Kids are notorious when it comes to eating a proper healthy meal that packs a whole bunch of nutrients that are important for them as they are right into their developmental stages. Their diet plays an important role as to how healthily they would grow up. Picky or fussy eaters are usually used to describe those kids who will eat only a small variety of food and that too with just a few ingredients.

You would rarely find a kid who does not take you to task with his or her picky eating habit. Even kids who usually eat well will often experience phases of refusing foods, but its not a cause of worry as it is only a temporary phase. Hence deal with their fussiness with patience and keep offering them new foods.

Here are a few giveaways that can help you and eventually your kid through their fussy-picky eating habits. The most basic thing that you need to do is distribute ingredients such as type of grains, fruits and vegetables for breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout the week.

Breakfast:
Distribute oatmeal, whole grain toast, buckwheat pancakes, and cereals through the weekdays. When serving grains for breakfast, (such as oatmeal or cereals) be sure to add fruits to them as they would certainly help with the taste and make breakfast interesting for your kids and less daunting for the parent. Distribute types of fruit with the grains. For instance, serve cereals with banana on Mondays and replace them with blueberries or any type of fruit that your kid loves, on Tuesday and so on. Make their breakfast more interesting with offering them mix fruit salad, because admit it, kids go on the appearance of the food before they dig into it. While you are switching between grains and fruit, do alternate between milk and yogurt.

Lunch:
Follow the same pattern, the only thing you need to do as you are serving lunch is, replace oat meal and cereals with multigrain bread or whole grain sandwiches with avocado and or cheese. While serving fruits, alternate between sliced apple and banana slices. Serve them with peanut butter to make their lunch healthier. Kids frown at the sight of vegetables such as broccoli and zucchini. To them, these vegetables appear as horrid as their names. Search online for easy recipes that you can prepare for them in interesting ways. To feed them their daily dose of proteins, serve them with turkey ham or chicken slices. A good way would be including them in sandwiches.

Dinner:
Keep dinner light. Begin with a side of fruit salad. Serve them veggies; you may have to face some frown from their side as kids become really picky when it comes to vegetables. Add grated cheese to tempt them.

Keep the weekends for fun foods. Treat them with a slice of pizza, burger or a cheese cake once or every week, as a gesture to cope with you on your weekly menu planner. This will keep your kid interested and make them less picky.

Pizzas can never go out of style since everyone right from children to older adults are fond of this enticing dish whose origin can be traced to Italy. As a result of you can come across various pizzerias or pizza chains spread across the town. What has enhanced these pizzerias’ appeal is that the pizza delivery services allow people to relish the slice of heaven in the comfort of their home. If it’s a child’s birthday party or a girls-night-in, a large pizza will be the favorite on everyone’s menu. If you are a part of the pizza delivery brigade, a pizza delivery is a chance to earn some quick buck since people pay good tips when they are happy with your pizza delivery services.

Here are easy ways to earn good tips during the pizza delivery service.

• The first thing that can prompt a customer to give you a thumbs-up is being on time. When your pizza delivery services say that the pizza will reach its destination within 30 minutes, you need to be on their doorstep at the same time. Nothing can help you get tips more than being on time.
• Customers value honesty above anything. So, whatever the bill and how meager the change, ensure that you return the change. Do not assume that the customer doesn’t want it. It might be a few cents, but your honesty might be rewarded in dollars.
• Everyone likes being cared for, and your customers are no different. When you are out on a pizza delivery ensure that you carry some add-ons with you. Of course, you aren’t allowed to carry extra food with you, but you can surely carry some napkins, extra ketchup, seasonings, etc. This shows that you value your customer.
• Nobody goes to work dressed sloppily, and this implies that you cannot embark on your pizza delivery routine unless you are properly dressed. Being presentable indicates that you take your work seriously, and also is a mark of respect towards the customer.
• The customer wouldn’t be too pleased if you mix up their orders, and then you lose out on a potential tip. So, before leaving the pizzeria, ensure that you double check all the orders before you set out to deliver pizzas.
• When you communicate with the customer, be polite and smile at them. Everybody likes well-mannered people. If their pet’s tag along with them, do not shoo them away. In case something goes wrong, apologize and assure them this won’t happen again.

All these above-mentioned hacks will ensure that you receive a good tip and will portray your pizzeria in a positive light.

Deserts are the perfect conclusion to a wonderful family dinner. Ingredients can be as simple as a couple of bananas dipped in chocolate to complicated souffles and parfaits. Some of the names are hard enough to spell out, so you can only imagine how difficult it must be to prepare! With creative use of local ingredients and fresh fruits, here are a few ideas for some quick and easy desserts which can be made in a matter of minutes.

