Fun Recipes for Finicky Appetites

(Editor's note:These were sent in by a NATHHAN family such a long time ago, we've lost track of who it was! Nevertheless, here are some fun ways to entice those little ones of ours who are not blessed with hearty appetites. Some are on medications that reduce normal feelings of hunger, or maybe they just plain have a hard time getting food down the hatch. When every morsel counts, Moms need to get really creative in not only making food look fun and appealing to eat, but taste, calories or other details are very important.)

Yummies:

Peanutbutter Carob Balls - combine 1 cup peanutbutter, 3/4 c. honey, 3/4 c. carob powder, 1 cup toasted wheat germ, 1/2 c. sunflower seeds. Roll into small balls and roll into sesame seeds.

Cream Cheese Balls - mash 4 Tblsp peanut butter, 1 cup cream cheese, 2 cup toasted wheat germ, 2 Tblsp raisins. Roll into balls and roll in coconut.

Easy Granola candy - mix well 1/2 cup granola, 1/4 cup peanut butter or cream cheese, 2 tsp. shredded coconut. Form into balls.

Peanut butter Raisin Balls - Mix together 1/4 cup peanut butter, 3 tsp. maple syrup, 3/4 cup raisins. Form into balls and roll in coconut.

Spreads and Toppings:

Spread peanut butter and top with a slice of banana

Spread peanut butter or cream cheese and top with raisins

Top cream cheese with shredded coconut

Mix cream cheese with thawed strawberries - spread on bagel or cracker

Grate 2 peeled apples and 1/2 cup walnuts. Add 2 Tblsp. honey and 1/2 tsp. cinnamon. Serve on graham crackers or matzo.

Mash together 1/2 cup peanut butter and 1/2 cup cream cheese. Add 1 Tblsp. honey, 1/4 cup raisins, 1 Tblsp. orange juice. Spread.

Baboon Butter - Mash together 1/2 cup peanut butter and 1 large banana. Add 1 Tblsp. coconut, 1 Tbls. raisins and 1/4 tsp. cinnamon.

Peanut Butter Frosting - Mix 4 tsp. peanut butter, 4 tsp. honey, 1/4 tsp. vanilla, 1 tsp. carob powder. May be topped with raisins.

Kabobs:

Try an assortment of fruits and cheeses on a toothpick or a thin pretzel stick. Pineapple and banana chunks - Pineapple chunks and raisins

Apple cubes and banana chunks - Apple chunks and raisins - Strawberries, banana and blueberries - Orange and grapefruit sections - Cantaloupe and pineapple chunks - Dates and bananas - Grapes and banana or cheese - Cherry tomatoes and cheese cubes - Pineapple chunks and cheese cubes - Mandarin oranges and pineapple.

Misc.

Ants On A Log - Fill celery with peanut butter cream cheese or cottage cheese, or a mixture of cream cheese and crushed pineapple. Dot with raisins (ants).

Banana wheat germ snacks - Mix equal parts milk and honey. Dip banana, then roll in toasted wheat germ. Serve with toothpicks.

Banana dunk - Cut bananas into chunks. Dunk in coconut, chopped nuts.

Serve banana slices between 2 graham crackers

    Here are some suggestions from NATHHAN parents who are facing the feeding dilemma. A parent of a child who does not like to eat (or cannot), quickly learns to see that normal appetites in children are a blessing. It warms a mothers heart to see her family pile (politely) the food away; even if it costs a fortune! She knows they are happily working, playing and growing as a result of the nourishment she has provided. Here are a few suggestions for those moms who need to make mealtime\snacks something out of the ordinary.

* Serve food on a contrasting color plate. Color appeal seems to work for some children. At least it works for turkey farmers!

* Serve smaller amounts per serving. It doesn't look so intimidating.

* The great snack debate totally depends on your child and the success you have. Nevertheless a common thread of success seems to be getting children on a schedule.

* Have your child help prepare the food, such as their own loaf of bread, meatloaf or a special good-for-you pie or cookie. Even if they can only watch, listen or smell you prepare it, the very act seems to stimulate the appetite and create an atmosphere of anticipation.

* Getting the whole family used to fresh, wholesome food will make meals satisfying and a rewarding time for everybody. Jading taste buds with too much salt, MSG, and other additives create a false sense of what tastes "good."

* Using fruits in season, encourage plenty of fiber. If a child is constipated, they will not feel like adding more to the tummy. Would you?

* Using cookie cutters, create shapes which appeal to your child. An example would be, a slice of cheese cut into a star or dinosaur placed on a slice of bread, open-face.

* Pancakes can be made into pancake men, flowers, teddy bears and animals of all kinds. Simply pour the batter from a spoon onto the sizzling griddle into the shape you desire.

Use raisins for eyes, blueberries for buttons, or carob chips for toes.

Banana Pops:

In hot weather, popsicles of all kinds are a big hit. But what is a mother to do when the majority of store bought popsicles have too much sugar, dyes or additives?

Well, there are not many more pure foods than bananas. One of our favorites is frozen banana pops. They are very easy.

Peel banana (preferably not too ripe, not too green.)

Dip in lemon or orange juice to prevent browning.

Stick a popsicle stick into one end of the banana.

Set the banana gently in a tall, plastic tumbler, then place in the freezer.

When frozen, remove and let sit 5 -10 minutes (if the children can wait that long!)

These banana pops can then be rolled in a variety of toppings such as wheat germ, finely chopped nuts, melted carob chips, strawberry or other fruit spread, you name it!