This is turning out to be a giveaway-packed week (check out Monday’s Canvas Photo giveaway). I’m still catching up from a busy September and am finally getting around to a few of the giveaways I’ve had on hold for weeks. This is a fun one!
Back in August, I was asked to review a new cookbook called Appetite for Life: The Thumbs-Up, No-Yucks Guide to Getting Your Kid to be a Great Eater. This book is packed with kid-friendly recipes, tips, and stories from Stacey Antine, founder of HealthBarn USA. It provides whole food alternatives to many of the popular convenience foods, and suggests that introducing kids to a wide variety (through tasting, cooking, gardening, etc) is a better choice than “sneaking” vegetables in.
I also love that she throws in tips for gardening, composting, and even some fun kid activity ideas.
I love the philosophy behind this book. We are not perfect, but I do my best to avoid store-bought processed snack foods and to cook meals for the whole family, especially as L is becoming pickier these days.
For my meal plan this week, I decided to try several recipes from this book. I chose Quinoa Falafels, Pasta Fagioli, Crustless Veggie Quiche and Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Pesto. So far, we’ve enjoyed everything we made.
This is not a vegetarian cookbook, but there are plenty of vegetarian options. I made the Pasta Fagioli Monday evening which contains mini-meatballs, and I decided to go ahead and make meatballs for the first time in months, as my husband is thrilled when meat appears on the table. It was delicious without the meat as well. I neglected to take a photo, but here’s one from the cookbook:
I also made the Veggie Quiche last night and Blueberry Rice Pudding for dessert.
And I have a whole list of recipes I’m hoping to make soon, including:
- Grilled Fruit Pancake Tacos
- Quinoa Stuffed Peppers
- Citrus and Herb Shrimp Kebabs
- Pumpkin Pie Dip
- Homemade Chocolate Pudding
The recipes are organized into Breakfasts; Snacks: Lunches they will Love; Afternoon Appetites; and the Family Meal. For the most part, the recipes are simple, featuring common ingredients. A few (such as the Sweet Potato Gnocchi) take a little more time and effort. I look forward to using this cookbook frequently. I’m really happy with it, although I would love to see a lot more photos.
Would you like a copy for yourself? Enter for a chance to win the Appetite for Life Cookbook:
I’m also linking up with Jenn at Peas and Crayons and Brittany with Munchkin Meals.
Have you tried a new recipe lately?
The last recipe I tried was for a healthy apple crisp… it came out tasting like nutmeg dusted apples with a weird mushy crust. Very disappointing…
Oh, no- what a disappointment! It sounds like it would be yummy….
Laura recently posted..Appetite for Life Cookbook Giveaway
This sounds like a great cookbook! I think I need it for my collection!
Katie @ from icecream to marathon recently posted..Foodie Pen Pal Reveal Day!
Yes- I’ve been pleasantly surprised with everything I’ve tried so far!
Laura recently posted..Appetite for Life Cookbook Giveaway
Oh those quinoa falafels look fantastic! I’m so bad with actual recipes. The last one was for my friend Sarena’s chickpea oat flatbread. SO GOOD.
Heather (Where’s the Beach) recently posted..San Diego – Part 2
Oh, yum- that sounds amazing. I love that you don’t use recipes!
Laura recently posted..Appetite for Life Cookbook Giveaway
Tex-Mex Chicken Casserole
Clarinda recently posted..Sept in Numbers
New recipe: I made cashew chicken last week and it turned out great. I also made a beef and broccoli that didn’t turn out so well.
Looks like a great cookbook.
carrie@familyfitnessfood.com recently posted..Map Fun
peanut-chocolate dip from healthyincandyland
Amy G recently posted..Easy, Independent Activities for a Toddler
I’ve been wanting to try her pb-choc dip- sounds so good!
Laura recently posted..Appetite for Life Cookbook Giveaway
Pumpkin pie dip!? You will have to share if that is any good. It sounds delightful!
Tasha @ Healthy Diva recently posted..…and the EAGS are AWESOME
I thought so, too- I’ll definitely report back. I hope it’s as good as it sounds.
Laura recently posted..Appetite for Life Cookbook Giveaway
The last recipe I made was mexican lasagna!
Yum- that sounds delicious!
Laura recently posted..Appetite for Life Cookbook Giveaway
fried rice zucchini and beans gross!!!!!!!!
You are always posting the most yummy pictures of your food! I’d love to get some new recipes. The last new recipe I tried was a marinated tilapia.
Jen recently posted..Time for some fun on the trails, winning a 5K, and an upcoming color run
Thank you, Jen! Tilapia sounds really good. I think I’m going to add fish to next week’s menu.
Laura recently posted..Appetite for Life Cookbook Giveaway
Ooh, I just posted a pumpkin protein muffin today! So good!
Farrah @ Fairy Healthy Life recently posted..WIAW: Protein Pumpkin Muffins {recipe}
I need to check out your pumpkin protein muffin, that sounds amazing!
Laura recently posted..Appetite for Life Cookbook Giveaway
That blueberry rice pudding sounds delicious! As do those quinoa falafels!
That book would be perfect for us! I need help! (Also just entered the other giveaway–I’d probably use a black-and-white baby picture of Will and Ruthie.)
Terzah recently posted..Tuesdays
I know, who doesn’t need help?
It’s given me lots of good ideas.
