And the winner is.... RYAN and DEMINY! CONGRATS!!!!
Comment #252:
Ryan and Deminy... said...
We eat a lot of lean protein as
well. I also try to "hide" veggies in soups, casseroles.
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Timestamp: 2009-11-12 13:37:00 UTC
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*This is a compensated review from BlogHer and Ragu*
I LOOOVE to cook and try out new recipes every week---so I was beyond thrilled to review 4 different RAGU sauces: Homemade Style Pizza Sauce, Cheesy Classic Alfredo, Old World Style Margherita, and Old World Style Sweet Tomato Basil. The last two are brand new flavors and have a full serving of veggies in every half cup!--That's music to a sneaky Mama's ears! You see, my 2 yr olds are not fond of their vegetables and meals have become somewhat of a battle at times...so I am forced to get creative with my dinner-time-veggie-hiding-food-tactics.
I was VERY impressed with the Ragu website--you guys must check out all of their fantastic recipes! They even have short videos to walk you through your meal preparation- hosted by one of my Food Network favs, Robin Miller! Check them out HERE! But the BEST part about the RAGU recipe collection is a section devoted to Budget-Friendly items with the "cost per recipe/cost per serving" located at the bottom of each dish.
Affordable (many dishes less than $2 a serving), quick (20-30 minute prep) and super easy (5 ingredients or less) meals with a full serving of veggies??? Doesn't get much better than that! So now I'll take you through the Steece Family of Six- Wonderful Week of RAGU Recipes!
MEAL #1: EASY HOMEMADE PIZZA with RAGU Homemade Style Pizza Sauce
Ahhh...homemade pizza! The possibilities are endless--I am an artist and the pizza crust is my blank canvas! I take my pizza making skills VERY seriously---so, likewise, I must have the BEST of the best when it comes to pizza sauce.
I also have the best (and most adorable) little sous-chefs in the whole world!
Big Ben ready to help with the sauce...
...Sweet Savannah piling on the toppings and cheese (stopping ever so often to nibble as she goes--as evidenced by the pasta sauce surrounding her mouth!)
Everyone gathers around to watch the "magic machine" cook the pizza.
YUMMO! How good does this look?!
I must say, I was impressed with the Pizza Sauce---not too thin, not too thick---just right! It had the perfect combination of spices and flavors without being too powerful. (Andrew and Ethan chowing down--the pizza recipe was their favorite)
MEAL #2: CHICKEN ALFREDO WITH FETTUCCINE with RAGU Cheesy Classic Alfredo Sauce
My little helpers are back!
After cooking the chicken in the skillet, I add the RAGU sauce and simmer on low for about 5 minutes. Mix it all together with the pasta--and PRESTO! Dinner is served.
This 4 ingredient meal was a cinch to make! Doesn't it look oh-so-good?
The true test...Ben (God bless him- my pickiest eater) got a couple of bites in
Sav LOVED it and asked for "MO PEEZ" (more please)
Andrew and Ethan ate about half of theirs (which is good)
Daddy was chowin' down! (Gotta love all of these eating pics...classy!)
And you know its good when you end up with Alfredo sauce on your glasses, covering your face and in your hair---Job well done, baby girl! The creamy Chicken Alfredo was easily Savannah's favorite.
MEAL #3: PASTA MARGHERITA with RAGU Old World Style Margherita Sauce
Drew with his RAGU
Cook the pasta. Throw in some cheese, pepperoni, and RAGU Margherita Sauce and WHALLAH! (easy as 1-2-3) Quite possibly the easiest, best tasting dish ever made.
Mr. Picky gave it 2 enthusiastic thumbs up! YAY!
Sav (always saying "CHEEESE"- how appropriate) enjoyed picking the pepperoni out with her fingers.
Drew loved playing with the stringy cheese more than anything
And I'll let Ethan's face do the talkin' (the kid couldn't get enough!)
MEAL #4: HEARTY BAKED RIGATONI with RAGU Old World Style Sweet Tomato Basil Sauce
Savannah- SO eager to help!
After throwing the pasta, sauce, and cheeses together- the dish baked for an easy 30 minutes. What I pulled out of the oven was warm and gooey GOODNESS!
Ethan loved it...Drew took a couple of bites but mostly played around with his pasta
I guess I know who my big-pasta-eater is...look at that mouth! (I don't know who she gets it from! Hee hee) Give her a fork and slap some pasta in front of Savannah and she's good-to-go!
