As a mother, it's only right that I make sure that my children are eating the right foods on a regular basis. I was not raised to eat a proper diet. Fruits, vegetables, and anything with substantial nutritional value were not part of my everyday diet. Instead, my siblings and I subsisted on bland, less-than-healthy fare like macaroni and cheese, pizza, and tater tots.
I didn't know that what our parents were having us put in our bodies when I was a child was not healthy. Though I was blessed to have such a fast metabolism, I still got tired of the same dishes after a while. Not only were they nutritionally dissatisfying, but their flavours wore thin quickly, too.
I found that I loved to cook real food as I grew up and had children of my own. I liked cooking things from scratch and sprucing them with various spices. Though children tend to have a limited palate, I have had notable luck getting my kids to enjoy turmeric-flavoured dishes.
The Secret Ingredient
Turmeric is a mild, yellow-coloured spice, often used in curry and other dishes that have a "kick" to them. It is mild enough that you can add it to everyday dishes that the kids will love! It has numerous health benefits, making it a great addition to many dishes. I have even had significant luck using turmeric to treat acne! Your child might benefit from these dishes if they struggle with breakouts.
These five recipes will not only add spice to your child's life but will help improve their health as well. You can add turmeric to just about anything to give it a much-needed kick. Not only will this make food tastier for your children, but it may even make foods that were once difficult for them to eat more enjoyable!
1. Stir-Fry
As a child, I never liked many vegetables myself. Having a variety of them mixed in with some lo mein noodles makes a dish that no child can refuse. Adding turmeric to your stir-fry will give it an attractive colour that it did not have before. On top of this, it also adds a bit of mild spiciness and with a hint of ginger (another ingredient packed full of health benefits). It will definitely give your vegetables a more savoury flavour.
If you’re feeling especially brave, you may want to try sprinkling some turmeric on green vegetables like spinach or kale. Green, leafy vegetables are infamous for being disliked by children, so this tactic may be just what you need.
2. Turmeric Ginger Chicken Soup
Have you ever tried adding a few dashes of turmeric to a bowl of chicken noodle soup? In a sense, that is what you are doing with this recipe. Add a mixture of pepper, ginger, and turmeric to your rice noodles and chicken to create a mild soup that your children will love. This soup is an Asian take on an American classic that anyone can enjoy.
3. Extra Spiced Chai Tea
Yes, you can add turmeric to a cup of tea as well. Chai tea in particular tastes terrific with a bit of turmeric mixed in. Try a few sprinkles of turmeric, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, and ginger into a pot of chai tea mixed with honey and coconut milk. These ingredients add a creamy, spicy, and sweet taste that your children will love! The taste of turmeric will complement the bold flavour of the tea as well.
4. Special Eggs
Scrambled eggs by themselves often lack flavour. You may see people seasoning their egg dishes for this very reason. If you want your kids to enjoy this traditional breakfast food more, try spicing up their egg dishes with some vegetables, sausage, and turmeric. You don't have to limit this to only scrambled eggs; this is an excellent method for adding flavour to any egg-based dish.
Try adding turmeric to a quiche or frittata! As you use turmeric in your everyday cooking, your children will develop a taste for it.
5. Turmeric and Ginger Cookies
A perfect complement to the extra spiced chai tea, these cookies are a softer version of ginger snaps. This recipe utilises turmeric and crystallised ginger in a unique way. These will give your cookies a nutty, spicy undertone that children can't resist.
Don’t limit yourself to just these foods, get creative! No matter how you decide you use turmeric, making your dishes more flavourful is sometimes all you need to do to make your kids appreciate healthy food more.
Also READ: Healthy home cooked Singaporean dishes for your toddler!
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