Kids can be picky eaters. One day they can’t get enough of French toast and the next day they are just repelled by it. Try again a few weeks later and they would be asking for seconds. Getting your little one to eat everything you’ve prepared is somewhat like a trial by fire with few parents emerging unscathed. The good news is — every parent’s been there!
Tickle your little one’s taste buds with a fun trip around the world through these five Oddbods-approved lunch box ideas that will put your ‘knack’ for cooking back in ‘snack’. Not only will your kiddo get a new snack every day of the week, you can also grab this opportunity to teach them about different cultures and cuisines. Now, let’s get to it before Zee eats everything up!
Monday: Pogo’s Hidden Veggie Pasta
Not just for the kids — the whole family can enjoy this hidden veggie pasta dish, too! Photo from: Baby FoodE.
One of the best ways to get your little one to eat their vegetables is to disguise it and pair it with their favourite food. Most kids already enjoy pasta, so this Italian-inspired dish should be a surefire hit. The secret to this recipe lies in the sauce where all the greens have been pureed. It’s not really a prank if they end up enjoying it, right?
What makes this great is that you can personalise it to your kid’s preference by tweaking the veggie-tomato sauce ratio, then serving it in a variety of ways: with your kiddo’s favourite pasta, as a spread over pizza topped with other yummy veggies, as tomato soup with toast, or with meatballs.
Buon appetito! Check out the full recipe here.
Tuesday: Zee’s Crockpot Chicken Tacos
Don’t forget to finish it off with a squeeze of lime for that added zest! Photo from: Super Healthy Kids.
It’s Taco Tuesday and the best way to commemorate it is — well, you guessed it — with tacos! This Mexican snack is not only filled with lots of fresh greens, but also extremely easy to make as it requires no prep at all, just the way Zee likes it. Simply grab all your ingredients, throw them into your slow cooker, and you’re set!
This fuss-free delight just needs a few core ingredients: chicken, taco seasoning, salsa, tortillas, and your favourite veggie toppings. You can add any topping from avocados, tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, cilantro, to plain Greek yoghurt, red onions, and bell peppers.
Buen provecho! Check out the full recipe here.
Wednesday: Jeff's Kimbap (Korean Seaweed Rice Roll)
Get your little sous chef involved by getting them to try their hand at making the roll. Photo from: Devi Puspita Amartha Yahya.
If your kid is all about keeping things spick and span, like our endearing perfectionist Jeff, then you’re set to rock and roll with this Korean inspired seaweed rice roll. This may seem pretty similar to its Japanese counterpart, sushi, but the Korean kimbap is usually made with cooked ingredients and the kimbap rice is mixed with sesame oil instead of vinegar.
The traditional ones are usually filled with ham and cheese, canned tuna, bulgogi (marinated grilled beef), and kimchi, but you (or your little head chef) can have full control over what you put in it, say, a little bit of everything from all the major food groups. Time to roll up your sleeves, and let’s get rolling!
Masissge deuseyo! Check out the full recipe here.
Thursday: Bubbles’ Vegemite Toast
Did you know that over 22 million jars of Vegemite are sold every year? Photo from: Kidspot.
Kids Down Under go bonkers for this rich yeast extract spread so you can’t go wrong with this Australian staple. Pair it with either lettuce, fried egg, tomato and feta, or with cheese and avocado and you’ve found a new way to get your picky eater to eat their greens.
Just like our resident quirky gal, Bubbles, Vegemite serves up an adventurous spectrum of flavour ranging from sweet and sour, to slightly bitter and salty. You can also breathe a little easier knowing that because it’s yeast, a thin spread of Vegemite can supply a third to two-thirds of a 7-year-olds’s daily requirements for B group vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin and niacin.
Bon appétit! Check out the full recipe here.
Friday: Slick’s Vietnamese Spring Rolls
These fresh spring rolls are the perfect size for tiny hands! Photo from: sontung57.
Just like Slick who loves to have an assortment of everything flashy — and be seen having it — these Vietnamese spring rolls may just be what you need to get your kid’s appetite rolling. It’s a veggie party and a healthy snack all rolled into one!
Not only are the rice paper translucent which means your little one will be able to see exactly what’s inside, it’s also made with colourful ingredients and that’s always a plus point for the kiddos who love visually appealing foods. On the nutrition side, it comprises mostly fresh greens (yay for parents!) and a good mix of ingredients from different food groups.
Chúc ngon miệng! Check out the full recipe here.