And Benny boy...he was just absolutely sick and tired of eating pasta 4 meals in a row. (Can't help but laugh at this pic...poor guy! Ha)
To recap our favorite recipes:
1) Pasta Margherita was AMAZING!--easily our favorite. The robust flavor of the sauce mixed with the spicy pepperoni and mozzarella was out of this world. Cook it for dinner TONIGHT and you WON'T be disappointed! ($1.70 per serving)
2) Hearty Baked Rigatoni- great taste, love the ooey gooey cheese, reminded me of lasagna, the sauce is a wee bit sweeter than the Margherita sauce and has a hint of basil ($1.27 per serving)
3) Easy Homemade Pizza- can NEVER go wrong with homemade pizza, the sauce is perfect- wouldn't change a thing! Such a quick and EASY meal to put together within minutes! (cost varies with ingredients)
4) Chicken Alfredo with Fettuccine- I was expecting the sauce to taste "store-bought" but was pleasantly surprised, great flavor- but not something that I cannot live without (cost not given)
For more fun with the Steece Family, please stop by our main blog: STEECE'S PIECES! We'd love to have you! ;)
AND NOW THE FUN PART!!! Want to win a $100 Visa gift card?
Simply leave me a comment below and tell me: "How do you feed your kids/family well?"
- Or you may leave a link to your post on your own blog in the comments below. The contest will begin on 10/1/2009 and will end 11/11/2009. Make sure that the e-mail address you leave is correct.
Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive an additional entry by linking on twitter and leaving a link in the comments.
You may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments.
This giveaway is open to US residents, aged 18 and older.
Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail.
You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
Link to the Random Number Generator: http://www.random.org/integers/
Check out the rest of the BlogHer Reviewers' RAGU meals by clicking on this link- you have 10 chances to win a $100 Visa gift card.
(If not working, this link will be up and going sometime today)
For kid-friendly recipes, healthy tips and more, be sure to visit Ragu.com.
Happy Cooking & Good Luck!
522 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 400 of 522 Newer› Newest»I bought, from Costco, Veggie Sticks. My kids love them. That is their before meal snack so they get some vegetable in before dinner and then we try to get them to eat their vegetables at dinner. We have found a little bit of cheese on anything and my "irish twins" will eat it up. Also if you they like to dip stuff put a little catchup or ranch on the tray and they will dip and eat all night!
Great Review! Kraft Foods also has great recipes and they have a magazine that comes out quarterly and it's FREE!!!
lieberts@verizon.net
Thanks for the great reviews,
Wende Liebert
We have milk with dinner, and try to have a veggie and fruit with dinners.
Jessica
babyj_99@hotmail.com
Love your review pictures... So cute....
We do whole grains ~ brown rice, whole wheat bread. My 6 year old son is also a HUGE broccoli and brussel sprouts fan. YEAH. We do a lot of lean meats with the veggies for dinner. Fruit added in as a snack through out the day. A new favorite activity is making fresh carrot juice. YUM.
Lindsey in san diego
It's all about fruits, veggies, lean meats, and whole grains for us. The kids love cheese, so anything that may be not so popular in their book only needs cheese to make it yummy (:. Plus they get extra calcium - always a plus.
I have started them out with fruits and veggies from the beginning. It always makes it easier when you can hide it in something they like already!
My daughter is only 13 months so she will eat most things now. I stick with whole grains and try to get in a fruit and veggie at most meals. She does love pasta so I may try these recipes.
tigers14@bellsouth.net
I try to make sure every meal has fruit, veggies, fiber, and protein. If my elder daughter can help make it, she's really happy and eats more, so the idea of kid friendly recipes is great!!!
Thanks for the review!
I try to keep fresh fruits and veggies around as well as whole grain products.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
Fruits and veggies at each meal.... healthy snacks, limit the junk food
I'm practicing on my husband now, (gently switching him to whole wheat breat, etc.) so we can raise a healthy family!
By doing as much of the cooking ourselves as possible, we are able to include veggies and beans and whole grains without too much salt or fat or additivies.
orangetriangle2 AT yahoo DOT com
My baby girl is just beginning to eat "real" food, and it is so fun for me! She loves loves loves green beans and peas, so I make sure she gets a good veggie every night at dinner. She is also a blueberry girl, so she gets some sort of fruit (blueberries alot of the time) at lunch.
My kids love fruits and veggies...It's just a matter of having them washed and ready to grab when they're hungry.
laurie@qts.net
I try to buy meats when they're on sale and freeze it so we don't have an excuse to go out! I use whole weat pasta and fruits and veggies as often as possible to keep it healthy!
We make a mexican lasagna that has lots of of protein and veggies in it. My son loves it!
This summer I fed my family well by planting a garden so we would have lots of fresh vegetables on hand for meals and snacking. We'll definitely be doing this again next year.
I try to involve my kids in meal making and I find that they tend to eat better with meals that they help prepare. We enjoy making incividual pizzas with bagels. Each kid gets a bagel and chooses their own toppings. I puree lots of veggies to sneak into food like homemade meatloaf, meatballs, pasta sauces, baked mac and cheese, etc.
My kids also enjoy smoothies. I blend assorted frozen fruits with yogurt and ice for a refreshing treat!
Frozen grapes are also a wonderful treat!
My email is:
Cagrasso@yahoo.com
Thanks!
Those all look like super yummy recipes! I need to take a look!
