LilSugar

Drive Through Dinner: Families Eating Less Meals at Home Than Ever Before

Rebecca M Gruber — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 11:35:25 PDT

Maybe Jamie Oliver needs to invade our homes, not our schools. Between shuttling tots between activities, managing our careers, and running our households, moms are busier than ever before and it's showing in how we feed our kids.

A new study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association finds that more kids are eating foods prepared outside the home than ever before and this may be tied to the rise in tots' daily caloric intake. According to researchers, since 1994 parents have been feeding lil ones more store-prepared and fast foods than ever before, and they're not eating them in their own homes. In 1977, kids ate 23.4 percent of their calories outside their home, while in 2006 that number was closer to 34 percent.

Busy times call for meals that can be grabbed and consumed on the go. Tell the truth, how often does your family really eat a home-cooked meal at home?

Did You Eat Together as a Family?

Mandy Harris — Tue, 03 May 2011 03:55:42 PDT

Think sitting down and sharing a meal as a family is just about a warm, fuzzy feeling? A new study by the journal Pediatrics says it may be much more than that. The study found that kids (aged 2 to 17) who shared at least three meals a week with their families were less likely to be overweight, eat junk food, or develop an eating disorder, and more likely to eat produce. I ate meals with my family more often than not as a kid, and these findings make perfect sense to me: family meals typically consisted of homemade pasta, grilled chicken, or turkey burgers, plus lots of fruits of veggies. Meals with friends, on the other hand, usually happened at In-N-Out! Did you sit down for family meals growing up? How did it affect your eating habits?

Annabel Karmel: Appropriate Food Portions For Children

Guest Writer — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 13:00:00 PDT

Editor’s note: The following is a guest post written by Annabel Karmel, the British children's chef and kiddie cookbook author. This week Annabel shares tips for ensuring lil ones get enough to eat throughout the day!

There is no definitive guide to portion sizes for tots. Babies' appetites vary for many reasons, so it is important to be flexible and not to worry if some days they don't eat very much. A baby's appetite may increase during a growth spurt and they may eat less when cutting teeth as the gums can be very sore.

Generally tots will tell you when they have had enough as they often stop opening their mouths or they throw food on the floor! Between nine-12 months, babies need to drink 18-21 ounces of breast milk or formula - any more may fill them up so they will not eat as much as they should. Giving the daytime drinks in cups (with teats) is another good way to ensure baby doesn't fill up on fluids but still remains hydrated.

For toddlers it is a good idea to make individual portions in small ramekins or bowls such as mini fish pie. Small versions of your family meal will be appetizing, rather than daunting, for them and will look more attractive than a dollop of food on the plate. You can make several individual portions at a time and then freeze them so you have your own healthy convenience food on hand on days when you don't have time to cook.

To see three of Annabel's perfectly portioned recipes,

Mini Meatballs with Tomato Sauce
Annabel Karmel's Top 100 Finger Foods

Ingredients

Meatballs
1 tbsp canola oil
1 onion, finely chopped
Half small red bell pepper, diced
1 lb lean ground beef
1 apple, peeled and grated
1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1 chicken bouillon cube, finely crumbled
2 tbsp cold water
salt and freshly ground black pepper
all purpose flour, for dusting
2 tbsp canola oil

Tomato Sauce
1 tbsp olive oil
1 medium red onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
Two and two third cups canned chopped tomatoes
1 1/2 tbsp tomato ketchup
One third cup water
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to season

Directions
To make the meatballs, heat 1 tablespoon canola oil in a pan and sauté the onion and bell pepper for about 5 minutes or until softened. Mix together with all the other ingredients for the meatballs and chop for a few seconds in a food processor. Using floured hands, form the mixture into about 20 meatballs. Heat the 2 tbsp canola oil in a frying pan and sauté the meatballs, turning occasionally, for about 5 minutes, until browned and sealed.

Meanwhile, to make the sauce, heat the olive oil and sauté the red onion for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the remaining ingredients and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. You can add a little more water if the sauce thickens too much. Add the meatballs, half cover with a lid and simmer, stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes or until cooked through. You need to be careful when stirring the meatballs in the sauce - if you are too vigorous, they may break up.

Serve with rice.

Makes 5 portions.

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Mini Shepherd's Pie
From Annabel Karmel's Superfoods

Ingredients

2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
2 medium carrots, peeled and sliced
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 small clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup chopped onion
4 ounces lean ground beef or lamb
1 tomato, peeled, seeded and chopped
1 teaspoon ketchup
1/2 cup unsalted chicken stock
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 tablespoons your baby's usual milk

Directions
Put the potatoes and carrots into a saucepan, pour in boiling water, and cook the vegetables until tender (about 20 minutes). Meanwhile, heat the oil in a small saucepan and sauté the garlic and onion until softened. Add the ground meat and sauté. Stir occasionally, until browned all over. Add the tomato and ketchup and pour in the stock. Cover, bring to a boil, and then simmer for about 20 minutes. When the potatoes and carrots are cooked, drain and return to the saucepan together with the butter and milk, and mash with a potato masher until smooth; you can also put the mixture through a potato ricer. Mix the meat with the mashed potato and carrot.

