kids' recipe swap party

Parents always have tricks up their sleeve when it comes to kids' foods. They somehow figure out what to whip up to stop their kids from crying, get them to eat more veggies, and take just one more bite. It's impressive. But sometimes you need to expand the repertoire.

I have a plan. Get some parents together to join forces and swap healthful, kid-approved recipes and tricks for getting kids to eat better foods. I'm calling it a potluck playdate. And with the school year coming up and everybody's schedules getting busier, it's the perfect time to build up the arsenal of go-to foods to feed the fam and fill the lunchboxes.

Here's how to make it fun for the kids and the parents:

• Ask the parents to bring bite-size portions of their kids' favorite food.
• Also ask the parents to send you their recipes in advance.
• Print out all the recipes, and give a set to each parent when they leave.

As the kids snack, the parents get to see which foods their kids like most so they know which recipes to try first. Plus, each child is guaranteed to love at least one dish (the one their parents brought), and that enthusiasm may help encourage any squeamish kids to try the new foods. Sneaky.

Need recipe ideas? Epicurious has compiled a list of nutritious, kid-friendly foods, and the Zoom website has recipes kids can even make themselves. Share your own favorite kid-tested recipes in the comments!

Comments

What a great idea! I am to organize one of these.

oh! good collection.its very useful.