My kids are very good eaters so I usually don't have any problems getting them to eat. But I always try to incorporate fruits and vegetables, a lean meat, whole grains, and healthy snacks like string cheese, yogurt, fruit, veggies and dip, baked crackers, etc.
jbowlin93 (at) embarqmail (dot) com
Since I just started staying home, I've been cooking a lot more. I use healthy ingredients when I can (as long as it doesn't make the recipe too tough for me)!
I try to cook simple things without a lot of preservatives. We try to eat as much fresh fruit and veggies as possible-for snacks and meals!
Loved the review! I have been reading your blog since your quads were born and they are precious!! Thanks for sharing with us!
sarah@theorchardoxford.net
lots of fruits... we struggle w/ veggies. My 2 year old still eats jar food because SHE WILL! and she WON"T eat most other forms of veggies. Ragu sounds worth trying!
First I want to say I loved your review post - this is my first visit to your blog (found you via BlogHer) and I just love your style with all the pics! Your kids are ADORABLE!
My son and I are learning together to eat healthier now. I was terrible at it before and he learned bad habits, now we are learning together how to make healthier choices.
For my family, I blend veggies in the magic bullet and hide them in a meat loaf...
My other healthy feeding method is to put a V8 in my homemade tomato sauce...
I also noticed my son is a dipper, if I give him some salad dressing to dip carrot sticks into.. he will eat then up :)
Awesome pictures of your family!
My kids are allowed to eat fruits (in moderation) & veggies whenever they want.
Offer them a "choice" between milk & water when thirsty... they almost always pick water, especially if they can use the ice dispenser on fridge!
I try to cook balanced meals and include whole grains, lean meats, and veggies! Also have to include low fat and low sugar desserts. Gotta have dessert!!
-Leslie
lgaston@angelo.edu
I do the sneak attack too! We also serve healthy dips with fresh veggies...it always seems to make them taste better.
my email is:
whynotdancewithus@yahoo.com
We get lots of great respies from our grocery store's "meal deal" features, which they cook in store and give samples of. We've gotten lots of good ones that way! The girls love them because they saw someone besides mom cooking them first, and got to try them.
We are huge homemade pizza lovers. We use the Ragu sauce that you used and love it!
My boys do not like pasta in any form or fashion. It makes dinner time interesting at our house.
They are pretty good veggie eater and love homemade Chicken bowls - like KFC's - mashed potatoes (gravy optional), grated cheese, corn, and popcorn chicken all mixed together. My oldest usually doesn't eat corn but will demolish it as long as it is mixed with the potatoes.
They love Mexican and we eat Tacquitos a lot.
I enjoy your blog and I am going to try the Alfredo - minus the noodles of course!
brooke.yarbrough@yahoo.com
One of my kids favorite dishes is Inside out raviolis. Mix a jar spaghetti sauce with 1 lb browned ground beef, cook medium shell pasta, toss all of the above with spinach and shredded cheddar cheese put in a casserole dish and top with more shredded cheese and bake for 30 minutes. Oh so good. And the kids love it and don't say a word about the spinach.
We try to use as many fresh fruits and veggies as possible.
My twins are also really big pasta eaters...We also eat lots of pork loin...grilled, shredded, baked, broiled...they like it a lot...and pretty much anything you can wrap up in a tortilla!!!
I love to cook quick, cheap, healthy foods for my family! I'm lucky that all three of my kids like broccoli & at least a few other veggies. Any tricks on getting the HUBBY to enjoy his veggies, too, would be greatly appreciated!
We try to cook at home most nights, usually not on the weekends. We grill a lot and cook with lean ground turkey alot. I am always looking for great things to feed kiddos since we found out we are expecting. I am trying to build up my kid friendly recipe book so i will be prepared when the time comes!
Kelsey
We eat whole grains, and whole wheat breads and pastas. I offer fruits and veggies at every meal. Try to offer fruits and cheese as a snack as often as possible.
Thanks!
tobym33@cox.net
I own a daycare/preschool! My sister and I have had a home built and run the program out of the home (no one lives there) We are a busy group with 14 kids and are always looking for healthy things to serve our daycare children. we give them diced chicken breasts instead of chicken nuggets. Whole grain pastas, wheat bread etc.. I feel that once the child starts eating give them the healthy version wheat instead of white
Like another family, I too have to eat Gluten Free and sometimes GF pasta is not the greatest. Looks to me that all these recipes would make any GF meal delicious. I think the pizza would be a hit with my kids too!
Hopefully my blog friends will check out my post on http://nowlingfamily.blogspot.com/.
well i am a family of one, so i eat my fruits and veggies usually as mid morning and mid day snacks, as well as at dinner.
bluesoulam (at) msn (dot) com
Luckily my kids seem to like veggies enough to put them in every meal. I do alot of broccoli because it's the one veggie that all three love. Alot of kids like raw carrots so that is also a good one to put on the side. green beans, artichokes, cauliflower are all veggies my kids like.
I've found that having the good stuff available and ready to eat helps immensely. As soon as you bring a watermelon home, cube it. Ready to go. Buy baby carrots (or peel and cut big boys into "kid size" and store in the fridge with some ranch-instant snack. Saves mom time and hearing "what is there to eat?"
