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Summer vacations have come to an end. Several months of beach, friends, snacks, pool time, and indulgent meals. But it’s time to get back to the routine. And it’s not just about going back to school or the office; it’s also about re-establishing those healthy habits. During summer, we often neglect our diet, despite our best efforts, as ice cream and cold beer win against the high temperatures.
Therefore, in this blog post, we propose discussing the importance of maintaining a good diet and the essential foods that should not be missing in your children’s diet as they return to school. Don’t miss it!
The Little Ones and Broccoli
The little ones at home are often resistant to consuming fruits and vegetables, which are two fundamental pillars for adequate nutrition and growth. That’s why we suggest involving children in grocery shopping and, as much as possible, engaging them in cooking. By doing this, they feel involved and learn the importance of including various foods in the shopping basket, discovering that a correct and balanced diet is essential for their development and growth.
You can also choose a day of the week to prepare a healthy meal together. This not only raises awareness but also allows them to experiment with cooking. Sometimes, all it takes is a bit of imagination to turn an unappetizing plate of broccoli into a delicious recipe. Remember that when a food doesn’t look appealing, let your imagination run wild and present it in a fun and attractive way. For example, create landscapes or figures with vegetables, offer different shapes and colors of vegetables, or serve the recipe on their favorite plate. While it might seem like a significant time investment, presentation is everything in the kitchen, and children will likely enjoy vegetables if they see them as a fun game.
Another original idea, though not always feasible, is to have your vegetable garden at home. This way, the little ones can learn how vegetables are grown, cared for, and harvested.
Recipes with Broccoli as the Star
Need ideas for cooking broccoli? Take note of these two recipes:
Broccoli Croquettes
Ingredients for about 20 croquettes:
- 150 g of broccoli
- 250 ml of milk
- 2 tablespoons of flour
- 2 tablespoons of butter
- 100 g of cheddar cheese, cut into small cubes
- Salt and pepper
- 2 eggs
- Bread crumbs
- Oil for frying
Preparation:
Steam or microwave the broccoli. Chop it finely and set it aside. To prepare the béchamel, melt the butter in a pan, add the flour, and toast for 3 or 4 minutes. Add the hot milk and stir until it thickens. Add salt, pepper, and broccoli. Transfer the mixture to a dish, cover it with plastic wrap, and let it cool for at least 2 hours until the dough thickens.
With hands greased with a little oil, take portions of the dough and form balls. Press your finger in the center, place a piece of cheddar cheese, reshape gently to close the croquette, and roll in breadcrumbs, egg, and breadcrumbs again. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
Heat plenty of oil and fry the croquettes until golden brown. Enjoy!
Pasta with Broccoli Pesto
Ingredients:
- 200 g of raw broccoli
- 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
- 20 g of grated Parmesan cheese
- 60 ml of cooking cream
Preparation:
Cook the broccoli until tender. Finely chop them with a food processor until you get a creamy consistency. Season to taste, add the cream and Parmesan, and set aside.
Cook the pasta, and when done, reserve a cup of cooking water. In a bowl, mix the pasta with the pesto, adding cooking water as needed if it’s too dry. Serve hot.
How did you like our post? Ready for a healthy return to school?
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