Simple fudge: Chocolate, condensed milk and a couple of toppings of your choice. Probably the simplest of all desserts to make, just mix everything together and let it set in the fridge.

Peanut butter fudge: Who doesn’t love peanut butter? Nothing can replace the classic P&B jelly sandwiches which packs all our school lunch boxes on any given day. But instead of using condensed milk, just mix peanut butter with the toppings of your choice to be served chilled. The salty creamy texture of peanut butter mixes well to cut through all that heavy sweetness.

White chocolate Oreo fudge: Bored of dark chocolate fudge? Just swap it with beautiful white chocolate mixed with a couple of crushed Oreos. The preparation method is just as easy as your regular fudge with a selection of toppings of your choice.

Crepes: Not as fancy as it sounds and deceptively simple to make and serve, even for a dessert. Just substitute the filling inside with some chocolate ganache filling with fruits and berries or even Nutella, because well everybody likes Nutella!

Chocolate covered pops: Melt some chocolate in a bowl, add a little bit of spice to it if you want and just dip any fruit or berry you like to make delicious chocolate covered pops. Simple fruits like bananas, apples, different berries and even bacon wraps can be dipped in melted chocolate to be served chilled on a stick just like a Popsicle.

Baked custard: Simple to make with just milk, a couple of eggs, some vanilla extract and spice to top it all off. Custards have a jelly like texture, but just melt in your mouth with that spoonful. Plop it in the oven or microwave to be served later, a perfect conclusion to any three-course meal.

Many other easy to make dessert recipes which just feature three to five ingredients can be found online, with step by step instructions on preparation and serving methods. Experiment with substitute ingredients to make some of these recipes gluten free also.

Mojito has a lot of lovers across the globe and is an instant hit with someone who had it as their first drink. Whether you go partying with your friends or invite someone over, a mojito is a good option to have your share of alcohol without going overboard with it. When you go through the menu card to decide the drinks you would order, you must have observed that mojito does not appear simply as a mojito. There are quite a few variants in mojitos which too are favored and savored by people all around. These variants are quite popular but have you ever given a thought about the origin of your favorite drink or how it was made back then? Maybe not. Many people aren’t so inquisitive about such things, but those who are eager to trace the origin of their beloved drink, read on.

Mojito is originally a Cuban highball! It was believed to be first concocted in Havana, Cuba, but the exact origin of this drink is still unknown. You would probably come across anecdotes regarding the origins of the drink. One such popular belief is that mojito is a variation of the 16th century drink El Draque which was christened after Sir Francis Drake, who landed in Havana after one of his successful expeditions. Another story that you would come across is that it originated in Cuba itself and the name mojito is derived from the word ‘mojo’ which is a Cuban seasoning made from lime and is used in their native dishes. In case you delve deeper about the origins of mojito,  chances are high that you would come across several such stories.

Since your favorite drink has its roots firmly planted in Cuba, you would definitely care to treat yourself to the traditional Cuban mojito. Once you get your hands on the Cuban mojito recipe, you can definitely try it at one of your house parties.

The traditional Cuban mojito would require sprig mints, sugar, lime juice, a decent white rum and ice. Each of these ingredients serve a particular purpose. The sprig mints are the ones that are responsible for giving you the well-deserved refreshment, the sugar is to tickle your sweet tooth, the lime juice serves to give you a bitter-sweet taste and the white rum is what satisfies your need for alcohol and gives the entire drink a distinct taste.

So, try the traditional Cuban mojito recipe and just so you know, mojito was a favorite of one of the most famous authors of all time, Ernest Hemingway. So, flaunt your choice since you share it with one of the most adored personalities in the world.

Mexico is a melting pot of culture, traditions and people, and cuisine is not any different to this idea. Although there were a number of native flavors in the Mexican cuisine, over the period of time, there have been influence from Europe, India, Spain and China as well. We know that Mexican recipes have bold use of flavors and spices that make it a popular cuisine, while the ingredients too are a blend of native as well as foreign influence. Let us look at some of the popular ingredients used in Mexican cooking and how these make a dish delicious.

Indigenous ingredients
Meat was an uncommon element used in the Mexican food till the Spaniards arrived. Therefore, corns and beans were largely used as a staple ingredient. To add to the flavors of the dish, heavy spices and chilies were added too. A wide array of seafood was used as a source of meat for the Mexican dishes. This was especially true for seaside communities who relied on seafood.