I try to make sure we have veggies for lunch and dinner, and I try to buy items with whole grains, flax, omega 3s - I just recently discovered sweet potato pancakes - the "breakfast" vegetable. :p
thanks for the chance to win!
rchampagne@bocmail.net
Lots and lots of veggies... fruits and veggies are a must to keep stocked in the house. Red meat is very rare in hour meals. It comes down to every meal has both raw veggies and fruit -- yes even if there is a cooked veggie you can also find raw veggies on the table as well. Need the variety since since the girls can be picky when it comes to cooked or non-cooked.
Shelby
shelby.mcgee@gmail.com
I live 1.5 hours from major grocery shopping, so I plan out my meals a month in advance. This helps me stay 'on task' in feeding good, nutritious meals to my family instead of just the easy boxed stand-byes! It also helps me stay on budget and avoid the temptation to eat out all of the time.
I ensure that I serve fruits and veggies in every meal!! We usually only eat lean proteins and stay away from processed foods.
I love the protein plus pastas that are available now. My boys are picky eaters but both love pasta. It has as much protein as chicken.
I try and feed my kids well by eating at home rather than eating fast food or eating out.
We eat lots of fresh fruits and raw veggies! They make great snacks instead of cookies, crackers, etc.
holmwe@mansfieldisd.org
We eat only whole grains and fresh veggies/fruits...which we love. We drink mostly water, our girls have never had soda(6 year old and 2 year old twins), though I do drink it occasionally. I am currently doing Weight Watcher and have lost almost 30 pounds, I believe the whole family has benefited from the healthier cooking.
By the way.....you inspired me to make a pizza with the Ragu sauce with my daughter yesterday....LOVED it!
Using Weight Watcher recipes guarantees that the meals are healthy!
jbrodt@gmail . com
To keep healthy foods into our lives we consider taste and portion control. We start our day every day with a fruit, a cup of milk, and bagel, waffle, oatmeal, etc. Lunch we get in a veggie and a fruit as well as whole grains, dinner another veggie and main corse. I love using crockput meals from 365 days of using the crockpot, so I have more time around the house and less time in the kitchen..
Personal favorite is chicken breasts in the crockpot with stuffing on top -- FABU!!!
Mallory @ mkshemanski@gmail.com
I am one picky eater, however being 98% vegan helps cut out a lot of junk! I have always loved fruits and veggies. I try to follow the food pyramid and watch my caloric intake.
Falisha
falisha.young@mavs.uta.edu
It can be a challenge to get kids to eat well, but I try to keep the fruits they will eat on hand, and I finely chop veggies in lots of things so they get them without even knowing!
We eat a lot of lean protein as well. I also try to "hide" veggies in soups, casseroles.
Deminy
dem_113 (at) yahoo (dot) com
I make sure to steam vegetables rather than boil them so that the nutrients won't leech out into the water, which will be thrown away anyway. Steaming the vegetables helps keep the good stuff where it belongs.
I try to hide veggies in everything!
I have a 12 month old and am trying to squeeze in as many whole grains and veggies as I can, I don't want her to get used to french fries and sweets if I can help it. Lately she wants to eat what is on our plates, which makes us eat a little healthier too.
Ragu is one of our favorites. We try to skip bread with our dinners to cut down on startches.
joni42209@gmail.com
We ALWAYS have fruit on hand in the house. My picky toddler is not the best veggie eater but his ped told me as long as he is getting enough fruit it is fine for right now. We are also big on whole wheat, milk, and healthy snacks.
We try to stick to a low amylose diet (which helps with my pcos)...so that means no carbs, no sugars and no root veggies. NOT easy, but very healthy! I'm seeing a lot of soups in my wintery future!
Christina
christinambw@gmail.com
Link to twitter:
http://twitter.com/christinambw
Christina
christinambw@gmail.com
My kids' latest favorite treat is cutting up several types of fruit (grapes, apples, bananas, oranges) into small chunks and stir in peach flavored yogurt. We always require them to eat fruit or veggies with each meal. Luckily, my kids aren't picky eaters so it's usually not a big issue.
I feed them well by using as many fresh ingredients I can. If I can't get fresh I choose ingredients that I love and trust and that taste good. I try to balance meals as much as possible.
blogged http://theartofrandomwillynillyness.blogspot.com/2009/10/ragu-and-blogher.html
http://twitter.com/carogonza/status/4657657111 - tweeted
We have a fruit and veggie at lunch and dinner. We started this from the beginning and our 2 and 1/2 year old is one of the only kids in his daycare that LOVES veggies and fruits. :-)
P.S. I printed a bunch of those recipes out! Thanks!
