Growing up, I always loved Thanksgiving, until we actually had to sit down to dinner. Playing with my cousins, watching football, those were great. But eating veggies and turkey? ICK! So, here are a few tips to help your kids enjoy it more than I did.
1. ”Thanksgiving on a Stick”. Yes, that’s right! Everything tastes better when it’s cut into bite sized morsels and you can stab it with a stick! How to do it? Cut each dish into bite-size pieces and separate “buffet-style” into multiple bowls. Give the kids fondue forks or skewers (with instructions that they are to be used for food only) and let them have fun tasting everything. Perhaps put a few bowls of dipping sauces out as well (ketchup, bbq sauce, honey mustard, etc.). You can’t go wrong here…the more choices, the longer they will stay occupied.
2. Turkey sandwiches a day early. Kids like sandwiches. Turn their Thanksgiving meal into a sandwich and they are much more likely to enjoy it. Ever had a peanut butter and turkey sandwich?
3. The “Kid’s Table”. Did you have one of these? We did. Oh what fun it was not to have Mom scolding us to get our elbows off the table! My brother still prefers the kid’s table over the dining room….
4. Add fruit. Kids love fruit. Add it to the kid’s menu with some grapes, apple wedges and berries. Cut up cubes of turkey and place a berry or grape on top of each. Stick a toothpick through it and you have a kid’s meal. Do the same thing with stuffing cubes and apple wedges and watch them disappear.
5. Watch what the kids drink. Filling up on high fructose colas and/or juices early in the day will result in a case of the crazies and then a sugar crash just in time for dinner. Keep the kids hydrated with water and perhaps some sparkling water with fruit juice added as a special drink with dinner. Anything in a can is processed and should be avoided as it can contribute to upset tummies from all the holiday treats and excitement.
Have a great Thanksgiving!!!!
Image: Tom Curtis / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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