12 KID-FRIENDLY THANKSGIVING SIDE DISHES
From: Jill Castle
Is your child a picky eater?
But you want to include them in your Thanksgiving meal?
This article by Jill Castle is quite helpful.
Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday but it can be overwhelming for kids. Just take a look at the myriad of Thanksgiving side dishes.
Stuffing, green bean casserole, gravy, and pumpkin pie—these are foods that many kids don’t get in their diet routinely. It’s no surprise the Thanksgiving holiday may quickly become a bit stressful for kids and parents alike.
Then, there’s the huge turkey. For many kids, the size of the turkey alone is foreign, not to mention, some kids might only know turkey from the deli.
Let’s not forget that while Thanksgiving is a holiday filled with relatives and friends, it can elicit parental pressure to perform in the eating department. Parents want their kids to eat well. And picky eaters, or ill-mannered kids may not be tolerated by adults.
All in all, Thanksgiving can be a tricky holiday for kids.
You can prepare your child for the different foods she will see, review the manners that will be expected by family members, and check your own tendency to pressure your child at the door, but the success of Thanksgiving can still be a wild card.
When I host Thanksgiving, I try to include Thanksgiving sides, appetizers and desserts that will appeal to kids. For example, I have kids help out with simple appetizer assembly, I always include ice cream on the dessert menu, and have been exploring some unique, kid-friendly Thanksgiving side dishes.
To this end, I asked some of my dietitian friends to throw down some Thanksgiving side dishes that will appeal to the younger guests at my Thanksgiving feast. Maybe you’ll want to try these kid-friendly Thanksgiving sides, too!
“Roasted maple sweet potatoes with cinnamon cream cheese and maple pecans make this dish mouth-watering!”
“I’m a little hesitant to call this a recipe, because it is SO easy, but, I think I nailed the perfect proportions of sweet carrots, salty feta, and crunchy pine nuts.”