Fruits and veggies are essential at every meal for my family of four. My kids absolutely LOVE veggies and I always make sure there is plenty of it in the house for snacks!
tweeted http://twitter.com/annedoggett/status/4658629985
jedoggett@embarqmail.com
My philosophy is to cook once and have two meals. The freezer is my best friend!
sally.m.armstrong@gmail.com
my son is a football player so he's always got a healthy appetite. I have yet to find a meal he wont try. I'm always looking for ways to stretch my meals, so the Ragu recipes will definetly come in handy.
Thanks,
Erin
eladybugg91@aol.com
www.erinsphotographyspot.blogspot.com
I make my own baby food to encourage healthy eating!
blogged
http://givemeagiveaway.blogspot.com/2009/10/ragu-and-blogher-giveaway.html
We are trying to cut out needless carbs and use whole grains. Plus we are doubling up on veggies and salads and keeping the meats lean.
I try to offer at least one veggie at dinner every night.
Shannonhaynes.blogspot.com
mrshaynes24@aol.com
We try to eliminate as many high processed and sugary foods from the pantry that we can and encourage fresh food and lots of fruit.
I try to have a good variety, including fruits and veggies at every meal. I love trying new things and trying to broaden the horizons for my kids!!
Ashley
davidandashley@hotmail.com
While making dinner (my kids are usually hungry and fussy at this time) I give them fruits and veggies on a plate and they are hungry enough they eat them and by the time they are done dinner is ready, which is usually something from "Cooking Light".
kristina4klotz@hotmail.com
Additional entry...I posted a link on my blog...
http://teenytime.blogspot.com
kristina4klotz@hotmail.com
We offer lots of fruits and vegetables with each meal. Last night my son ate his green beans all up first, then asked for more. How can you say no to that?
My trick is to be organized! I have to have all my ingredients on hand or I will "cheat" and either eat out or make a frozen meal...yuck! I plan a menu for each week and make one big grocery trip. We also have an organic produce company that brings fresh veggies and fruits to our door.
Kristi
krstgray@gmail.com
I consider myself a healthy cook, although I also like to think of myself as balanced and try to give a mix of comfort food too. My best trick with my 4 yr and 2 yr old is to mix some baby squash or sweet potato puree into their kraft mac and cheese. They've had it this way so long they don't know the difference and I get to give them an extra helping of veggies that isn't smothered in ranch!
Thanks for all the tips,
-Sherri
sherrikandjosh@gmail.com
I meal plan like crazy and make sure there are 1-2 fruits/veggies with every meal
We do fruits and veggies with every neal, plus i am always "sneaking in and hiding" spinach or other veggies into foods that they like!!
Pasta Margherita looks good, yum yum! May have to try this really soon :) Love the pics of the little ones.....they are so cute. Hope I win! Thanks, Tammy gordonfan@embarqmail.com
I am trying to do more homemade and less pre-made meals. Cutting out preservatives as much as I can. I'm also trying to make eating healthy fun! I'm still working on how to do this...but so far letting my daughter cook with me has worked pretty well!
We also do lots of fruit. I think a very important thing is portion control. We need to remember that they are still little and give them appropriate amounts. As a teacher I see mom's packing lunches for their 4 year olds which are ridiculously huge. I love these Ragu recipes and have cooked with Ragu a lot.
walkerloriellen@hotmail.com
I make sure we have balanced meals. Water instead of soda, cooking from scratches instead of processed food. Buy natural/organic products whenever possible as long as it's within the budget.
http://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/4676657428 tweet
http://tcarolinep.blogspot.com/2009/10/giveaway-product-reviews-from-quad-mom.html blogged.
It is a rule that all the fruits and veggies have to be eaten before any junk food! We have also switched to whole grain bread & pasta.
katiebug_1023@yahoo.com
I try to make sure we're eating lots of veggies - veggie soup or salad with dinner, and usually another vegetable too. We're cutting out red meat for now too.
I plan all my meals in advance and always offer new foods to eat and try. My kids are very good eater! ajsahm@gmail.com
My son is 18 now but he and I struck up a deal that as long as he gave something an honest try, and didn't assume he hated it he didn't have to eat something he hated. He loves salads, broccolli, and many other veggies.
I make whole-grain bread from scratch. We also have a very large veggie garden and fruit trees so the kids get this with every meal. It's amazing how much the little ones are more willing to eat FRESH veggies/fruit because it tastes so much better and because they helped grow and harvest it.
I have a very picky eater and sneak in the fruits and veggies every chance I can get. But try to offer them with every meal.
mainly just trying to cook at all and avoid eating out all the time
I feed my family whole grain breads, rice, pastas with plenty of fresh vegetables and fruit. I also buy products that use natural or organic ingredients.
I only have my boyfriend to feed, but we eat a lot of whole grains and vegetables, often not even eating meat! Try adding broccoli to your chicken alfredo - no one notices when "trees" are covered in cheese!
I try to 'add an extra color' at each meal. (My son is 6 months old so we give him 2 different foods - fruit, veggie or grain combination - at each meal)
We try to eat fruit and vegetables at every meal!
My kids are all great eaters and sneaking in veggies has never been a need although I do try to sneak in some extras. I've discovered my little kids will eat anything if they can dip it - in ranch, in blue cheese, in anything.
