Healthful Bites

True story: From age five to age 12, I’d estimate that I ate some variation of chicken fingers/strips/nuggets at least two times a week. It was my go-to order nearly every time my family dined out. In fact, I can still list the ranking of the fast food nuggets that would determine my restaurant of choice if Mom was nice enough to give me the option. (Wendy’s, Burger King, McDonald’s by the way—duh! :) )

Crispy chicken and fries most likely played a role in the fact that I entered junior high on the pudgy side. Eventually, I decided to start eating healthier and getting in better shape during my early high school years, and fried food was the first thing that I decided to cut back on. I made a simple switch, opting for a grilled chicken sandwich with baked potato. Later on, I focused on picking healthier snacks, proper portions, etc., but this one diet change (coupled with 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week) helped me get on the path to a healthier weight and even inspired me to experimenting more with food. A salad as a side? Why not try it?

(Now’s a good time to mention that fried chicken and/or potatoes are completely fine to have as a splurge every so often if you like! The part of the story that makes this unhealthy is how common I ate this meal and how it kept me from eating more nutritious foods. Although I would opt for the “strips” over the “nuggets.” Have you seen what nuggets are made from? Eek. Don’t click if you’re of the faint of heart. /tangent)

Since that time, chicken nuggets have held a nostalgic quality, reminding me of childhood but also of those less-than-healthy-eating days. So when I spotted a more nutritious swap on the shelves at Whole Foods, I snapped them up and decided to give them a try. So what if “Kids” is written in big crayon-scribbled font on the front of the box?

The Broccoli Littles are animal-shaped vegetable patties with a simple ingredient list: broccoli, potatoes, onions, egg whites, potato flakes, canola oil, arrowroot and garlic. I put some of the frozen bites on a pan and popped them in a 400 degree oven (see picture at top) for about 15 minutes, and flipped them halfway through. They came out lightly browned, and I served my Broccoli Littles with a bit of Simply Heinz ketchup, a grilled whole-wheat sandwich with turkey and Laughing Cow Light cheese and a fresh fruit salad (not pictured).

The verdict? Quite tasty, with a nice slight crunch! I enjoyed the fact that you could spot sizable pieces of broccoli in the Littles, and they made for a super-simple side. And the nutrition comparison presents a strong case:

• Broccoli Littles: 80 calories, 5 g fat/ 4 pieces
• Chicken nuggets (average): 192 calories, 12 g fat/ 4 pieces

What foods remind you of childhood? Do you still enjoy them today?