For young babies, puree the meat in a food processor before mixing it with the mashed potato and carrot. As your baby gets a little older, make this into a mini shepherd's pie and decorate with a face made from vegetables.

Makes 2 portions.

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Apple and Mixed Berry Ice Pops
Annabel Karmel

Ingredients

2 medium apples
1 pound mixed berries (e.g., strawberries, raspberries, blackberries)
2 tbsp water
Heaping 1/3 cup sugar

Directions
Peel, core and dice the apples and put them in a medium saucepan with the berries and water. Heat gently until the berries have released some juice, then bring up to a boil and simmer for 5 to 7 minutes until the apples are soft.

Remove from the heat and stir in the sugar until dissolved. Taste the fruit and add a little more sugar if it is too sharp (this depends on how ripe the berries are). Puree the fruit and strain to remove the seeds. Let cook, then pour into ice pop molds and freeze overnight.

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Have a picky eater who refuses to eat his greens or a lil girl who is begging to be your sous chef, but you don't know how she can help? Submit your cooking and feeding questions to The Children's Table group over in the LilSugar Community, and we'll have Annabel answer them!

There's More Than One Way to Eat a Rotisserie Chicken

babysugar — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 14:00:00 PDT

Chicken - it's what's for dinner . . . a few nights a week! When time is of the essence and there are hungry mouths to feed, mama needs a few tricks up her sleeve to get dinner on the table. Takeout may be fast, but it takes a toll on the wallet. Rotisserie chicken - be it the $6 kind from Costco or a $20 version from a gourmet shop - gives moms endless options for providing the family with a nutritious meal. Here are 10 kid-friendly ways to serve up the dinnertime staple without it ever feeling old.

Chicken Pot Pie: The favorite comfort food can be whipped up over the weekend and reheated on a busy school night.
Rotisserie Chicken with Dried Fruit and Pine Nuts : The sweet addition of dried fruit will win over picky eaters who shun the protein.
Chicken and Spinach Quesadillas: This south-of-the-border dish sneaks in iron-rich spinach hidden beneath melted cheese.
Chicken Pita Pockets: Cold sandwiches are ideal for families who squeeze in dinner between soccer practice and homework.
Chicken and Mozzarella Panini: These warm, pressed sandwiches also pack well for school lunches.

To see the rest of our rotisserie chicken meals,

Asian Coleslaw with Shredded Chicken: Say goodbye to fatty, mayo-drenched coleslaw with this light and tasty version.
BBQ Chicken Pizza: This restaurant favorite is fun for the whole family to build together.
Asian Chicken Noodle Salad: You can't go wrong with peanuts, chicken, and pasta that can be eaten hot or cold.
Chicken Lettuce Wraps: This interactive dinner will get tots building!
Tortilla Soup: A hearty meal, this soup will warm the whole family up in cooler weather.

Do you have a healthy lunch recipe that your tots love? Share your recipe with other lunch-making mamas in The Children's Table group over in the LilSugar Community!

10 Light Family Meals For Scorching Hot Days

babysugar — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 09:00:46 PDT

Feeling hot, hot, hot! That's how many moms feel today as the Midwest and East Coast continue to ride out a mid-Summer heat wave. When the temperature is soaring, the last thing mothers want to do is turn on the oven, but the kiddos still have to eat. We've rounded up 10 light dinner options that the entire family can enjoy.

Do you have a light Summer dinner recipe that your tots love? Share your recipe with other lunch-making mamas in The Children's Table group over in the LilSugar Community!

Tamra Davis Cooks Up a Show For Her lil Beastie Boys

LilSugar — Thu, 07 May 2009 09:00:59 PDT

Rachael Ray claims that a meal only takes 30 minutes, but she doesn't have a toddler running into the kitchen and latching onto her leg or a preschooler who needs help reaching the scissors. That half hour easily grows into three-quarters of one.

After spending many years building her career as a film, television and music video director - she has both Tone Loc's “Wild Thing" video and Billy Madison to her credit, Tamra Davis hit the kitchen. Wife of the Beastie Boys's Mike D. and mom to two young sons, she now has a series of web-based 3 to 5 minute cooking videos called The Tamara Davis Cooking Show, which feature primarily organic, kid-friendly recipes. Filmed in Davis's homes the shorts show Tamra's kids running in and out of the room, offering to help and eventually tasting most of her creations. She said:

"I really hope to inspire moms to make delicious, healthy meals for their families. I always wanted to put a camera in a woman's hand, now with my passion for children's health issues I want to put a pan in her hand too."

