I realised I'd forgotten to post this, an upgrade on the standard fish & chips using fresh salmon and roast potatoes. Both my boys love salmon and I love them eating it as it's packed with nutrients including Omega-3's. I did put this in the thermos but both are just as content eating it cold. Similarly they actually quite like the potatoes cold as they are crunchier (apparently an advantage!).
Have you ever done fish & chips in the lunchbox?

As we're off on holidays we are eating through the perishables. I had the last of the summer veg to use - eggplant, zucchini, capsicums - so combined them with red onion, cauliflower and pumpkin cubes. Normally I would use fresh dill (none left ....) and tomatoes but not enough tomatoes to spare as I am saving for lunchboxes. So improvised with mixed, fresh herbs from the garden, tomato paste and some balsamic vinegar. I then cooked for an hour plus until the veg had softened and the juices, herbs and tomato had all combined to make a delicious sauce. I used most of the veg I needed to use plus have the veggie basis for dinner tonight. I will be adding some crumbled feta to jazz it up though. Such a flexible, simple dish and full of flavour. Would your kids eat it?

We're off to the UK on Thu to see my family so this week is going to be a bit unusual food-wise. For once I didn't make the weekly trip to the markets as we're eating through our existing fruit and veg. No markets means no fish so Roy whipped up a curry and dahl last night instead. Delicious and perfect for lunches today. Joe had dahl and chicken curry to go in the thermos.

Max got loads of dahl and cumin prawns. Forgot to photo his yoghurt and fermented fruit but he'll be eating it. Meals will get more and more eclectic as the week goes on!!

Yesterday I had a lovely group of parents come over to the house to talk food, recipes and look at quick and simple alternatives to common staples. We made the world's simplest wraps and some tomato ketchup. Lots of fun and a great way to start reducing the sugar in our kid's diets. My tomato ketchup recipe has no sugar or sugar substitutes but tastes great. The spices confuse the brain into thinking it is sweeter than it is. Even better it only costs a few dollars to make and anyone can whip it up in 5 minutes. If you'd like to watch a video on how to make click on the link. If you'd like to download the recipe you can!!
This is the sauce I use for community BBQ's and have never once had anyone mention the ketchup wasn't the same as usual. It is of course served from a magic squeezy bottle!

I'm getting loads better at the whole pescatarian thing for Max. I cooked a big batch of sauce and a batch of home-made corn tortillas and then put chicken in some and seafood in the other. They broke a part a bit as I was getting ready to stuff into the thermos but they still tasted great!
I have also included a bean & raisin cookie. Now I am not a big one for baking and my boys don't expect a "snacky/treaty" item in their lunchboxes but are suitably delighted when one appears!! I am testing some recipes for a new "Veggies Rock" program I am writing and stumbled across these on the Fun Food 4 Kids website (and then totally changed it). A really great option for a very low sweetener cookie which uses white beans and oats as the base. Doesn't sound very appetising but they are really quite delicious. Nice texture and a great hit of spice rather than sugar. And these were the rejects that were a little runny so went flat. The next batch were way, way better. Hmmm, might just have to re-test how those taste again .... For the recipe just follow the link. If you'd like more great recipes that are healthy but rock check out the 3 week program.

I know, I'm a day late but yesterday just vanished and the blog didn't get written. Fortunately the same cannot be said for the boys lunches which as usual were joyously easy. I buy fish every weekend and so Monday is a dream to pack. Just re-heat the potatoes and filet and whack in the thermos. Roy chops the veg so all we have to do is throw the fruit and corn in to finish. As Max eats seafood both boys can have the same. Done!!
Check out the home-made ketchup which is really nice and contains no sweeteners at all. Under Sauces & Dips on the website.

I was doing research for my monthly blog at the Healthy Food Guide and starting reading about some of the studies figuring out how to get kids to eat more veggies. It was fascinating and I got totally engrossed. Even had to drill down and read some of the actual studies themselves not just the "news summaries". Amazing how much time and energy is poured into this topic and it really gets me wondering whether we need to put way more energy into changing our customs and culture so that "eating veg" is not such a big deal. Why is eating veggies such a big hurdle for millions of kids? Why have we let it become so?

Check out the article at the Healthy Food Guide ... http://www.healthyfood.co.nz/blogs/the-art-of-nutrition/2016/march/23/10-scientifically-proven-ways-to-get-your-kids-eating-more

I was experimenting (always scary for the boys) with a recipe for one of my cooking students. It's zucchini, carrot and kumara in a creamy sauce with a little wholemeal spelt spaghetti. Boys were delighted!

OK so admittedly I do talk on a bit about ferments but I think they are a really beneficial addition to the diet. Fruit is a great way to start as fermenting it is so simple and it's very kid friendly. I saw a recipe on a link and thought I could modify to suit the ingredients I had on hand so experimented using just water, bananas and a little honey and whey. The whey was just the runny bit from our yoghurt so nothing fancy. I left it in the linen closet for 4 days, stirring daily and the result was AMAZING. Sweet, soft and very, very fizzy bananas. Boys thought they rocked. Now anyone can do this at home but remember to use de-chlorinated water (click on recipe link to find out how to do).