It’s a familiar scene shared
through numerous family homes – that of children tucking into a plateful of
chips. Nobody is quite sure why but for some reason this potato product is the
mainstay of a child’s diet. Perhaps it’s the taste or the bite-size portions
which make them easy to consume? Maybe it’s the connotations with fast food or
perhaps it’s because they’re quick to make which means parents are more likely
to serve them up!
Whatever the case, an
increasing focus on healthy eating has meant many parents have questioned their
children’s love affair with chips. So, is there a way to separate the two? And
if not then how can you make the arrangement a beneficial one?
Introduce new foods
If you find that chips dominate the dinner plates then the
first thing you need to do is start trying to introduce new foods. Stick with
potatoes to start with but trying cooking them in different options. Wedges,
jacket potatoes and oven-cooked roasties are all fantastic options available
from brands like McCain and make a great alternative to everyone’s favourite McCain chips.
Once you’ve got your kids
familiar with other potato options you can then look at changing to a different
food group altogether. Pasta is a firm family-favourite so why not experiment
with different types?
If your little ones struggle
with spaghetti and you’re sick of cleaning up the mess they leave behind then
why not make a traditional Bolognese with a different type of pasta? Fusilli
spirals are a great option but colourful pasta shells and bows work just as
well. These are actually called Conchigliette and farfalle.

Make chips healthy
Even if you manage to
introduce other foods into your kids diets you’ll still find chips have a place
in your kitchen. To give your children a treat they enjoy whilst tackling the
health aspects, make sure you cook your chips as healthily as possible.
Oven cooked varieties can be
healthier than you realise – especially as they don’t need to be submerged in
oil or fat to be cooked. Alternatively, you may want to look at investing in a
health fryer. These can produce perfectly golden chips in next to no time and
all while only using one small spoonful of oil.
**Image: Freedigitalphotos.net/mrsiraphol
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