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