Easy and Healthy Recipe

I found this recipe on Familyfun.go.com - give it a try!

Sneak-it-to-'em Broccoli Soup

Kids love the creamy texture of this light green soup, and it's a great choice if your kids are vegetable haters. Instant mashed potato powder makes it thick (you can substitute leftover mashed potatoes or a baked potato). Other green vegetables, fresh or frozen, may be substituted in equal measure. The soup is especially nice poured over crusty bread. It keeps well overnight and can be frozen.

1 cup water mixed with 1 cup homemade or canned chicken stock
1 onion, sliced thin
1 10-ounce package frozen broccoli, or 2 1/2 cups fresh broccoli, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
4 cups milk
4 tablespoons instant mashed potato powder
3 tablespoons butter
1 pinch ground nutmeg

Heat the stock mixture over medium heat, add the onion, broccoli, and salt, and cook about ten minutes or until tender. Puree half the vegetables with half of the liquid in a blender or processor until smooth, then repeat with the other half (be sure to vent the steam, since processing hot ingredients can cause small explosions). Heat the milk in a large saucepan until bubbles form on the edges. Stir in the remaining ingredients and carefully simmer for three minutes. Stir in the pureed broccoli and onion, taste for seasoning, and ladle into individual bowls.

Serves six.

Family Meals - A Lost Art?

What is something you can do as a family (that's not too hard) that can help your children have better eating habits? Eat meals together! A great book (pictured above) talks about the "power" that family meals can have. Studies have also shown that kids who eat family meals together eat more fruits, vegetables, dairy, and have better overall nutrition. There are many other benefits including better grades and less risk of alcohol or drug use. It doesn't have to be a fancy meal - it's just the fact of being together. Once you have that accomplished, you can work on improving the nutrition of your meals. Of course, you wouldn't want to go out to eat or bring fast-food home each night in order to eat together as a family.

Many families have both parents working and children are able to eat whatever and whenever they want or graze. Also, families have so many activities going on that it is hard to all sit down together and eat. Often times individuals are eating on the go . In both of these situations, junk food is usually eaten. Just taking a few minutes here to come together and sit down and talk with each other will provide better nutrition and time to communicate. The following websites provide healthy and easy recipes as well as meal plans that you may like to try:

• http://www.never2early.org/fpf_meal-plan.html
• http://kidshealth.org/parent/recipes/
• http://www.mealsmatter.org/
• http://www.3aday.org/Pages/Welcome.aspx

You may not be able to eat together as a family everyday, but even aiming for a few times a week can be beneficial. Weekends may be a great time to get together for a family brunch or maybe eating breakfast together in the morning works better for your schedule. Research has shown that eating family meals together during adolescence is associated with better diets during adulthood. This simple activity will provide so many benefits long after the meals are over and your children are grown. Don't let family meals become a lost art! Check out this website for more benefits of family meals and ideas on how to get together.