I try to feed my little boy at least one fruit and veggie at each meal. And I try to stay away from fast food!
kliver5150 at yahoo dot com
We don't buy junk food. Our kids usually only snack on fruits and veggies.
I try to sneak healthy stuff in the dishes that my kids love - like pureed chicken in pasta dishes.
Lisa
Nokepo70@gmail.com
#1 I don't force them to eat everything on the plate. If they are full, fine. I put it in the fridge in case they get hungry again. No treat, no bananas, ice cream, etc. unless dinner is finished. No fussing over them eating everything. I mean, when we are full, then we should stop eating, right? :) Dinner is now ENJOYABLE. Whew!
pleasantpennies (at) yahoo (dot) com
I love to get my family involved in the cooking - kids love to help and are curious about what is in their food, and it's a great opportunity to teach them how to make their own healthy food. Thanks for the giveaway!
I try to sneak in veggies wherever I can. For example, I will grate carrots with a cheese grater and mix the grated carrots into whatever I'm making. You can never taste it but you're getting a serving of veggies!
kkondek at gmail.com
Tweet! http://twitter.com/ktkatherine/status/4786712327
kkondek at gmail.com
Blogged here: http://letswinstuff.tumblr.com/post/210179265/more-ragu-reviews-and-100-visa-gift-card-giveaway
kkondek at gmail.com
This is going to sound a little strange, but one thing I do is not allow snacks every day. Everybody I know thinks kids need at least 2 snacks a day. I think they’re wrong. Sometimes it makes sense, like when dinner is going to be a bit late or breakfast was rushed, but normally, snacking just keeps them from eating the nutritious foods I want them to have at meals. They love everything I feed them, clean their plates at most meals, and haven’t learned that snacking is a way to cure boredom.
Tweeted: http://twitter.com/Getalonghome/statuses/4793097726
Blogged: http://getalonghome.com/?p=1641
I abke and don't fry, buy organic when possible and the kids have to try everything MORE THAN ONCE!
tuesdayef at aol dot com
you can't go wrong with feeding them Ragu because my family gets a full serving of veggies and of course no transfats.
teechbiz at gmail dot com
Today, I as I do every week during growing season, I picked up a box of fresh produce from my CSA. It was brimming with squash, broccoli, apples, carrots, corn, lettuce, eggplant, and more!
Raising 3 boys and a girl as a single Mom I had to make sure they were eating healthy fresh food. I cooked meals and Ragu saved the day quite a few times. My kids love spagetti and maetballs,lasana one of the favorites,chicken catatori and the house favorite Pork chop casserole. I couldn't make without Ragu. Saving me time and always a great healthy meal.
tweet
http://twitter.com/velvet1116/status/4805012239
matternu@aol.com
Balanced meals!
We eat a lot of raw or simple side dishes. Instead of whipping up a complex side dish that has a lot of butter, cream, or preservatives we just simply slice up some raw veggies and enjoy!
I stop by Faithful Provisions and see what items are on sale to make the most of cooking.
JKBrownlee@gmail.com
I don't have kids, but I try to feed myself well by eating lots of fruits and veggies!
We use lots of coupons and cook a variety of meals - from fruits and veggies to meats and pizzas to breakfast for dindin - variety and frugality!!
jamieandandre at bellsouth dot net
Tweeted! :)
http://twitter.com/SavinginStyle/status/4847818288
jamieandandre at bellsouth dot net
Hi, this is my first visit. your family is beautiful! your kids are just adorable, and those little glasses on your daughter are so cute!
I don't have kids, but I'm always trying to cook new dinners for myself and my live in sweetie. He's a good sport he'll try anything that I make. His favorite, and mine too, is baked stuffed peppers, I stuff them with rice, bread stuffing, spices, and small chunks of pepperoni. delish.
thank you!
mpelosi at partners dot org
blogged http://abdoggett1.blogspot.com/2009/10/you-can-win-100-visa-gc-from-ragu.html
jedoggett@embarqmail.com
Thank GOD I have pretty healthy kids! They'll eat most fruits and veggies, so I serve them up all the time! :) --Michelle, blogattoday[-at]gmaildotcom
Tweet! http://twitter.com/sweepstakesgirl/status/4876365120. :) --Michelle, blogattoday[-at]gmaildotcom
They must always eat their veggies and fruit w/ every meal before any snacks are had!
I had once made a goal of planning out our meal for two weeks at a time. Yeah, three kids? I'm totally ADD and can never remember to do it. However, we do try to feed them organic, as much as we can afford, or at least local. And I can fruits and veggies in the summer, to eat throughout the year.
There are several ways at my home to feed the kids well; however, my best way is to let my hubby cook. The kids love his cooking!
