This recipe is not just one I use to get kids to eat vegetables, this is a winner for turning adults on to brussels sprouts as well!

With the crunchy sweet apple and bacon, it pretty much announces that it's not your grandma's over-boiled, noxious little green "mysteries of a martian garden" — long forgotten and longer unwanted. 

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 lb brussel sprouts, quartered
  • 3 slices of bacon, diced
  • ¼ cup diced red onion
  • 1 honey crisp apple, diced
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Optional:

1 tablespoon of honey — This helps hide the bitterness and adds sweetness that kids tend to associate with good eating.

PREPARATION:

  • In a large skillet, heat olive oil on high heat.
  • Add the bacon, and render until crispy. Remove bacon from pan, reserving the drippings. Reduce heat to medium-high.
  • Add onions and apples, cooking until they caramelize, about 5 minutes.
  • Add brussel sprouts and bacon.
  • Cook 10-15 minutes, tossing occasionally. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

We asked Shane Henderson, Executive Chef for Ben E. Keith Foods, to share his special month-by-month guide to introducing new nutrient-rich veggies into kids’ diets. Shane knows all about trying to please his own picky eater, his 6-year-old daughter Chloe, and has crafted a calendar complete with kid-friendly recipes to help parents win more mealtime battles. Check back with FITArkansas.com for Shane’s monthly installments!