ST. PAUL, Minn. — Kowalski's Markets' culinary expert Linda Day Anderson — in her September newsletter to the retailer's customers — gives parents pointers on how to get kids eating healthier fare and liking it.
“It's back-to-school time, and I thought it was a good time to write about preparing healthy lunches and snacks, and getting kids interested in them,” Anderson told SN.
Kowalski's offers a large selection of freshly cut fruits and vegetables that could also be a particular convenience to parents at this time of year, she pointed out.
One of Anderson's suggestions for making fruit juices more appealing than soda stands out in her “idea” list in the newsletter. It's making a “fruit punch” by adding orange slices and strawberries to 100% pineapple juice.
She also points out that dipping apple slices in orange, pineapple or lemon juice keeps them from turning brown, thus preserving their appeal till lunchtime.
Anderson offered the following suggestions, and urged parents to get children involved by letting them help make the snacks:
• Frozen Grapes: Wash and place grapes in a zipper-closure freezer bag and freeze until firm.
• Fruit Smoothies: Blend bananas and strawberries with non-fat yogurt.
• Celery Raisin Logs: Spread almond butter and raisins on a celery stick.
• Fruit Salad: Mix pineapple chunks, grapes and bananas with lemon juice.
• Frozen Juice Bar: Freeze your favorite fruit juice in small drink cups; insert a Popsicle stick or disposable spoon in the center when juice becomes slushy. Continue freezing until firm.
• Freeze juice boxes and add to brown bag lunches to keep items cold. By lunch time the juice will be ready to drink.
Parents should also keep some healthy snacks handy in the car so that when hunger calls, the first instinct is not to head for the fast-food drive-through.
Kowalski's has also scheduled lunch-making and snack-making classes at selected stores. Parents are encouraged to bring a child with them to the classes, which will be led by Kowalski's dietitian Sue Moores.