Kids Crabby About Seafood? Tips To Get Them Out Of Their Shells by Alexa Hart Bosshardt, MPS, RD, LD/N (NAPSA)—Seafood is not only nutritious, it’s also rich in the essential vitamins and minerals children need to grow into healthy adults. Yet, many children give their parents a hard time whenit comesto eating it. How can health- conscious moms introduce seafood in ways that will turn a “fish fighter” into a “fish fancier’? The answer maylie in crab meat—a low-fat source of protein with a mild taste that can serve asa child’s introduction to seafood. e Make It FRIENDLY All foods deserve a friendly introduction. Never force children to take more thana bite of a new food. Crab meat is an excellent “first” seafood to introduce to children because of its snowy white color, firm texture and clean, fresh smell. Make It Famiuiar & FUN If your kids crave a hamburger, try a crabeake sandwich with their For HEALTH-Conscious Moms—A seafood dish that will turn your “fish fighter” into a “fish fancier.” favorite burger toppings, including ketchup, pickles and cheese. Form cakes into bite-sized portions that can be eaten as finger food. MakeIt Fast Phillips Crab Meat, for example, is incredibly convenient. Packed in 8oz. or 16-oz. containers, it is fully cooked and thanksto pasteurization has a 12-18-month refrigerated shelf life. Crab meat recipes—both hot and cold—can be ready in a matter of minutes. KIDS’ “THREE CHEESE” CRABBY MACARONI Yield: 8 side dishes or 4 entres 8 oz. (2 c.) uncooked pasta, such as whole wheat penne 1 c. milk, low fat 1 Tbsp. margarine or butter 8 slices EACH—sharp cheddar and American pasteurized process cheeseslices, 2% milk Crab-Meat Topping: 8 oz. Phillips Crab Meat 3 Tbsp. margarine or butter, melted 1 c. bread crumbs, plain unseasoned % tsp. salt % e. Monterey Jack cheese, shredded 1. Preheat oven to 450 F. Coat an 8” X 13” pan with margarine. 2. Cook pasta, drain, shock in cold water, drain and hold aside. 3. Heat milk over medium heat until hot, but not boiling. Stir in margarine and cheeses until blended. Stir in reserved cooked pasta and hold aside. 4, In separate bowl, combineall crab meat topping ingredients, folding in crab meat. 5. Pour macaroni and cheese mixture into baking dish and top with crab meat mixture. Bake in preheated oven until heated through and topping is golden brown, approximately 1520 minutes. Servehot. Serving Suggestion: Serve this cheesy dish with vegetables, such as steamed broccoli and cauliflower. (For a quick meal, prepare boxed Macaroni & Cheese, according to package instructions, then proceed to step four.)
