Something magical happens when kids get involved in the kitchen.  Vegetables become a little less horrible, whining for cheese puffs disappears, and picky eaters become a little less picky.  I’ve seen it with my own eyes.

Earlier this summer, I taught a Parent & Kid Cooking Experience here in Los Angeles where the making of these Grill & Campfire packets inspired 11 kids to eat new, “Real Food”.  With a table lined with assorted (and potentially new) ingredients such as asparagus spears, purple potatoes, ginger, peppers and even – (gasp!) – mushrooms, these 11 kids and their moms created their own meals following our 1 little house rule: “Choose 3 new (unusual) things”

What an amazing sight!  With a little encouragement, even the pickiest of eaters chose three new things to put in their packets.  The best part…they even tried eating them once they were cooked!  Some new favorite tastes were discovered that evening, but even if tried and not liked, these kids felt empowered to try new Real Food.

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Special Equipment: Heavy duty aluminum foil, Permanent Sharpie Marker

Ingredients:

• Assortment of proteins – select from:
  • Cubed beef
  • cubed chicken breast
  • raw shrimp
  • scallops
  • cubed/sliced sausages
  • beans
  • cubed tofu
• Assortment of vegetables – select from:
  • cubed potatoes
  • cubed sweet potatoes
  • thick-sliced carrots
  • onion (sliced, or cut into eighths)
  • green beans
  • asparagus pieces
  • bell pepper pieces (red, yellow and green)
  • thick-sliced assorted mushrooms
  • 2-3″ pieces corn on the cob
• Flavorings & accompaniments – select from:
  • sliced chili peppers (jalapeno, serrano, etc…)
  • garlic cloves, halved or quartered
  • sliced ginger
  • soy sauce
  • teriyaki sauce
  • lemon wedges
  • lime wedges
  • fresh herbs (thyme, rosemary, etc.)
  • sea salt
  • pepper

Directions:

1. Heat grill or start campfire (topped with grill grate)
2. Cut heavy duty foil into large pieces (approximately 18-24″)
3. Lay ingredients out in either divided trays or separate bowls.
4. Each person takes 1 piece of foil and lays their desired ingredients (proteins, veggies) into the center of their piece of foil.
5. Add flavorings.
6. Fold foil over ingredients into sealed packets (like you’re wrapping a gift).  Be sure they’re sealed tightly.
7. Write the packet maker’s name on the packet with the permanent marker.
8. Grill packets for 10-15 minutes

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Enjoy the official last weekend of summer!  Until next time…