Always looking for ways to please my kids in the food department. My three year old is one of the pickiest eaters I’ve met. Seriously though. My siblings have lots and lots of kids (I think I’m at 20 nieces and nephews from my side?) and non of them have had kids this picky. At first I thought there was something wrong with her, even had her assessed for sensory issues. But overtime I came to realize that there are just picky eaters in the world. And she didn’t get it from no where 😉 But look how I turned out: foodie/nutritionist in the making! So I guess there’s hope. I recently came to realize why my mom was always so stressed when I continuously refused foods she suggested. You just want your kids to eat, and I get that so much now.
Over the years, I’ve learned a lot about kids behavior and how to support healthy eating habits. I learned that my daughter needs to be pleased with her eyes before she can agree to put it in her mouth. She needs to help in making the food decisions so that she is excited to eat the food. She needs to be told that she doesn’t NEED to eat a certain food, but only try it. When she is given the option to spit it out if she doesn’t like it, she is always more willing to try. Just some tips for those of you struggling with picky littles.
Moving on though…
These turkey meatballs have become a staple in our house. So if my picky girl can practically finish an entire pot full on her own, they must be some sort of magic. Wanted to share the wealth with you all.
The recipe itself uses a small amount of natural sweetening from silan, aka date syrup. There are a lot of brands available throughout the country, but most important to look for brand without any additives, you want the pure date syrup. This is a brand I like, and I find it readily available throughout the country. Tomato wise: I like to use the plain crushed tomatoes from Shufersal because it has no added sugar. Purely tomatoes.
For those of you who have kids who can’t handle texture, I often blend the sauce before putting the turkey balls back in. Gets rid of the onions and makes the sauce much more thick and yummy.
Let’s talk about the benefits of turkey for a second as well. People often associate meat with having the most amount of iron, but turkey actually packs in the iron with the added bonus of less fat! This recipe can definitely be done with beef though, or even a mix of turkey and beef. So all in all, this is a lovely weeknight dinner (or Shabbat) that pleases all and packs in protein, iron, and veggies without mass amounts of sugar. Pair with some rice or a side of veggies and you are looking at a superstar meal!
I’m Liat, a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and dietician in training. My goal is to help you navigate healthy living and real food eating here in Israel. To help you navigate labels and certifications on our food products and source out the most nutrient dense options Israel has to offer. Happy navigating fellow fresh sabras xoxo
