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