Interview With Lori Loughlin: 90210 Star Dishes on Meals

LilSugar — Wed, 06 May 2009 08:00:00 PDT

Sitting down for a family meal is a time honored tradition that still exists - even in Tinseltown! We recently chatted with Lori Loughlin, the actress best known for her role as Becky Donaldson on Full House and more recently, as Debbie Wilson on 90210, about her partnership with Barilla pasta.

Loughlin and Barilla are encouraging families to involve tots in mealtime planning and preparation through the use of their Piccolini line of miniature classic pasta shapes. The mother of two daughters - Isabella, 10, and Olivia Jade, 9, - has long been a proponent of the family meal. She said:

"Dinner is a really important meal in our household, it is a time that we make a real effort, my husband and I, to be home. We have dinner every night with our kids. My mom cooked every night, his mom cooked every night and now I cook every night for my family. We do eat a lot of pasta in our family. Their favorite shape pasta is penne - we do penne with vegetables, broccoli, diced chicken. We also do turkey meatballs and penne, we do traditional marinara and penne and Bolognese sauce and penne. My kids love the lasagna that I make."

On both Full House and 90210, the actress' characters have made the family dinner central to facilitating conversation about the children's activities.

"At the time when Full House was on, family dinner was more common in America. As your kids are getting older and have their own lives like the teenagers on 90210 - where and when do you have the time to reconnect with your kids? Well, it's over dinner.

To see what Loughlin had to say about how she handles body image issues with her daughters amid rumors of eating disorders in her 90210 costars,

The waif-like stars of the 90210 cast have led to rumors about eating disorders on the set. To instill healthy body images in her two tween daughters, Loughlin focuses on health over diet.

"I say to my kids that you have to really think about what you put in your body because it's your fuel. I always take the approach of health, not weight. We want to start eating healthy now to take care of our heart and our internal organs so we can be strong, so our brains can develop.

One thing I will say that I disagree with in LA, or some of the diets that are [out there] is people cutting out carbs. I don't think you should cut out carbs. I think you need to have that in your system. You can't just be protein and just vegetables. It’s not good for you.

The Piccolini Smiles contest invites parents to send photos of their kids preparing, or eating, their pasta as part of a meal, to see all the details, and learn how to win $25,000 in tuition money, visit www.piccolinismiles.com.

10 Reasons Why You Should Eat as a Family

LilSugar — Wed, 06 May 2009 06:00:49 PDT

Sitting down to dinner as a family is about more than breaking bread and sharing food - it's about connecting with your children and creating lifelong lines of communication within the nuclear unit. Last week, Nestle/Stouffer's invited me to be their guest at a Let's Fix Dinner conference to promote their family meal campaign. While it's hard for parents juggling careers and their kids involved in various activities to make time for one another on a daily basis, it's essential. Check out these startling and inspiring statistics.
Stouffer's compiled these facts from a variety of sources.
Source

Lil Links: Quick, Delicious Meals to Feed the Whole Family

LilSugar — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 11:00:53 PST

Hot family meals in 30 minutes - Health
Molly Ringwald debuts her twin belly - Celebrity Baby Blog
Jenny McCarthy says son is the poster child for hope - Celebrity Baby Scoop
5 questions for a short-order mom - ParentDish
The baby sling smackdown - Alpha Mom
What's a level-two ultrasound - Cafe Mom
Do boys get a bad rap? - Momversation
Cover your children's rooms in Aimee Wilder wallpaper - Cookie
Eco-friendly birthday party favors - Inhabitots

Family Meals and Eating Disorders

FitSugar — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 08:45:00 PST

It is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, and the subject can't really be contained to one week. When thinking about eating disorders, and frankly getting a little sad about them, I remembered a positive news story I read a while back. There was a study on family meals and eating disorders, that as mother of two girls I found heartening.

Researchers found that sitting down for regular family meals may actually help prevent eating disorders. Girls who ate five or more meals with their families weekly were one third less likely to practice extreme weight control behaviors. Extreme weight control behaviors range from vomiting, taking diet pills and abusing diuretics. Interestingly enough, family meals did not seem to lower unhealthy weight control behaviors like binge eating, smoking or skipping meals. It is important to note that the researchers did say that how the family acts during these meals is important, because they could also promote unhealthy eating habits. Enhancing the meal time atmosphere and saving possibly emotionally loaded topics, like potential prom plans, for other times might promote a healthy relationship with food too.