballs inside bun, drizzle with warm marinara sauce and sprinkle with cheese.
Meringue Cookies
(credit: Raddish Kids)

Meringue Cookies
Ingredients: (makes 10-12 servings)

  • 4 egg whites
  • 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • Food coloring (optional)

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees F.
  2. Combine egg whites, cream of tartar and vanilla in bowl of stand mixer (you can also use a hand mixer, but it will take a little longer).
  3. Mix eggs on low until broken up, then switch to medium-high and beat until egg whites begin to thicken and small peaks form.
  4. Continue mixing, slowly sprinkle in sugar. Add a few drops of food coloring, if desired.
  5. Continue mixing until mixture is glossy and stiff. (Do not overbeat or eggs will collapse.)
  6. Pipe or drop heaping tablespoons of the mixture onto 2 parchment-lined baking sheets.
  7. Bake cookies for 90 minutes. Then turn off the oven, leave the cookies inside and let them cool and dry (2 hours to overnight).
  8. Remove from oven.
  9. Store in an airtight container.

Related: Best Holiday Cookies In LA

Sheryl Craig is a writer with a passion for interesting finds and treasures in Los Angeles. She has a background in journalism and public relations. A mother of two daughters, Sheryl integrates her healthy lifestyle into raising her children. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.


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