I feed my family well by having home cooked meals as much as possible and incorporating lots of fruits and vegetables into the menu.
jmomblogs@gmail.com
Blogged here: http://amoores.com/2009/10/16/how-do-you-feed-your-family-well/
jmomblogs@gmail.com
We try to eat lean meats, lots of home grown veggies from our own yard and fruits. We try to cut out the sugar and white flour and replace it with whole wheat and spelnda. I like to shop for locally grown and organic foods
"How do you feed your kids/family well?"
Shockingly, my daughter loves fresh veggies as much as I do. The twins won't eat fresh veggies. But we have a veggie for every meal.
They love fruits, but the acids in most fruits have torn us away for the sake of my one twin's teeth. But we still eat em all the time :)
Good luck to everyone!
Crystal Mason
mrsofficer25@yahoo.com
http://marvelousmasons.blogspot.com
I use a mix of prepared and fresh foods to make dinner that is easy and nutritious
We try to eat lots of fresh produce and joined a local farm share. Very fun, but also very challenging to think up new recipes each week!
paigemturner@HOtmail.com
my boys aren't great veggie eaters so I make sure they have fruit w/ every meal
Luckily I have a lot of nutritional background which helps make sure everyone's nutritional needs are met, but I use a local farm share to make sure there is ALWAYS a supply of fresh fruits and veggies around so there is no excuse not to have nutritious meals.
I admit, if I'm tired and at the grocery store I can easily leave the produce section empty handed so this helps make sure I take care of my family.
I try to do lots of fruit and veggies - even if the kids don't always eat them. At least they get exposed to them!
We try to focus on season ingredients and lots of variety.
The Sneaky Chef - she sneaks veggies in almost everything! I saw her on our local news one day and I am hooked. The cool thing is that you can use baby food veggies and the kids don't even know it.
We try to eat organic when we can.
rachelcay (at) aol (dot) com
I must say the last picture of your son sick of pasta is hysterical! My kids are pretty bad eaters but my ped says that they'll eat when they're hungry. We always have lots of cut fruits and veggies in the fridge and on the go which my kids love. As far as real meals I try not to make anything different from what I eat myself. They all have different favorites so we try to rotate and as long as it's fresh most of them will eat it.
aahaft at gmail dot com
I always plan meals ahead b/c I buy in bulk. I go to the grocery store once a month and stock up on EVERYTHING and it saves money on food and saves trips to the store. It helps you limit your budget better so your not spending unnecessary money on junk items and more on meals.Ragu is one of our favorite sauces and something everyone agrees on. Thanks for the chance to win!
Sometimes it's really hard, but I try to make my meals from scratch. The less processed the food it, the better. Pasta and sauce would be a great meal though, especially since the Ragu sauce counts as a serving of veggies!
we try a new food each week and at the grocery we dont buy junk food or try to buy less.
lmurley2000@yahoo.com
tweeted
http://twitter.com/lmurley2000/status/5314497408
lmurley2000@yahoo.com
I try to make meals from scratch all the time, that way I know what's going in our meals.
I tweeted! http://bit.ly/3my6eY
I blogged about it! http://savingsonaisle9.blogspot.com/2009/10/giveaway-round-up.html
We substitute healthy ingredients whenever possible!
clarissa at digitaldeacons dot com
i try and limit the sugary snacks....
In addition to keeping fruits and veggies around, when we cook, we usually cook more than 1 meal at a time, portion the leftovers and freeze them for healthy lunches or another dinner
tweet http://twitter.com/vlbsweeps/status/5391528770
I try to add veggies to things my boys will eat like pizza. I make them homemade with whole wheat pitas or other healhty bread and put all sorts of veggies like spinach and peas. My email is in my profile. Thanks!
I try to feed my kids well by giving them veggies and fruits at least once daily as well as whole grain pastas and breads. I also make sure they drink 2% milk and orange juice for their vitamins. If they want a snack, I like to give them celery or carrots as well as organic chips and apple chips. Thanks so much for such a wonderful giveaway!
Eloise
furygirl3132[at]comcast[dot]net
I tweeted: http://twitter.com/furygirl3132/status/5522072765
Eloise
furygirl3132[at]comcast[dot]net
We try to eat organic as often as we can. There's always fruit in the house for them to eat. We eat plain yogurt and add fruit to it. I make them fruit smoothies frequently. We only eat whole-grain pasta and we limit sugar consumption.
I tweeted this giveaway
http://twitter.com/THEotherCYNtwit/status/5545241940
I try to give my daughter a balanced diet from all food groups. I try to gives her more fruits and veggies rather than candy and junkfood for snacks!
jeanette huston
chewysmum79@yahoo.com
I blogged about this giveaway here
http://myentries79.blogspot.com/2009/11/visa-100-gift-card-sponsored-by-ragu.html
jeanette huston
chewysmum79@yahoo.com
I tweeted you here
http://twitter.com/gijeanie/status/5547748944
Jeanette Huston
chewysmum79@yahoo.com
I feed my kids well with Ragu of course !
jtrophy at gmail dot com
www.icoulduseadeal.blogspot.com
It's easier to get the fam to eat well and healthy when they are part of the process. When we all prepare a meal and everyone has
'ownership' for a portion of it, they are more interested in the outcome, the flavor and the best part, enjoying it together!
