For the past thirteen years, my life has revolved around writing about food. My day job involves scripting a celebrity-driven food news vignette; and boy in all those years, have I learned a lot about what works in the kitchen and what's a waste of time. When it comes to cooking for kids, I wish I could turn back the clock to when my daughter was about 8 years old and Stouffer's Turkey Tetrazzini was her dinner of choice! She's 30 now and married, and loves all sorts of cuisines...but back then...no matter how inventive I was....and how much my husband and dinner guests enjoyed my efforts, she preferred a few minutes in the microwave and a plastic tray in front of the TV! So, yes, now that I am a "food expert" I've learned a thing or two about what makes kids tick when it comes to mealtime! So what's the secret I've uncovered? Is it some amazing ingredient or recipe that every mother needs to have up her sleeve? Not really! The magic comes from eye appeal! And what appeals to kids? Shapes, colors...basically all the window dressing we fall for in anything we find appealing. It's the bells and whistles rather than the basic item that gets us all the time. I mean think about it...have you ever bought or leased a car based on what it looked like? Most vehicles can get you where you want to go...just like most sandwiches can fill you up...but the red sports car is going to win out over the plain old white sedan...just like a sandwich cut out in a cookie cutter shape is going to get chosen over a plain square! Simple analogy...but after years of watching our test kitchen come up with ideas...and running with some of my own, I can see that I could have tossed that Turkey Tetrazzini by whipping up a little imagination in a dish. And speaking of dishes....just think of how their eyes will light up if we serve some whole wheat pasta, tossed in a rich tomato sauce (think of the lycopene in that tomato sauce, Mom!) and the cherries on the top can be lean ground beef meatballs or turkey meatballs! Looks like an ice cream sundae to them....easy for us...and they'll eat it! That's the best part! Yes, Mom (or Dad) it's all in the presentation! Want them to eat fruit? Again, this colorful ice cream theme works....scoop out watermelon, or cantaloupe or honeydew with an ice cream scoop and place in a sundae dish...looks like three scoops of colorful sherbet...drizzle it with vanilla yogurt, maybe a sprinkling of granola...or chopped nuts...maybe some berries for even more color and nutrition...and our fruit salad is fun...and yes, bet they'll eat it! And here's an idea that works not only for the young ones...but I like to serve this for company too....they're Parmesan cheese cups that I make with shredded (not grated) Parmesan cheese in a ten-inch skillet. Just throw a cup of cheese into the skillet and let it solidify on a medium-heat (keep an eye on it at all times) and with a spatula check it until it turns into a waxy disk-shape. Remove it careful (it's gonna be hot, hot, hot) and flip it on top of an upside-down drinking glass (tumbler-size) that is sitting on waxed paper. Let that firm up for about ten minutes or so, remove it...and voila! You've got an edible cheese cup! Fill it with mixed greens...for those who like the variety...or shredded iceberg for the kids...if they're picky! Add in other diced veggies, sprinkle with berries (both blueberries and strawberries slices look great) a bit of crumbled feta and a drizzling of bottled vinaigrette! Chances are the kids are going to find these so novel-looking they'll give them a try...and for entertaining? You've got a winner, besides. So think color, texture and variety...and stay tuned for more ideas...'cause I've got loads...this is just the start...of getting your kids off the fast food routine, and back to some good home cooked meals, that we can easily make ourselves...and save money too!