| Ask any parent and they're sure to agree:
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| | you're serving sandwiches, trim out the
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| feeding kids can be a nightmare. It's
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| | crusts and use a cookie cutter to cut
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| hard to find a balance between foods that
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| | them into fun shapes. Make funny faces on
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| are healthy and foods that they actually
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| | burger patties, arrange fruits on top of
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| like. If you're lucky, your child will
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| | salads, or make little gingerbread
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| have a number of favorite foods and
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| | houses.
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| refuse to eat anything else. Each meal is
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| | Don't experiment
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| a struggle, and more often than not, it
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| | You may be dying to try out your new
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| ends up in a tantrum or a food fight
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| | caviar recipe, but this is a children's
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| (sometimes both). So just imagine the
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| | party. Kids tend to be picky eaters.
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| trouble of planning an entire party,
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| | Stick to good old Filipino cuisine-tried
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| where the guests are all growing children
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| | and tested dishes that children will
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| with their own moods and preferences.
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| | always like. If you want to serve more
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| Well, here's the good news: it doesn't
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| | 'adult' food, put them on a separate
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| have to be all that troublesome. With
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| | table or serve them in the kitchen.
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| careful planning and a bit of creativity,
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| | Let them help out
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| you can serve healthy Filipino food that
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| | If you could use a little extra help, try
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| your kids are sure to love. Here are some
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| | having your child help with the
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| tips to help you get started.
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| | preparations. It doesn't matter if
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| Mind the cake
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| | they're too young or unable to follow
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| What's a birthday party without a nice
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| | instructions. Just give them small tasks
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| birthday cake? Get the cake right and the
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| | such as measuring ingredients, timing the
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| rest of the party will take care of
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| | oven, or wiping the tables. You can even
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| itself; get it wrong and there's hardly a
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| | let them draw on the birthday cake and
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| party to begin with. You usually have two
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| | make the decorations. Helping out will
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| choices: buy the cake or bake it
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| | build up their excitement and make the
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| yourself. Buying is certainly more
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| | occasion seem even more special. Also,
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| convenient, but it takes out a lot of the
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| | they'll enjoy the party even more knowing
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| fun. If you can bake a decent cake and
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| | they had a hand in making it happen.
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| you're for the challenge, you and your
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| | Self-serve dishes
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| child can help bake the cake together. It
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| | Often, the worst part of the party is
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| gives you a lot of room for creativity,
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| | scooping out the ice cream while a dozen
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| and your child can even use his favorite
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| | kids wait in line with their sugar cones.
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| toppings.
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| | Better yet, lay out all the cones and
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| Kid-friendly flavors
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| | toppings and let them make their own ice
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| Children want everything sweet, from ice
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| | cream. If you're worried about making a
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| cream and candy to meat and vegetables.
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| | mess, have someone supervise them or fill
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| That doesn't mean you have to serve ten
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| | the cones as they pick out their
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| different desserts-most Filipino food
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| | toppings. You can do the same with pizza,
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| recipes can be adjusted to suit
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| | salads, sandwiches, finger foods, and
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| children's tastes. Just sweeten up your
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| | most Filipino deserts recipes.
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| main dishes, be generous with the dips
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| | Plan together
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| and sauces, and stick to everyday
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| | Your child can also help you plan the
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| ingredients. If you're serving pasta,
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| | meals for the big day. After all, it's
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| skip the fancy spices and make it simple
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| | his party, so it's only right that he
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| and sweet. Kids like lots of cheese,
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| | should have a say on what goes on the
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| sauce, meat and hot dogs. Those are all
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| | table. And they'll know better which
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| fairly healthy, so there's nothing wrong
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| | foods their friends like and which ones
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| with giving them a little extra.
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| | they don't. Don't let them decide the
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| Presentation is everything
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| | entire meal, of course. To balance out
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| Sometimes all it takes to turn a dish
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| | their choices, have them pick a couple of
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| into children's food is a change in
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| | Filipino recipes from a cookbook in
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| presentation. Instead of serving ice
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| | addition to their favorite foods. If
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| cream in bowls, why not use colorful ice
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| | they're helping cook the meal as well,
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| cream cones in interesting shapes? You
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| | look for simple Filipino cooking recipes
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| can also top them with candy sprinkles,
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| | that they can make with minimum
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| fruit slices, or chocolate powder. If
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| | supervision.
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