I am always looking for ways to cook healthy, simple meals that the whole family will enjoy. I try to incorporate a protein, grain, and vegetable into every meal. A casserole of chicken and Uncle Ben’s Brown Rice is an easy way to make meal time healthy and sneak in some veggies. I have learned to be creative about incorporating vegetables into our meals. Beef and brown rice burritos are another great way that I have found to discreetly mix in some sauteed veggies. All wrapped up in a tortilla shell, those vegetables seem to blend right in with the beef and rice.
Letting the kids help out in the kitchen is another great way to cook healthy meals. They seem to enjoy something more when they have had a hand in preparation. Washing and chopping fruits and vegetables is a great job for the older kids. Also, foods like Uncle Ben’s Ready Rice are real easy for kids to make, all the way from start to finish. In just a matter of a few minutes the rice is ready to be enjoyed. I do tend to cook with brown or a brown and wild rice combination most of the time for their high nutritional value.
This Spring I want to plant a vegetable garden. I’ve heard that children really enjoy eating foods that are home grown. It is a project that the whole family should enjoy. Not to mention, it will help stretch the food budget a bit.
What are some ways that you make meal time healthy? Do you have a vegetable garden or cook healthy meals with Uncle Ben’s rice?
Uncle Ben’s, a staple in our house, is looking to help families cook and eat healthy meals with their kids. They have launched an exciting program called Ben’s Beginners. By entering the contest, you could win $20,000, along with a $50,000 grant towards a cafeteria makeover for your child’s school. That’s not all…you will also have the chance to appear on the Rachael Ray Show! All you have to do to enter is visit the Uncle Ben’s Facebook page and submit a 2 – 3 minute video of you cooking a rice based dish with your children, ages 5 – 12. For more information about this fun contest, check out Ben’s Beginners on Facebook.
Be sure to come back and let us know if you post a video, so we can go to the Uncle Ben’s Facebook page to watch it!
I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Uncle Ben’s blogging program, for 6,000 My SocialMoms Rewards Points. For more information on how you can participate, click here.