Healthy Eating - Kids Meals - Easy Meat and Three Vegetables All Kids Will Love

One thing I have noticed when I watch kids eat is its not necessarily the vegetables they don't like they leave behind its more the food that takes the longest to eat. Peas are a good example.

My son says he doesn't like peas but when watching him eat he spends more time chasing them around the plate then gives up to move on to the next exciting thing in his life. Usually some form of physical activity.

Kids are looking for meals they can consume in as little possible so they can reactivate their minds on the current event of the day. However, I am not recommending kids (or adults for that matter) should rush their food. Eating quickly is not a healthy option. But preparing and cooking food in such a way to encourage a meal to be eaten down to a clean plate is the goal we are trying to achieve.

Rissoles - home made hamburgers or patties - regardless of what you call them are an excellent way of incorporating a healthy eating option into the busy lifestyles children demand.

Rissoles start out as a base of minced meat - beef, lamb, pork, venison or your favourite meat - in which we can add various vegetables and natural flavourings to create a nutritious meat and vegetable meal in a delicious kid-friendly form.

Various vegetables and fruits can be grated and used in rissoles. Carrots, potatoes, celery, onion, pumpkin, apple and turnip can all add nutrients, flavour and filler to low fat minced meat and formed into rissoles.

In addition, herbs such as parsley, coriander, turmeric or curry mixes as well as binders like whole egg, wholegrain flour and breadcrumbs, all add nutrition and flavour to an all in one meal for kids.

An excellent main meal can be made by mixing:

500g Minced Meat (your choice)
1 Cup grated carrot
1 cup grated potato (squeeze to remove excess starch)
1 large finely chopped onion
2 eggs
teaspoon curry powder (skip or use more or less to taste)
pinch of salt
chopped parsley
breadcrumbs (use to form to a working consistency)

Combine all ingredients and form into rissoles. For uniform shape an egg ring is ideal. Lightly pan fry in olive oil until light golden brown. Flip and brown on reverse side. Remove rissoles from pan and place on ceramic microwave safe plate. Place in Microwave and cook on high for 5 minutes. This method finishes the cooking process without burning the outside of the rissoles.

The microwave step can be skipped if serving with pan gravy. After removing the rissoles from the pan, add 3 or 4 cups of water to the pan to make gravy. Thicken with cornflour or your normal gravy making methods and replace rissoles into pan. Simmer with lid on for 5 - 10 minutes before serving.

You can use variations of this basic rissole recipe according to your individual taste. For a complete meal a good rule of thumb is to include a yellow, white and green vegetable in your rissole base.

Eric J Smith describes himself as being "Passionate about Organics". He is committed to Educating people on the importance reducing the chemical load on our bodies and the Environment. Eric is Married and has 2 Children. Eric and his wife Narelle represent Miessence Certified Organic Skin Care, Cosmetics, Home & Nutritional Products. www.buy-organic-products.com.