Cooking, Recipe and Food Blog
Everybody knows just how difficult it is to convince most children to eat their vegetables. For many families, it can be an outright battle of wills between parent and child. With parents who only want their children to eat healthy on one side and children who see vegetables as alien threats to their taste buds on the other, both can end up as losers if they fail to reach a happy compromise.
We all know that a satisfying meal does not only depend on food taste. To a large degree, satisfaction is also triggered by presentation. This is the very reason  why dining tables are arranged very attractively in many dining establishments. At home, homemakers can turn to fruit carvings to add life to their tables.
There are several good reasons why you should consider fruit carvings to complete your dining table arrangement. [Read more…]
If you’re going to be in Ireland between September 21st and 25th, you should head over to Galway, where they will have their 59th annual Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival. If you’re going to be hanging around the south part of the UK between October 10th and 13th, you better check out the Falmouth Oyster Festival.
Both internationally recognized festivals are all about oysters. There will be wine, local ale, games, celebrity chefs, and, of course, oysters. Lots and lots of it. If you can’t make it to either festival, don’t feel bad. You can have your own little festival at home! Just take a gander at the following 5 oyster recipes that will bring you smack dab in the middle of either festival!
Bento meals originated from Japan but have become popular in many other countries. They are associated not only with taste but more so with their unique food arrangements that are nothing short of aesthetically appealing. Japanese homemakers have been whipping up wonderful bento meals for centuries so why don’t we take some inspiration from them and get creative with our own bento meals?
For homemakers and parents who would want to prepare amazing bento meals for their families, all they’ll need are some basic food containers preferably with compartments, some time, and a lot of creative juices working. This is one way of encouraging children to eat their food with more gusto and excitement. There is actually no limit in the end product as long as imagination is at work.
Bento meals often inspired by Japanese cartoon characters or anime. Characters from comic books and video games are likewise often used. This should not prevent bento makers from being limited by these designs.
1. Observe proper proportion
The ratio of 4:3:2:1 is recommended as pertaining to rice, side dish, vegetables, and dessert. Of course, this can be adjusted to be more suitable for the intended recipient. Children will appreciate seeing common ingredients prepared with a twist.
2. Opt for bright -colored food items
Bright colors are very attractive to children. They are also very nice to work designs on. A combination of vegetables, fruits, and other ingredients in the right color match and contrast produce exceptionally beautiful edible creations.
3. Create designs around a theme
Bento meals designed around a theme produces more cohesive results. Homemakers can choose a different theme everyday to create excitement and anticipation for a child. Children tend to look forward to meal time if they know they have something different to look forward to for the day.
4. Use stencils for patterns and shapes
Not everyone has the hand for creating exact patterns and shapes. With the use of stencils however, cut outs will look very professional and realistic. Some shapes can be cut in random sizes and forms thus using free-hand can also be expected.
5. Avoid soggy food
Bento meals are lunch boxes. The problem with lunch boxes is that  food tend to be soggy when eating time comes because of the need to close the boxes even when they are still hot. It is highly recommended to let food cool before closing the box.
In man’s quest for a healthy body, we usually turn to our food diet for answers. This is quite logical since our state of health is generally a result of what we take in our body and our lifestyle. In today’s modern world, veganism is a dietary and lifestyle option that seeks to go back to the basics.
Veganism is in a sense  considered a stricter form of vegetarianism. It extends beyond the consumption of purely plant products but also encompasses the rejection of  any food and other items which involves animals and their derivatives in production. It goes with the principle of non violence to any living thing.
A vegan diet is said to offer protection against the development of certain degenerative diseases. However, there is a concern with vitamin B12 deficiency in regular vegan food preparation and its efficiency in providing nutrients for developing bodies such as those of children. Is a vegan diet suitable for you then? [Read more…]
Feeding picky eaters can be especially trying and frustrating. This is more so with children because of the fear that they will not be getting the right amount of nutrients to allow them to grow strong and healthy. But do you know that there are at least five food items that even the pickiest eater will love?
Selective eating or that which characterizes the eating habits of picky eaters can range from mere dislike of food from the taste or aroma to the extreme kind. The latter can be akin to repulsion for certain kinds of food or food in general which is a serious medical condition. For purposes of this post, we shall identify five food items that can be served to regular picky eaters without fear of rejection.
Since being selective is rooted on some pre-exiting notion or experience about a certain food characteristic, it would always be best to start with basic food items that can be prepared in any way required. These food items allow easy adjustment of flavor, texture, and aroma. This can also solve the dilemma when there is more than one picky eater in the house. [Read more…]
Going gluten free is a popular trend these days; more and more people are treating gluten like a leper. The actual truth is that gluten is only harmful to a small percentage of the people trying so hard to cut it out. Cutting gluten may actually do them harm in the long run!
Gluten is a protein found in grains, wheat, and similar foods. It holds the food together, and is a fairly harmless protein … unless your body has a problem with it.
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the body treats gluten like an invader: it attacks the gluten proteins in your intestines. When your immune system attacks the gluten, it damages your intestines as well, which can lead to more serious digestive issues.
Celiac disorder isn’t as common as some people think. Most gluten-intolerant people suffer from non-celiac gluten sensitivity. This disorder is basically an allergy to gluten: your body reacts to gluten the way lactose-intolerant people react to milk. Allergic reactions are bad for the body, so it’s healthy for such people to eliminate gluten from their diet to avoid harming their intestines and digestive tract.
However, for those of us who have no physical problem with gluten, cutting it from your diet is useless. Gluten is a harmless protein that damages the bodies of those with gluten intolerances. For the average person, a gluten-free diet accomplishes nothing. If you or a loved one have celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, here are six great gluten-free recipes. [Read more…]
