Green Eggs and...?

By Ashley Martens

Now that I have mastered the art of corralling two young kids up to the Flying C with a tray of dripping hot food in both hands (take the elevator), shopping at the Co-op is fun!

We can stock up on nourishing foods for the family at an affordable price if we choose wisely.

I found that shopping sales, buying bulk, and avoiding high-priced off-season foods really helps us pinch the pennies and still shop at a place that represents our values.

Tortillas, Eggs, Bulk Cheese and Seasonal Veggies…Viola!

This month we have been eating lots of things wrapped in tortillas. My 4-year-old loves eggs and cheese, so we scramble up some organic eggs — utilizing the NCGA Feb/March coupon book – and melt on some cheese, wrap in a tortilla of choice (we prefer whole wheat or sprouted), and viola, lunch in minutes!

I discovered that the Co-op’s bulk parmesan cheese is cheaper than at least two other grocery stores in town, and the bulk (packaged in clear plastic wrap) mozzarellas and cheddars are a great deal, too. Add to that some veggies of your choice according to your family’s preferences.

Green Eggs (Minus the Ham)

Unfortunately, my son doesn’t favor many vegetables, so I have to get creative here. Often we have “green eggs” (minus the ham) for breakfast. To make “green eggs,” add a few large handfuls of fresh spinach to the blender with a touch of warm water and puree until smooth. (You can also use frozen spinach, but don’t add any warm water to the blender if you do.) Next, add the green goo to your raw eggs as you scramble, then cook as usual. Allowing the eggs to cool a bit mellows the spinach taste.

I also make “green pancakes” using the same method. These are even easier to disguise with a hint of maple syrup (or more if I’m not guarding the syrup bottle from my 2-year-old!). My son has no idea that he eats spinach every time he eats green eggs or pancakes, but I sure feel good knowing he gets some green in his little body.

For more tips on disguising vegetables in foods, check out Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld. (Yes, she’s Jerry Seinfeld’s wife so there’s a good bit of humor in the book to keep it interesting, too.)

Organic Guacamole: Affordable and Kid Friendly

One vegetable that my son has always loved is the avocado (well, actually it’s a fruit, but we treat it like a veggie because it’s not sweet). Yes, I know they are not local, but if that’s the only raw veggie that my son will eat, I will put my value of nutrition before buying local here.

It started out as one of those easy-to-mush, easy-to-eat baby first foods, and he just never really moved on! The only way he eats them is as guacamole (we used to have to sing a special Latin-style guacamole song every time before he would take a bite – at least he has moved on from this).

I make sure that we always have avocados in the house so that he can eat them whenever he wants. This means I am always looking for the best prices on organic avocados. After shopping at three different grocery stores in town in the past week, I found that the Co-op has the best price on organic avocados (on sale this month) and that price is only pennies more than the cheapest conventional ones at other stores.

This is how we make our simple, picky-kid-friendly guacamole: mush avocados with a fork, allow the kids to sprinkle in cumin and salt (spices are available in bulk, allowing you to buy as much, or little, as you need!) and stir. Let the kiddos take a “tester” bite to make sure the spices are just right, and modify if needed. Once again, if you or your kids are more adventurous eaters, add in chopped tomatoes, chilies, etc. Serve with chips or eat right off the spoon!

Oh, but before you do, sing a little song, “Guacamole, guacamole, ay-yay-yay-yay-ya-ya-ya!” Enjoy!

Ashley is a recent import to Bozeman from Moscow, ID. She teaches about her passions – Nia, yoga, and birds – while raising a little brood of her own.