4 Meals Even Picky Eaters Will Love

The start of the school year means getting used to a host of new things: schedules, classrooms, teachers and even favourite foods. What your kid wanted in their lunch last year may not make the cut this year. And if they’re a picky eater? Finding meals and snacks they’ll love is even harder.

The first challenge is coming up with meals your kids are willing to try in the first place. The second is avoiding wasting food and money, which can be tricky if your new menu item gets a thumbs-down from your at-home critics.

While there’s no surefire recipe that’s guaranteed to please every picky eater, Compliments has something even better: the Take Home Taste Test. Until October 4, the Take Home Taste Test invites you — and your choosy foodies — to try any Compliments products available at Sobeys, Safeway, Foodland and Participating Co-op and IGA stores. If your kids don’t love it — we know, there’s no accounting for taste sometimes — there’s a 100 percent money-back guarantee*.

With so much variety, it’s hard to know where to start. Here are some ideas for a full day’s worth of meals even the pickiest eaters will love.

Everyone knows that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but it can be hectic getting everyone fed and to school on time. Available in both original and maple flavours, Compliments Liege-Style Belgian Waffles let you serve up everyone’s favourite brunch treat any day of the week (even on busy school mornings). They heat up in minutes and have a light, textured batter that gets crispy on the outside and warm and soft on the inside. Pair them with Compliments Jumbleberry Fruit Blend for a head start on the kids’ recommended daily servings of fruit.

Everyone knows food is more appealing when it looks like something you can play with. Instead of putting luncheon meat into a boring old sandwich, why not try arranging slices of smoked ham, salami and bologna from Compliments Classic Sub Trio onto tasty skewers? Simply alternate folded slices of salami with cubes of cheese, cherry tomatoes, grapes, and other bite-sized morsels. It’s a fun lunch to put together —  you might even be able to enlist your kids to help — and even more fun to eat.

After a busy day, your kids probably just want a treat that hits all their cravings for something salty, crunchy, a little bit sweet and just plain satisfying. Whether you opt for nutty, creamy Compliments Cashew Butter (made from real dry-roasted cashews) on some cinnamon-y raisin bread, Sweet & Salty Trail Mix (packed with crunchy nuts, chocolate chunks, mini peanut butter cups, and sweet, tart dried cherries) or Veggie Chips — (your kids’ favourite vegetables in crispy, salty chip form) — Compliments has a snack both you and the kids will agree on.

With no dishes to wash and more excitement about what’s on the menu, it’s easy to see why takeout night is a family favourite. Want a more affordable option that can be ready faster than delivery? Skinny egg noodles, tender chunks of chicken, colourful, succulent veggies such as broccoli, red peppers and carrots, and a savoury, soy-based sauce make Compliments Chicken Chow Mein every bit as much of a crowd-pleaser (even the little ones are sure to be fans), and one that’s easy to heat up at home any night of the week.