Alexander - KewlBites: More than 100 Healthy Recipes for Foods Every Kid Loves

Mention of specific companies, organizations, or authorities in this book does not imply endorsement by the author or publisher, nor does mention of specific companies, organizations, or authorities imply that they endorse this book, its author, or the publisher. Internet addresses and telephone numbers given in this book were accurate at the time it went to press.

2013 by Reed Alexander

Photographs 2013 by Tara Donne

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any other information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher.

KewlBites is a trademark owned by KewlBites Inc.

Book design by Amy C. King
Photography by Tara Donne
Food styling by Simon Andrews
Prop styling by Molly FitzSimons

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file with the publisher.

ISBN 9781609615109 paperback
eISBN 9781609615116

We inspire and enable people to improve their lives and the world around them.
rodalebooks.com

For my amazing, inspiring mom

WELCOME TO THE KEWLBITES KITCHEN, BY WAY OF MY VERY FIRST COOKBOOK! Im so excited to share with you more than 100 delicious, healthy recipes that I know you and your family will love.

If youre looking for tasty, nutritious, and easy-to-make recipes, this book is for you. If you want to eat better and make smarter, more purposeful choices when selecting your ingredients, this book is for you. Whether youre a seasoned pro or just getting acquainted with your kitchen, this book is for you. And if you want your time in the kitchen to be super-fun, this book is definitely for you.

My desire to create simple and healthful dishes stems directly from my personal relationship with food. Up until a few years ago, my eating habits would have scored around a C+ on a nutrition report card. That was back when I didnt really realize the importance of eating healthfully and how a poor diet could affect my body. I thought healthy meant boring and dull. Needless to say, I was wrong!

Even though my eating habits werent spot on (to be honest, far from it), Ive always been a major food lover! I love to cook and create recipes, Im a huge fan of cooking shows, and my family and I love discovering new restaurants. But it was only a few years ago that I realized that there was a connection between how I was eating and how I was feeling, which was not great. I was often tired, lacked confidence, and, overall, didnt feel my best. It took me some time to uncover the culprit, but gradually I began to make the connection between my out-of-control eating habits and my health. I needed to take matters into my own hands and overhaul my lifestyle, in particular the foods I was choosing.

After tons of research, I discovered that there were no solutions out there that were coming from a teens point of view, no strategies that seemed to fit my life. So, I got to work in the kitchen and turned it into my laboratory, a place that I could experiment with my favorite (fattening) foods and make them healthier. I focused on the ingredients I was using, always looking for more nutritious options and healthier ways to infuse a dish with flavor. I ended up recreating my favorite comfort foods (and I bet theyre yours, too) including pizza, meatballs, and apple pie. I was able to cut out some unhealthy elements and I discovered I could do this without sacrificing flavor and texture. It took some workokay, a lot of work!but I developed a huge array of recipes that passed muster with the most discerning audience of allpeople just like me. Of course, my family was on the receiving end of many of my creations. I cooked most of these dishes for them and they loved the results! This made me want to share my new cooking style with more people and, of course, to end once and for all the lack of truly kid and family-centric healthy recipes. As a result, I created my Web site, KewlBites.com, a super-fun, interactive online hub that allows me to connect with readers and visitors from all over the world. I never could have imagined the great response I received! I hadnt realized just how important this topic was for so many other people who were searching for ways to cook better for their families and build healthy habits early on.

So many amazing opportunities followed, from cooking live on national television showsin both English and Spanish!to developing nutritious lunchtime recipes and menus for thousands of schools across the country with President Clinton and the Clinton Foundation, to being invited to team up with First Lady Michelle Obama on her Lets Move! initiative, collaborating with the leaders of the USDA in Washington, DC, and more. Along the way, Ive worked with extraordinary mentors, such as Food Network icons (and my big inspirations!) like Rachael Ray, Sunny Anderson, Melissa dArabian, and Ingrid Hoffmann. It has been an incredible journey that has truly enriched my life, as I hope it has for all of the people with whom Ive been able to share my recipes, tips, and lessons learned, along with my KewlBites insight. And now, in the following pages Im able to share all of that with you!

In this book, youre going to find recipes for every part of the day, and for nearly every occasion. All of the dishes have been fastidiously put to the test by me (and my hungry family members). I promise that they are easy to make, delicious, and good for you. Some of my personal favorites include . My hope is that theyll be among yours, too. Heres to healthy, happy cooking, and eating.

Chapter

GOOD MORNING! The alarm clock has rung, youre suited up and ready to head out the door, most likely mulling over a to-do list that you intend to complete before you return home. But the task that sometimes is disregarded completely is the most important: breakfast. For many of us, its the one meal that takes a backseat when it should be up frontbecause your body, like a car, is a machine that needs refueling at the start of each day.