Beanie Weinies

by Debbie Yost

As a child, one of my favorite meals was Beanie Weinies.  As a mom, I still enjoy it and wanted to share it with my children.  I looked through all my cookbooks and searched the internet in vain.  I could not find a single recipe, so I made my own. 

At first thought, Beanie Weinies might seem like an unhealthy meal. But with some well-chosen ingredients, you can serve it to your children without guilt!  Beans are an excellent source of fiber, cholesterol-free and practically fat-free.  In addition, they are a good source of protein, calcium, and iron.  Hot dogs come in many different varieties.  Personally, I prefer the pork and chicken blend, but you can purchase all beef or even turkey as a healthier alternative.  Served with a side of fruit and a glass of milk, you have a quick and easy meal that covers all those pesky areas on the food pyramid.

This is an easy meal to make with your kids.  My six year old is in charge of cutting the hotdogs, which are soft enough to cut with a butter knife or plastic knife to prevent injury.  My older daughter mixes together all the other ingredients.   

It is difficult in my house to find a meal that all three girls will eat well, but this one is always a hit! 

Beanie Weinies

4 hot dogs, sliced

2 cans Pork and Beans, with liquid

2 tablespoons ketchup

2 tablespoon BBQ sauce

1 teaspoon prepared mustard

1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

¼ teaspoon onion powder

dash of pepper 

Mix all ingredients together and simmer on low heat till heated through, stirring occasionally. Cooking on low heat will prevent the beans from sticking to the bottom of the pan and burning.  When the hot dogs begin to plump on the sides, the Beanie Weinies are done. 

Debbie Yost is a stay-at-home mom who recently closed her small in-home day care she operated for five years.  She and her husband have three daughters ages 12, 6 and 3.  Debbie’s youngest daughter has Down syndrome.  Because of her daughter, Debbie has become an advocate for people with Down syndrome to ensure they have the same opportunities to live a full and rewarding life as others.  Debbie is the blog author of Three Weddings.

image courtesy Debbie Yost

Fresh Fruit Smoothies

by Summer Minor

Many gardeners are already harvesting the fruits of their labor, and an assortment of fresh produce is becoming more available in stores. The budding chefs in your house may be eager to put the harvest to good use and make something delicious, so why not grab some fruit and your blender and let them whip up a cool treat? Making fresh fruit smoothies is incredibly easy to do and lots of fun for young kids who love helping in the kitchen. All you really need is some fruit, a blender, and ice. Here are three delicious recipes you can start with, but do not be afraid to let your kids take over and experiment with different combinations. Creating new flavors is half the fun!

Berry Smoothie

1/2 cup blueberries
1/2 cup strawberries
1/2 cup raspberries
1/2 cup crushed ice
3/4 cup low-fat milk
1 cup vanilla flavored yogurt

Add berries, milk, and yogurt into a blender and mix. Add in ice and continue mixing until smooth. Serve chilled.

Peach Melon Smoothie

1/2 cup sliced peaches
1 cup cantaloupe or honeydew, diced and frozen
1 teaspoon lime juice
1 cup vanilla flavored yogurt
1/2 cup crushed ice

Mix peaches, melon, lime juice, and yogurt in blender. Add in ice and blend until frothy. Serve chilled.

Orange Juice and Carrot Smoothie

1 cup orange juice, chilled
1/2 cup shredded carrots
1/2 cup vanilla flavored yogurt
1 teaspoon honey
1 1/2 cups crushed ice

Mix together orange juice, carrots, yogurt, and honey in blender. Add in ice and blend until smooth. Serve chilled.

Summer is the blog author of Wired for Noise.

image courtesy schleicher

Get Cooking with Kids of All Ages

by Kristi Gaylord

According to the comprehensive 2003 through 2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, about 32% of children and teens ages two to 19, or about 23 million young people, are considered obese.  

Overweight kids are at a greater risk for myriad health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, and Type 2 diabetes. These children also experience depression and low self-esteem in greater numbers than their slimmer peers.  

One of the most significant ways parents can help keep their children healthy is to model good eating habits, encourage active, outdoor play, and to involve their children at an early age in meal preparation. Children who cook with their parents are more apt to try healthier foods they wouldn’t ordinarily touch because they helped prepare them. In addition, cooking at home with your kids means you can control ingredients and portion sizes, both of which are out of your hands while eating out.  

As an added bonus, you can spend quality time with your children as you teach them an important skill they’ll use for the rest of their lives. 

Wash, Drop, and Stir: Cooking with Toddlers 

While it may seem that attempting to cook with a toddler requires more effort and cleanup than it’s worth, kids in this age group love to help their parents and can absorb a great deal of what’s going on in the kitchen.  

My husband and my almost two-year-old daughter make pancakes together most Saturday mornings. While she’s fiercely independent (what two-year-old isn’t?) and would like to assemble our weekend breakfast all on her own, my husband loads the ingredients into measuring cups and spoons and allows her to drop them into the mixing bowl one-by-one. She’s also allowed to take a quick turn stirring the mixture once all the ingredients are added. 

Kids in this age group can also help wash vegetables and fruit in the sink, locate ingredients on a shelf or in a drawer, or drop muffin liners in a tin. Many toddlers simply enjoying watching you prepare meals from a nearby chair or even the floor.  

One word of caution: Don’t attempt to keep your toddlers interested in cooking with you for longer than about five minutes. Their attention spans just can’t hack it. 

Peel, Pour, and Mash: Cooking with Preschoolers 

Hopefully, by the time your children reach age three or four, they’re eating more than four crackers and a handful of blueberries at every meal, so you can engage them in more detailed discussions about food and what’s healthy for them to eat. Capitalize on their growing intellect and appetites by encouraging them to help you in the kitchen.  

Preschoolers can pour ingredients from short pitchers or liquid measuring cups, peel shells from hard-boiled eggs, and remove a specific number of food items from a bag or drawer (for example, two cucumbers or four slices of cheese). A child in this age group will also have great fun smashing potatoes with a masher or using a fork to squish over-ripe bananas for banana bread.  

Assemble, Slice, and Set: Cooking with Kids in Elementary School  

Children in this age group are perfecting their penmanship in school, so leverage their growing motor skills by assigning them some cooking tasks that require a bit more focus and concentration. 

These kids can make their own granola, or wash and assemble a tray of veggies for a healthy afternoon snack. Children in elementary school can also use a plastic or children’s knife to cut soft foods, including cheese, plums, and peaches, and cooked vegetables, such as squash and potatoes. You can also assign table-setting duties to these kids and allow them to use certain small kitchen appliances and tools, such as the toaster or the garlic press.  

Brainstorm, Prepare, and Grill: Cooking with Tweens 

Much like toddlers, tweens are exerting streaks of fierce independence, but don’t give up on them. Encourage their desire to cook on their own by allowing them to create their own healthy recipes. For example, tweens can add ingredients of their choice to the standard fare (more crushed tomatoes on top of the veggie pizza or more cheese to a broccoli casserole). Ask your tweens to help you plan good-for-them school lunch menus for the week and allow them to prepare their own. Tweens can also make simple meals using the stove (under your supervision), including grilled cheese and pancakes. 

Cooking with your children is both a learning experience and a lot of fun. While it does require time, patience, and a bit more cleanup, the payoffs are huge when you consider that your efforts are helping to stave off childhood obesity and keep your kids fit and healthy.   

Kristi Gaylord is a freelance writer and mother to a 23-month-old daughter. You can find her blogging at Interrupted Wanderlust.