Feed Your Children Well

Grilled Chicken w/Roasted Tomatoes & Onion

It was a win/win kind of evening. On our weekend visit, Daddy-O and I sat in the floor and played a board game with the granddaughters while Mommy cooked supper. I didn't lift a finger in the kitchen and Mommy got to cook without interruptions for once. A treat for all of us.

This family tries really hard to eat whole, healthy foods. They do their best to skip over things like box mac and cheese and frozen tater tots. Instead of those refrigerated "meals" labeled in yellow and aimed at kids, they get mom-made lunches, still in a box with compartments, but filled with fresh fruit, finger-sized vegetables and whole grain breads or crackers and maybe homemade chicken strips. Meals with prizes that come in bags are just an occasional treat. At home they aim for real foods. The kind that requires peeling and chopping. And they read labels carefully to choose "packaged" foods, like breads, yogurts and cereals, with the shortest list of ingredients.

When she started out in the kitchen as a new bride, about all Mommy could make quesadillas. But over the years she's developed solid cooking skills. She still needs easy recipes now—not because she lacks the skills, but she often lacks time. Like all mommies, there are a zillion things that need to be done and a half-zillion places to go every day. Thankfully she has found many delicious, easy to prepare recipes. Recipes that her family likes. It doesn't matter how "healthy" it is if they won't eat it.

Little kitchen helper.

Even with the best intentions, these little folks live in the real world, so they will encounter those "other" foods at school and birthday parties and field trips and such. They just know that those foods aren't everyday foods for them. And there are even days at home when just getting any food on the table is a miracle.

A realistic goal is the 80/20 rule. It's one I've seen others use. Aim for 80% good whole food. The other 20% you don't worry about so much. Notice I said "AIM." We all do the best we can. And like my own mother would say, "You can't do better than your best." If a box of mac and cheese is the best you can do, then go with it. I used to serve that with a hot dog cut up in it. We all have those kind of days.

Mommy called us to the table just as our board game was over. (Baby Girl won!) Supper smelled good cook as it was cooking, so we were ready to eat. This recipe is one of Mommy's best. Easy to prepare. Beautiful when it comes to the table. And totally delicious.

GRILLED CHICKEN w/ROASTED TOMATOES & ONIONS

2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
1 medium onion, sliced (red or white onion works equally well)
4 large garlic cloves
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 teaspoon herbs de Provence
salt & pepper, to taste
olive oil for coating pan
4 or 5 thinly sliced boneless, skinless chicken breasts or chicken cutlets 
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

Combine tomatoes, onions, garlic, olive oil, herbs de Provence and salt & pepper in a medium bowl. Stir to coat veggies. Spread onto a lightly oiled sheet pan. Roast at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, or until tomatoes have softened and onion is a little brown.

Meanwhile, season both sides of chicken with salt & pepper. Cook in oiled grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat until done. 

To serve, spoon vegetables over cooked chicken. Garnish with fresh basil.

Just a note about how this approach to foods can influence a child. When Little Sister (she's now in first grade) was here this summer for Mimi Camp, we were out taking flowers to friends and I asked if she would like to have lunch out. She said to me, "I'd really like a salad. Is there a place we could get salads? I'd like one with olives and chick peas." So we stopped by the large grocery store with a good salad bar and make salads to take home. Not what I had in mind, but it was a perfect choice. Mommy, you are doing a good job!

Happy Halloween!