Avocados
This is a perfect example of Mexican staple. If you want to add Mexican flavor to any dish, then avocados do it perfectly. One can also use this popular ingredient for a basic dish such as a salad or sandwich.

Cheese
You talk about Mexico and you ought to know about the varieties of cheeses. The Queso Oaxaca, is a Mexican-made cheese used best for quesadillas. If the local market doesn’t have this particular cheese, then people also substitute the same with mozzarella. Other types of cheese used in Mexican food are Queso fresco, which adds saltiness to the recipes and Mild Feta is a perfect substitute for the same.

Chipotle
One of the famous ingredients, Chipotle have been used around the world for various recipes. These smoked-jalapenos come in canned jars and can be easily stored for up to six months. Chipotle are spicy and can be frequently used in marinades and salsas, which is a popular part of the local cuisine.

Mexican oregano
Herbs can make or break a dish and Mexican cuisines and is a different variety of herbs than the ones used in the American recipes.

Poblanos
These are type of mild chili peppers and are popular in the Mexican dishes. Used in almost every dish in the region, poblanos are usually roasted and peeled and a part of everything right from salsas to quesadillas.

Chicken is always a joy a cook and to devour as well. Here are the top ten chicken breast recipe ideas that can easily jazz up your meals for weekends, weekdays, and unjustified snack time.

Chicken parmesan
Chicken Parmesan can be done in two ways, either you can bake it or fry it. You will require ingredients like salt and pepper, spices (optional), fresh herbs, breadcrumbs, eggs, garlic and shredded parmesan cheese, for coating the chicken breast cutlets. Then you can either shallow fry them in olive oil or butter, or either bake them in the oven. You can serve this crunchy delight with some pasta.

Crockpot chicken masala
This yogurt marinated dish, can be served with a steamy plate of rice. All you need is diced chicken breasts, onions, garlic cloves, ginger, tomato paste, garam masala, additional spices and herbs of your choice, and some fresh cream. Add honey if you want to incorporate an element of sweetness. Simmering these in a slow cooker adds a depth in the flavor and the texture of chicken.

Chicken teriyaki
Teriyaki sauce adds a punch of Asian flavors to the succulent piece of chicken. The teriyaki sauce is usually made from soy sauce, mirin, ginger, sugar or honey. Simmer the chicken breast gently in olive oil and gradually cover it with sauce. Garnish it with roasted sesame seeds. You can serve boiled veggies and rice with the teriyaki style chicken.

Chicken pot pie
Pot pie is classic and easy. You need some generous amount of butter, milk, all-purpose flour, fresh veggies like peas, corn, potatoes and carrots, onions, chicken broth or soup, regular seasonings and shredded or diced chicken. After your pour the mixture into a pan, seal it with a pastry and bake it for 45 to 50 minutes until the crust turns golden brown.

Chicken with herb marinate
Chicken breasts marinated in olive oil and fresh herbs is a simple but luscious combination. Use herbs like rosemary, parsley, thyme, chives and oregano infused with olive oil and regular salt-pepper seasoning. Grill it for 20 to 25 minutes.

Chicken Caesar salad
The incorporation of chicken immediately makes you want to relish a fresh salad. To make the Caesar’s salad, you will require crispy croutons, diced pieced of cooked chicken, romaine lettuce, mayonnaise, cheese (preferably parmesan), olive oil, regular seasoning and lemon juice. Chicken Caesar salad is the perfect side dish that you can even whip up from left over ingredients.

Chicken pasta
It’s the weeknight, you’re tired and hungry, so the best thing to put together a chicken pasta. You can go crazy with the variations, it could be fettuccini, penne, or some gnocchi with the combination of the most beautiful vegetables like broccoli, bell peppers, spinach, etc. Nothing can be as adaptable as the combination of chicken and pasta, whether it is in terms of ingredients or flavors, you can work with anything.

Chicken enchiladas
This Mexican recipe is visually appealing and equally appetizing to the taste buds. Enchiladas consist of tortilla which can be stuffed with a filling of diced chicken, spicy elements like chili powder or jalapeno, generous amounts of cheese, sauces and sauteed vegetables. After stuffing the tortillas, place them in a tray or a pan and bake them for around 20 to 30 minutes.

Chicken popcorn
A cuter version of fried chicken, popcorn chicken is something that no adult or kid can resist. The ingredients are the same that is, buttermilk, all-purpose flour, seasonings like salt-pepper and spices of your choice, and vegetable oil. After coating the diced chicken with buttermilk and the seasoned salt, fry them in the oil at medium heat. You can serve it with a barbeque, cheese or yogurt dip.

