Cookbook author, nutritionist and food journalist Robin Miller guides you through the land-mines of getting food on the table nightly.
Learn more about Robin.
Mealtime Tips from
Tyson Foods &
Robin Miller
As a busy working mom, Robin knows the challenges many time-starved parents face
when trying to get a quick and nutritious meal on the table each night. Tyson®
100% All Natural*TM Chicken Nuggets are a great option
for quality protein that is ready in minutes—leaving more time to spend with your
family.
Convenience/Time Savings Tips for YOUR family
Create a Peaceful Plate Imagine your child’s dinner plate has a peace sign
drawn on it. Fill the larger areas with whole grains and fresh vegetables and fruits
and the smaller area with protein, such as Tyson® 100% All Natural*TM
Chicken Nuggets. This balanced, “peaceful plate” allows you to put a variety of
bright colors and flavors on the plate, and ensures you child is getting the right
balance of essential nutrients and foods from all food groups.
Fruits and Veggies Kids like foods that are colorful and sweet. All fruits
and many vegetables are colorful and sweet, so parents should play up their similarities.
Offer a variety of fruits and vegetables at every meal to complete your “peace sign.”
Broccoli, spinach, diced tomatoes, carrots, green beans, apples, strawberries and
bananas all make great choices—the more colors of the rainbow your kids eat each
day, the better!
Trying New Foods For most of us, trying something new isn’t quite as scary
if we can pair it with something familiar. The same goes with food. Pair one of
your child’s favorite foods next to a new food or flavor. For example, if you usually
serve nuggets with ketchup, try a variation—mustard and honey mixed with fresh chopped
peaches. The sauce is sweet and delicious and your child will add peaches to his
repertoire of new favorites.
Get Your Kids Involved in the Kitchen Get your little sous chefs involved
in the kitchen. One of the best ways to get your kids excited about eating is to
make them feel invested in the preparation process. Have them snip fresh herbs with
kid-safe scissors, crack eggs, stir, mix and of course, shape things with their
little hands. They love being involved and when they feel a part of the process,
they’re more likely to try the finished product!
Make Mealtime LESS Stressful for Kids Kids learn by example, so it’s important
to be a great role model from the beginning. When children see their older siblings,
parents, other adults, and friends eating a variety of foods, they are more likely
to try them. For example, share a bite of Tyson® 100% All Natural*TM
Chicken Nuggets with your child, and then share a bite of a new food that you want
them to try. If they see you enjoying both foods, chances are they will enjoy them,
too!
Cut Down on Mealtime PREP, Spend MORE Time with Your Family Eating dinner
as a family doesn’t mean it has to be a three-ring circus! The reality of most parents’
lives is they’re lucky if they have time to eat at all! On the weekend, take a little
extra time to chop vegetables for soups or sauces and plan out your weeknight meals.
Stock up on frozen items that can be easily paired with fresh veggies or fruit,
such as Tyson® 100% All Natural*TM Chicken Nuggets.
Doing a bit of the work ahead of time means when Tuesday night rolls around, you’ll
spend less time in the kitchen and more time around the table.
Do YOU Have a Picky Eater While feeding your kids a balanced diet is important,
not every meal can be a balanced one—that’s just life! Cut yourself some slack and
aim to give them meals filled with protein, whole grains and fruits or vegetables
whenever possible. Show your kids that mealtime is fun and let them play with their
favorite finger foods like veggies and dip and Tyson® 100% All Natural*
TM
Chicken Nuggets. Finally, don’t make mealtime unnecessarily stressful by forcing
your kids to eat foods they’re just not in the mood for. If you don’t push the issue
too hard, there is a good chance they’ll be game for a bite the next time it hits
their plate.
Something Old and Something New For most of us, trying something new isn’t
quite as scary if we can pair it with something familiar. The same goes with food.
Pair one of your child’s favorite foods with a new food or flavor. For example,
if you usually serve nuggets with ketchup, try a variation—mustard and honey mixed
with fresh chopped peaches. The sauce is sweet and delicious and your child will
add peaches to his repertoire of new favorites.
Planning Makes Perfect Eating dinner as a family doesn’t mean it has to be
a three-ring circus! The reality of most parents’ lives is they’re lucky if they
have time to eat at all! On the weekend, take a little extra time to chop vegetables
for soups or sauces and plan out your weeknight meals. Stock up on frozen items
that can be easily paired with fresh veggies or fruit, such as Tyson® 100% All
Natural*TM Chicken Nuggets, which are minimally processed
and contain no artificial ingredients, preservatives or fillers. By doing a bit
of the work ahead of time, you’ll spend less time in the kitchen and more time around
the table.