Simple Asian Style Soup Recipe: How to get bone broth into fussy kids

Lately my kids have been really grumbling about drinking their broth.  The drill in my family for the past few years has been to consume 1/2 cup of broth (eg chicken, beef or fish stock) before the main meal. Maybe it's taste fatigue? Maybe they are not hungry enough? Maybe it's just boredom? So I needed to get creative about it. Here's what I'm experimenting with:

1. Instead of a cup of straight broth consumed as an entree before the main meal I'm using the broth/stock as a base for soups. Last night it was fish soup (made with left over snapper fillets and steamed veggies) and tonight was Asian style soup made as follows:

• Steam Asian style veggies until soft (eg carrots cut on diagonal, thinly sliced red capsicum, green shallots, asparagus spears, sliced mushrooms, spinach leaves)

• Heat chicken broth/stock (together with any left over meat such as chicken pieces) in saucepan (allow 1/2 cup stock per person) until warm. Turn off heat.

• Add miso paste (allow 1 teaspoon/person) into the saucepan with the broth and mix with stick blender until blended through.

• Divide steamed veggies among serving bowls and add dollop of butter on top. Pour stock/miso mixture into bowls.

• Add a drizzle of tamari (wheat free soy sauce) into each bowl together with a scattering of activated sesame seeds and a handful of nori seaweed (cut into strips).

Not only did my kids eat ALL of this soup without any fussing or stalling tactics but Michaela pronouned at the ned "That was really yummy! I'd like more please". Ironic that this was the one occasion where there was no more!

2. Not making such a big deal about them eating their "broth". Perhaps just referring to it as "soup"

3. Stretching dinner out to later (e.g. just before bed time) and reducing size of their arvo tea so that they are genuinely hungry at dinner time.

4. Making their serving portions smaller so they get through dinner easily without feeling daunted.

5. Adding a little more cold gelatinous broth to our banana kefir smoothies in the morning (without making a big deal that it's in there!)

6. Making sure the stock (or soup) isn't too hot when served which instantly puts them off.

7. Adding gelatin powder to desserts such as coconut vanilla panacotta. Gelatin powder is made from 100% ground up beef bones. It is gelatinous like home made broth and I use it as a setting/jelling agent in desserts.

I'd love to hear from other parents on their thoughts about these suggestions and any other ideas in terms of different ways of incorporating broth into their kids' diets.

How to keep kids active indoors during cold/wet days

Anyone whose spent any time with young kids will know that kids needs to expend energy more or less constantly.... especially boys! When he's not playing with Lego, my son Will (almost 7) is constantly climbing  all over the furniture, bouncing around the couch, almost bursting out of his skin.  And its only natural- its in our  genes to MOVE!  Trying to curtail this energy in sedentary ways only means that it's going to come out in unproductive (even destructive!) ways at a later point in time. Modern life has made children so much more sedentary than our hunter gatherer genes have evolved us to be. TV, cinemas, screens, homework, sitting in cars, indoor lifestyles, and other sedentary activities (some very worthwhile of course) just means that we need BALANCE it out a little with movement. Warm summer weather is a no brainer for entertaining kids- we head straight outdoors to nature (beach, park etc) where kids can expend their energy  swimming, rolling, running, playing ball sports, throwing a frisbee, riding bikes etc. A greater challenge is working out how they can expend their boundless energy in a productive way when the weather turns cold or wet or when its just not feasbile to be outdoors (case in point as I type this it is cold and teaming with rain!).

So here's a few things that I do with my kids that might give you some inspiration when they (and you!) are climbing the walls:

1. rebounder- this acts a little trampoline for kids to jump on. It's small enough that I can move it around the house depending on which room the kids are playing in.Whenever I see the kids climbing all over the furniture its great that I can direct them to the rebounder. Sometimes we turn on the music and team the jumping with singing and dancing - pretending to be the next upcoming Voice contestant (you can tell that I harbour some unfilled entertainer dreams!). I bought my rebounder from Rebel Sports.

2. Hyperdash - the interval training game for kids (and big kids too!). This is really cool. There's a battery operated baton that yells out instructions and 5 different colours / numbered targets that you spread out around the house. You follow the baton's commands by striking the targets it directs you to in the fastest possible time (e.g. "strike red", "now strike 5", "strike blue then green twice" etc etc). Who ever completes the instructions in the quickest time wins. There are different levels of difficulty (e.g. involving memory or maths).  You are racing around the house as fast as you can (taking turns or in teams) for about 90-120 seconds at a time- which is a perfect time frame to really get your heart rate racing before resting. Just like interval/cross training at the primal fitness gym I go to! I was skeptical about this when I bought it but I really enjoy playing it just as much as the kids (if not more!). Its advertised for ages 6+ but my 4 year old plays it (and I accompany her on her turn to keep her motivated to finish). If you have a double story house or a large house you can really spread out the targets to make you work harder. I'm dripping with sweat after a few rounds of this. So I get some exercise and tucker the kids out at the same time. Perfect. I bought Hyperdash from the Australian Geographic shop from Westfield for A$34.95. According to the sales assistant it's the best selling item in the store.

3. rough and tumble- its the age-old game of getting down on the floor with your kids- rolling, tickling, tumbling, frolicking fun. Its also a way that kids can get their physical attachment/affection needs met when they are no longer babes in arms.

If you try these activities out let me know what you think. Do you have any other ideas on how kids can remain active when indoors? I'd love to hear them!

Happy indoor moving!

Kids' slippers from Nepal

Not a food related post but nonetheless I thought the mums out there might appreciate these cute elfin slippers that I bought today for my 2 munchkins from a shop called Tree Child at Westfield. They are made in Nepal and cost $19.95 each. Perfect for this cooler weather....