Chicken skewers
Chicken skewers are a great way to refresh a Sunday morning with family and friends. You can coat these tender pieces of proteins with herbs or a sweet-savory sauce or give it a spicy edge with some curry marinade. However, you choose to cook it, don’t forget to squeeze some lemon juice and serve it along with some flavored dips.

Too much of juice and too little milk could be the reason of lack of calcium in kids. Over processed or fast food is calorie dense but it is nutritionally skimpy. Here is a brief list of nutrients and the food products they are found in abundant that can be a good source of power for your kids and improve their immunity.

Calcium: It is crucial for a child to get habitual of eating calcium rich foods. Calcium rich foods are loaded with vitamin D. This helps in making their bones strong and prevent type one diabetes and other diseases. Some of the best sources of calcium are cheese, yogurt, milk, fortified foods like cereals, waffles and soy milk.

Vitamin E: A great source of antioxidants, vitamin E helps in repairing damaged cells. Kids are deprived of their daily dose of vitamin E because of the fat-free or low fat foods we give our kids to keep them from gaining those unhealthy pounds. The best source of vitamin E are avocado, nuts, peanut butter, wheat germ and spinach.

Fiber: Including high fiber diet in your kid meals helps protect them from various chronic diseases later in life.
Different pediatricians have different recommendations as to how many grams of fiber a kid’s meal should include. Generally, the amount of fiber equivalent to two slices of whole-grain bread, a cup of strawberries and a cup of brown rice is ideal for daily fiber intake. However, you should include the amount of fiber recommended by your pediatrician. Some rich sources of fiber include high fiber cereals, beans, lentils, chickpeas, whole-grain bread, oatmeal, popcorn, nuts, ground flaxseed, sweet potatoes green peas etc.

Potassium: Potassium is a key nutrient in maintaining blood pressure and healthy fluid balance in the body. Pistachios have the highest content of potassium of all the nuts. Kids who are not allergic to nuts can consume them by making trial mix by tossing some unshelled nuts with dried apricots. Some of the best sources of vitamin E include bananas, oranges, white and sweet potatoes, yogurt, cantaloupe, tomatoes and fishes such as cods.

Iron: Deficiency of iron is common among overweight children, who may have high calorie but a nutrient-poor diet. Iron helps red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body. It also plays an important role in brain development in kids. Some of the best sources of Iron include shrimp, beef, chicken, beans, fortified hot and cold cereals etc.

Buffalo meat also known as bison, has emerged as a popular red meat variant in the past few decades. It is a yummy alternative to beef, and is a bit expensive too. But if comparisons are drawn, bison is a healthier red meat option. Packed with proteins and essential nutrients, the buffalo meat has less calories and fats as compared to beef.

The animal from which this leaner red meat is acquired is void of any external hormones, steroids or antibiotics for growth and enhancements, unlike the cow. These buffalos raised on the farm are left to graze the grass freely, i.e. it isn’t excessively domesticated, making its meat richer and highly nutritious. This also helps the environment as it naturally curbs the overgrowth of pastures.

In terms of flavor, buffalo meat is mildly sweet, and denser as well. If you are considering to try or switch to buffalo meat, there are many recipes that you can attempt with it. One of the recipes that you can try with the bison meat is the recipe of buffalo burger.

But why start off with a burger? Because a burger is fuss free and familiar part of our diets. It’s fun, easy to make and even easier to gulp down. You can serve this burger for family and friends during the weekends, or just simply whip it together if you are super famished.

Here’s how you can make a simple but a delectable buffalo burger.

So, for a buffalo burger recipe all you need is grounded buffalo meat, seasoning of salt and pepper, sliced onions and celery stalks and some blue cheese. Firstly, you will need to make patties out of the meat by mixing the buffalo meat and the seasonings thoroughly. If you like you can also add some eggs in the patty mixture. On a pan gently saute sliced onions in butter, with chopped celery and the crumbled blue cheese.

After cooking these ingredients properly, grill the bison patties in another pan in olive oil. Grill them for around 5 to 7 minutes. Remember not to keep them in the pan for too long, as they can get excessively dry. Aim for a medium rare, and then toss them on the grilled buns, add the mixture of caramelized onions and celery. Then slowly incorporate the lettuce leaf, and a tomato slice. You can also add Worcestershire sauce or mayonnaise if you like.

Apart from the juicy buffalo burgers, there are many other recipes that you can experiment with, using the buffalo meat. You can make soups, pastas, kebabs, steaks, meatballs, tacos, pizzas, etc. Check out various cooking websites that can help you with amazing ideas to incorporate buffalo meat in your daily diet.