In our household, behavioral issues can usually be attributed to tiredness or hunger.  With three growing farm boys, it’s imperative that we are on top of our game where food is concerned.  Practicality and palatability are musts.  Like many other families, our kitchen table can turn into a battlefield.  This is where The Magic Mama must wave her wand, conjuring up tasty, yet nutritious dishes.  Easier said than done.

Culinary garnished dishes have never been one of my specialties. I ’m easily discouraged and lack confidence in my cooking.  This is the result of continuous rejection by our middle son, Willis.  We were first concerned with his eating habits just before his second birthday.  The doctor provided a regimen we quickly found hard to adhere to.  Unless Willis ate 80% of his plate, he would not be allowed to snack in between meals.  Eventually, they said he would become “conditioned” to eat.  You might remember that a large portion of our behavioral issues are tied to hunger.  His decrease in eating led to an increase in unruly behavior.  We observed a pattern of skipping one to two meals, eating a full meal and then falling back into missing meals.  When he did eat, the veggies were completely avoided and usually ended up being the 20% which remained on the plate.  Nutrition was becoming a concern.  My confidence was nearing an all time low.  And, my patience, well, I had very little left.

It was time for an intervention.  Books such as the “Sneaky Chef” by Missy Chase Lapine and Jessica Seinfeld’s “Deceptively Delicious,” became my main resources and a backbone for delivering taste alongside nutrition.  I learned how to sneak greens into brownies and sweet potatoes into spaghetti sauce.  Above all I learned that I would have to compromise and make the foods in a way which revolved around his taste buds.  We aren’t experts by any means, and there are still battles, but nutrition isn’t quite the concern it used to be.

Another great resource is ChooseMyPlate.gov

New products have certainly helped as well.  We’ve replaced cookies and candy with an assortment of fiber bars, some of which even contain antioxidants.  The boys have recently started putting yogurt tubes in the freezer as well as fiber-filled pudding for snack time.  Other products which are used include whole grain spaghetti noodles, whole grain white bread, spaghetti sauces containing 2 servings of veggies and cereals with increased fiber content.  The focus became magically transforming fiber-full foods, antioxidants, vegetables and fruits into meals which will be consumed.

Some of our favorite 'go-to' nutrition foods.

Unbelievably, the second half of the summer has begun, and preparations for full-day Kindergarten are on the horizon.  Those old fears are slowly creeping back.  We are fortunate to have a school which is dedicated to providing healthy alternatives to the basic school lunch.  Even so, I can’t help but think, ‘What will Willis eat at lunchtime?  Will I be forced to pack a sack lunch everyday?’  The one saving grace I have is chocolate milk.  It is a sure fire food in my book.  I know he’ll drink it AND it contains nine essential nutrients his body will rely upon during the afternoon.  Research shows that children who drink chocolate milk will meet more of their nutrient needs than those who do not. What’s more, the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recognizes that it is acceptable to use a small amount of added sugar to increase the palatability of nutrient-dense foods, such as fat-free chocolate milk.  Do I expect him to be served spaghetti sauce filled with hidden carrots or beets?

Although it's a bit more expensive - approx. $0.75 - we feel the benefits of Preggo's Veggie Smart Spaghetti sauce outweigh the increase in cost.

No.  Do I know there is a nutritious choice he will consume?  Yes.  Remembering this is the first step in hindering my apprehensions.  The next is sticking with a game plan.  To complete my strategy, I’ll be filling him up with things like Oatmeal Cake during breakfast.  The dish is really called Amish Oatmeal and by changing the name it becomes quite enticing. What kid wouldn’t want cake for breakfast?  When they arrive home the kids will be served tasty snacks such as Zucchini Brownies, made with applesauce and a small amount of sugar.  For supper, we’ll continue to serve the same crafty meals.

Those old fears will likely still wander around.  With that said, I know that I need to keep the faith, stick to our plan and remember that with a little creativity and my magic wand, Willis will meet his nutritional needs while enjoying appetizing foods.

Jenny, aka, The Magic Mama, lives with her amazing husband, three crazy boys & three loyal dogs on an old farmstead in rural Illinois. The farmstead comes complete with a circa 1880‘s farmhouse & small hobby farm where the family raises chickens, steers, ducks & two pet goats. They strive to farm/garden frugally and operate as self-sufficiently as possible. On her blog, www.themagicfarmhouse.com, you’ll enjoy stories about raising boys, parenting, home renovations, living with Crohn’s disease, photography, hunting, fishing, camping, working at her in-laws dairy farm and more. Jenny is a passionate Agvocate and a Dairy Farm Mom, promoting agriculture and the dairy industry.  She enjoys quilting, baking, volunteering and scrapbooking.  As a WAHM she contributes financially as a graphic designer & marketing consultant.