Campbell's Kitchen Home

If you have kids, chances are you’ve dealt with at least one phase of picky eating. Getting children to try new foods and develop good eating habits can be tricky, but there’s hope! Try these simple tips:

• Rename foods to capture young imaginations. For example, try calling broccoli “baby trees” to make it more fun.
• Add fruit to different foods to make fun faces. Use melon to make smiley pancakes, or use strawberries and bananas to make a friendly face on a peanut butter sandwich.
• Cookie cutters aren’t just for cookies—use them to cut sandwiches into hearts, stars and other fun shapes.

We all know that eating a good breakfast is important—especially for kids. A good breakfast can improve concentration, and lead to higher test scores and better behavior. Unfortunately, the reality is that getting kids to slow down and eat breakfast can be tough—mornings are rushed, and sometimes kids just aren’t in the mood to eat first thing in the morning. But with a little planning, you can get your kids’ day started on the right foot. Here are a few simple ideas:

• Roll a ham or turkey slice around a mozzarella cheese stick and matchstick-sliced carrots and cucumbers.
• Spread peanut butter on a piece of toasted bread.
• Top Pepperidge Farm^® Cinnamon Swirl bread with cream cheese.
• Toast 2 slices of bread, and while the toast is still warm, place a slice of cheese in the middle. The cheese will melt from the heat of the toast, making a warm and delicious breakfast melt.

Make it easy for your child to make smart snack choices. Try packing these snacks in lunchboxes, and keep a few available for after school snack attacks.

• A simple snack of cheese and crackers, with reduced-fat cheese and whole-grain crackers, is always a hit.
• Popcorn is delicious, crunchy and filling. Pop your own, and skip the butter, or try reduced–fat microwave popcorns.
• Soup is another great snack for after school, and a good way to hear about your children’s day while they sip away.
• Dried fruit is a sweet, high-fiber snack for kids and adults alike. Just be sure to check the nutrition content. Some dried fruits (like banana chips) can be high in calories.
• Snacks like pretzels and Pepperidge Farm^® Goldfish^® crackers are delicious options when kids are craving something crunchy.
• Try spreading some low-fat cream cheese on a tortilla, fill it with fresh veggies and Pace^® salsa, roll it up, and cut it into snack-size pieces.
• Cut up fresh fruit into chunks and set it out with a small bowl of vanilla yogurt for dipping.

Work more vegetables into your child’s diet using these simple tricks:

• Have your child help make the salad and choose the dressings. Kids are more likely to try something they have helped to make.
• Make "veggie animals" for young children. Kids love fun food.
• Dip raw veggies in peanut butter for a snack.
• Add a sprinkling of cheese to vegetables to make them more appealing.
• Puree some veggies into a sauce for pasta or meat.
• Add chopped carrots and celery to your meatball mixture.