Laura recently posted..Appetite for Life Cookbook Giveaway
Oh my goodness, that falfafel looks fantastic!
MassachusEATS recently posted..WIAW #33 and Sweet Potato & Zucchini Frittata
This looks fabulous!!! Makes me want to cook!
Mindy Artze recently posted..Doggy Diagnosis and My Achilles!!!
red velvet cake pops
yum it all looks delish!
Courtney recently posted..My first vegan WIAW!
All of the variations of pumpkin goo are my new favorite!
Kat recently posted..Muddying the waters
Julie V, just saw your comment about Apple Crisp, sounds odd. The homemade granola is crunchy and delicious and gets topped on the apple mixture, so it should not be mushy. We are making this recipe at the Barn this week and its getting double thumbs up by kids and moms. You can email directly to info@healthbarnusa.com if you have any questions. Thanks!
Thanks, Stacey! I don’t think she was referring to your recipe, as I just asked if anyone had tried something new lately. I’m excited to try yours- it sounds delicious!
Laura recently posted..Appetite for Life Cookbook Giveaway
It wasn’t your recipe! Sorry! I should have been more clear about where the recipe came from. It was actually from a friend of mine, not sure where she got it from. I’d love to give your recipe a try though!
Hi Julie, thanks for letting me know. Hope you try our Apple Crisp in Appetite for Life – I think you and your family will love it. You can also top it on ice cream – yum!
Stacey Antine recently posted..Weekly Healthy Seasonal Recipe: Raspberries
I just made Kiss My Broccoli’s PB Pumpkin Cake and it was awesome!
Angela @ Happy Fit Mama recently posted..The WIAW That Wasn’t But Now Is
Oh, yum! That sounds amazing!
Laura recently posted..Appetite for Life Cookbook Giveaway
I am making a sweet potato stew tonight. I am bringing some to a friend, so I hope it is good! : )
Yum, Natalia- that sounds really good1
Laura recently posted..Appetite for Life Cookbook Giveaway
I really want to try making gnocchi. My mother-in-law makes it and it’s so delicious. Plus, the kids love it. I only buy vegetarian cookbooks, because I hate when I have to pass over many of the recipes in a book. Sounds like this book has some great vegetarian recipes though. In my house, we are all vegetarian, so that makes dinners easier. Of course, I haven’t cooked meat for almost 20 years and it was only a couple of times then, so nobody would want me to now!
Joann @ Woman in Real Life recently posted..What I Ate Wednesday, new grocery products edition
Yes- I’m curious to try it, too. I need a night where L is very cooperative and gives me extra time in the kitchen.
Laura recently posted..Appetite for Life Cookbook Giveaway
Looks great and just what I need right now as dinner in my house has been lackluster (to put it mildly) lately. I haven’t tried anything new and have been resorting to the old standbys. A new recipe book would be the perfect fix!
Alison @ racingtales recently posted..2XU “What Inspires You?” Contest
I know what you mean.. I definitely get in meal planning ruts.
Laura recently posted..Appetite for Life Cookbook Giveaway
Looks like a great book
My last recipe was pumpkin bars
Jen recently posted..Music for Marathon Motivation
I just made some apple crips in the crockpot yum!
Danielle @ itsaharleyyylife recently posted..Fall Picking
Laura, I need to get my life together, and then I’m going to ask you for all of your recipes. Ever. Ok? You’re fantastic, and I love seeing your creations.
Kate recently posted..Search Me
This cookbook looks wonderful!
Gina @ Health, Love, and Chocolate recently posted..Eating New Things on Wednesday
pumpkin donuts!
Jen recently posted..Getting After It
I made Maple Apple Crisp, yummy!
christa recently posted..Zooma Half Marathon Cape Cod
Would love to get in on this! My last new recipe try was a chocolate chip zucchini bread–yum!
misszippy recently posted..Find your confidence
What a wonderful book. Full of recipes and tips…definitely something I could put to good use with three kids in my house
Rachel @ My Naturally Frugal Family recently posted..WIAW Birthday Edition
Wow, the falafel burger looks so delicious! I think it’s great that you focus on clean eating but are willing to admit that it doesn’t always happen. Sometimes, life just gets in the way!
Kelly @ Runmarun recently posted..Munchkin Meals: Full Day Edition
I just stumbled upon your blog! And in time for a giveaway too! I can’t wait to read more!
The last recipe I tried was making spaghetti squash! I had never done it before and it was awesome and so easy!
Lauren @ The Unlikely Runners recently posted..The One With A So What Wednesday Link Up
Wow, I don’t even remember the last time I tried a new recipe. Ugh! I really need some inspiration:)
hikermom recently posted..Three Things Thursday
The last new recipe I tried was one of my own for a vegan chinese salad. It’s better than at a restaurant
Jill @ Fitness, Health and Happiness recently posted..Top 10 Tips To Avoid the Halloween Candy Binge
Moroccan Hummus…superyumful!
nik recently posted..The Balance of Imbalance
Sounds like a great cookbook!
Well I don’t have kids, but I could always use a new cookbook! The last new recipe I tried was pumpkin mookies, they were great!
Jamie @ couchtoironwoman recently posted..Where Do We Go From Here?
Hmm, the last recipe I tried was probably birthday cake Rice Krispie treats. Super healthy.
Sarah S recently posted..Baby butt cannon and other tales from the trenches
All of those recipes you mention sound great!
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