Fast, Colorful and Healthy!

I have had some success just presenting something pretty and saying: "Just eat the bits you want!"
It decreases the pressure of having to eat food they don't want to try and it allow me to expose them to something new on their plate mixed with something they like.
So for this salad:

INGREDIENTS:
* One package of 2 minute grains (Red spring wheat berries, quinoa, farro and barley with tomato, onions and peppers) from Grain & Simple - Thank You Costco
* 4 Carrots, boiled and chopped
* 1 cup of spinach steamed
* 2 beets, cooked and chopped into chunks
* 2 tbsps of olive oil
* 1 tbsp of lemon juice
* 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
* Salt and Pepper



After microwaving the grains, let them cool before mixing with all other ingredients. Mix well and serve at room temperature...
ENJOY!!!

My Meatloaf Cupcakes Are A Hit!

Meatloaf Cupcakes
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup onion, finely diced
1/2 cup carrots, finely diced
1/2 cup celery, finely diced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup ketchup, divided
1-1 1/2 pounds ground beef
1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
2 tablespoons mustard
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 eggs
2 cups mashed potatoes
From www.sixsisteersstuff.com

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, carrot, celery, dried oregano, and minced garlic; sauté for 2 minutes.
Combine onion mixture, 1/2 cup ketchup, and the remaining ingredients in a large bowl. I found that it was easiest to just use my hands to make sure that all the ingredients were completely incorporated.
Spoon the meat mixture into 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray- each cup will be filled to the top. Top each meatloaf with about 2 teaspoons ketchup. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until a thermometer registers 160 degrees.
Let the cupcakes cool. In the meantime, put the mashed potatoes into a pastry bag (or a ziploc bag with the corner cut off) with a wide star tip or circular tip and pipe the mashed potatoes on top of the meatloaf.  Sprinkle with bacon bits and green onions.