By having healthy, not sugary cereals on hand, and we use low fat milk on the cereal, or we snack on the cereal dry.
I used the Google Account Identity entry/post method you have on your site.
Thank you,
Lauralee.
We have fun! I.E. - we have fun with foods like veggies - and my daughter LOVES eating trees (broccoli). Also, we have her help us make the food so it's a family project and she is proud of what the end product is and can say SHE made it!
We try to shop local and organic! :)
We try to incorporate veggies and fruits into every meal to make it healthier. I love Ragu pasta sauce, it is a family favorite!
Tweet!
http://twitter.com/simplyandreah/status/5567532312
We sneak the fruits and veggies in without them even knowing. I especially do it with spaghetti. They don't even notice this veggies in it!
http://scsoldierswife.blogspot.com/2009/11/ragu-contest.html
My blog!
http://scsoldierswife.blogspot.com/2009/11/ragu-contest.html
My blog!
I feed the family well by making healthy meals and encouraging them to eat. I also make cooking a priority, the laundry might not get done but I will make a hot nutritious meal every night. I serve lots of veggies, and try not to have much junk food in the house.
tweeted
http://twitter.com/lunaj1456/status/5594687440
I blogged about the contest
http://lunaj1456.blogspot.com/2009/11/win-from-ragu.html
We usually make the vegetables the main part of the meal, and eat only small portions of meats and starches
I try to buy as much fresh fruits & veggies as I can, as well as whole grains, lowfat dairy products, and we try to buy free-range organic meats whenever possible.
I blogged:
http://fibrofoggy.blogspot.com/2009/11/giveaways-around-blogosphere.html
sorry, don't like Ragu brand. have you noticed it has the highest sodium content of all pasta sauces? so practically you are just eating sodium!
BUT I do like the $100 visa card!
lcbaldridge@yahoo.com
My 1 year old is very very picky. I try to steam her veggies to make them nice & soft and just pray that she will try at least one bite :)
We are avoiding grains, starches and dairy at our house, but we love to cook plain fishes like tilapia in tomato sauce with some vegetables like onions and okra. I like your food and recipe posts :)
Thanks!
Ellen
ellenamandag@yahoo.com
Both of my boys love fruits & veggies, so it's not usually too hard to get them to eat well. I have to work hard to make sure they get enough protein. :-)
we always try to use whole-grain pasta and bread... and we don't have any sodas in the house!
(sorry first post I forgot my email)
brittneymelton523@gmail.com
As much as we can, we present fruits and veggies with each meal. He loves chicken and any pasta or pizza dish I can cook up.
I grate zuccini and carrots into our Ragu sauce to boost the veggies in our spagetti dinners.
We eat lots of chicken for dinner at our house and try to have a different vegetable each night of the week. My kids love to have fruit as a snack. I have been buying different fruits to try like kiwi berries and pomegrantes which were a big hit. I like to add veggies to recipes when I can.
I limit the amount of juice my son drinks and try to give the kids fruits or veggies in place of other snacks.
Lots of veggies, fruit for snack (or we try to most days) and I threw out the Halloween candy after they got one night of gluttony!!!!!!
aeagll@yahoo.com
I wish we ate better. The only veggie my 2 year old will touch is carrots! I need help!
We are vegetarians, so we eat tons of fruit and veggies. And because my husband is never home when I cook, which is hard to do with two under two clinging onto my legs, I do a lot of 30 minute, one pot recipes. Pasta, veggie soups with whole grains and legumes, and black bean burritos are some of our favorites!
I like to make sure Brody eats a fruit, veggie and meat at lunch and dinner adn grains at breakfast!!
i try to include a lot of fresh ingredients as well as lots of veggies (not cooked in load of oil and butter). portion control is also something we focus on.
I use whole wheat pasta and always mix in a vegetable with everything I cook! If you mix it in and don't mention it, then they will never know!
I try to make it to the store once a week, if I am not able to go very often we end up eating take out...
We sneak veggies into meals via steaming, pureeing and mixing!
amcg326@hotmail.com
Ally
mmmmm, I will have to try them all! Love that they have recipes on their website!!
We have 3 VERY picky eaters.... so we just keep introducing new things along with healthy options they love... so maybe a new pasta dish or casserole with a BIG serving of fresh red pears, slices of banana and carrots... at least what they are eating is good for them... AND I have been making "breakfast" breads and muffins LOADED with zucchini, blueberries, pumpkin and banana... I can control the fat and sugar and they LOVE their muffins... make a HUGE batch of mini muffins - toss in the freezer and take them out to thaw the night before... easy, healthy and baked with mama's love!
PICK ME.... PICK ME....
I feed them lots of crazy combos right now. I try to hide protein in their fruits. A giant blog of tofu blends easily into their favorite: Nannacado! Your pastas look super yummy and I'm thinking we may need to make more noodles around here!
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