Fried Fish bites and Succotash

I have wanted my children to like some type of seafood for years and thought fried fish may be the easiest way to start. When they were both about a year old they loved salmon and would eat it right up whenever I made it.

Then picky eating stage kicked in and poof it was gone. I was so sad but I am a feisty little thing and have been determined to expand the variety in their diets without pressure.

One of my kids will eat anything and everything and the other not so much. I started with grilled chicken and used food chaining to help me get to where we are today.

A few months ago we were at Whole Foods and looking at all the yummy food on the food bar. My son saw “chicken nuggets” and wanted to get them. They were actually fried tofu.

I didn’t say anything but rather took a little piece and gave it to him to try; he loved it so we got a big container of them and had it with dinner. That week I bought all the stuff to make homemade fried tofu.

I had him help me batter the tofu and he loved it again. So the next week I bought grouper and we got in the kitchen and made fried fish bites. He helped cut the fish and batter it as well.

This is a big step for him because he typically does not enjoy any type of wet texture on his hands but he has come a long way over the last year. He was so proud of his fish bites and ate them up at dinner.

The key to getting your kids in the kitchen and not going crazy at the same time is to:

1. Pick a time/day that is the least busiest for you.

2. Pick a time/day when you are not in a rush.

3. Give the kids tasks that actually help you out (cutting, sorting, washing, putting foods in a bowl or on a pan, dipping foods in a batter, stirring, etc).

4. Don’t have expectations that they will actually eat the food.

5. Remember to have fun, get over the mess, and know that this is all about exposure to new foods, opportunities to learn about food, and to create memories that your lil ones will always remember.

1/4 cup diced onions
1 cup corn ( I used frozen organic)1 cup Lima beans (can use fresh, frozen, or canned)
1/4 cup butter beans
1-2 garlic cloves-chopped
Sauté onions and garlic on stove with a little olive oil or butter

Add corn, cook 2 min

Add Lima beans and butter beans and sauté for a few minutes.

Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper. You may need to add seasonings of your choice but try to add towards the end of sautéing and try to use seasoning powders and not salts.

Batter for fish. You can use whatever wild caught or local white fish you like. My kids prefer cod or grouper.

1 cup gluten free all purpose flour
1/4 cup bread crumbs (I buy either reg or Panko but I make sure it’s gluten and dairy free)
2 eggs
2 tbsp nutritional yeast
1 tbsp old bay seasoning (this has salt in it so no need for extra salt)
Pepper (use however much you like)
Crack eggs and place in one bowl-whisk

Mix all dry ingredients in another bowl and stir.

Slice fish into bite size pieces. Dip in egg mixture. Then drop in flour mixture and coat well. Pour some coconut oil, avocado oil, or canola oil to cover the bottom of the pan on med heat. Place pieces of fish in hot skillet and cook each side for about 2-3 min. Should be golden brown.

Serve with any sauce that your kids may like. Enjoy!