Me and My Tips: Jennifer Donovan
Jennifer Donovan lives in Houston with her husband, 13-year-old daughter, 7-year-old son and a friendly black shelter dog. She enjoys reading, writing, Bible study, traveling, and hanging out at her backyard pool. She doesn’t particularly enjoy driving her children around or begging them to do their homework, but she spends a lot of time doing that, too. When something’s gotta give in her schedule, it’s usually housework.
She enjoys cooking and eating, although life often gets in the way. She rarely misses a meal, but they aren’t always healthy. She finds it easier to eat healthy than to exercise, but she’s not on par in either area.
Jennifer is a freelance writer who is a regular contributor to 5 Minutes for Mom.com. Feeding into her love of reading and sharing her opinions with anyone who will listen, she manages a book blog, 5 Minutes for Books.com and also keeps a personal blog, Snapshot.
Jennifer’s favorite recipe is the Double Onion Quiche.
JENNIFER’S TIPS:
Let them Snack: If you’re chopping up fresh veggies for dinner, don’t fret if your kids snag a few from the cutting board as a pre-dinner snack. They may eat less of their meal, but you’ll know they’ve gotten a serving or two of veggies before they even sit down at the dinner table.
Spice it Up: Veggies on the dinner table tend to disappear faster if there’s a little variety. Try spicing-up even the simplest canned green beans by boiling with a little added Hidden Valley® Salad Dressing & Seasoning Mix or stir-frying with some shaved carrot and soy sauce or sesame oil.
Dress it Up: My family will readily eat salads, especially when there are a variety of dressings to try. One of our favorites is to lighten-up traditional Hidden Valley® Ranch dressing by mixing it with some balsamic vinegar.
Keep trying: I’ve noticed that my 7-year-old is more interested in trying new things. I have to remember to keep presenting healthy and varied options, even if they’ve convinced me that they don’t like it. He recently raved about a veggie-topped meatloaf recipe that I hadn’t made for a year or so, so I’ve made plans to prepare it again soon.
Take them shopping: My sister-in-law invites her daughters to pick out a new fruit or vegetable when they are at the supermarket. Artichokes, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts have ended up on the table as a result of their curiosity.
