A: Of course! Everywhere you go, there's a chance to get your children to try something new — and have fun doing it! You just have to keep your eyes open for opportunity. Take grocery shopping, for example. OK, it's a chore, and one that can be more challenging trying to keep your children with you. But it's also an activity teeming with opportunity!

Once I realized how many things in the supermarket I hadn't tried, it hit me just how many things there were for my children to try. A fun word of caution first — it's not a good idea to buy them a pomegranate to munch on while you shop. My intentions were good but reality was a bit of a shock — the yummy seeds may be great at home, but not while you're out! So, about a fun, healthy, and interesting project that's virtually mess-free — here's one of my favorites: vegetable sushi!

What's vegetable sushi? Maybe this is something new for mom as well! Vegetable sushi is a healthy, fun, and exciting (think of the colors!) treat to make at home with kids — with almost no cleanup. It gets your kids involved with the shopping, gives them a sense of choice while steering them towards healthy options, and most importantly — makes trying new things (vegetables, even) fun!

So, where to begin? First, collect your ingredients. Since mainstream stores have started to carry sushi, what used to require finding a gourmet store now means finding the right aisle. Getting your kids involved in a mini-scavenger hunt livens up an otherwise routine shopping trip. You'll want to find:

1. A package of seaweed — one with big squares of seaweed. Look for Baycliff Company's Sushi Chef Nori brand of seaweed, or ask at the courtesy desk for other choices. You'll want at least five big squares. One package should be enough to start, though you may want extra on hand to practice.
2. White or brown sushi rice — regular rice could work fine in a pinch, but sushi rice will have the best flavor and consistency.  I've tried a few, and find I like Tamaki Gold the best; but since this is all about trying new things, feel free to experiment! Plan on about a pint of cooked rice for every three rolls you make.
3. A bamboo mat to roll the sushi If your store carries sushi mats, they will likely be near the seaweed. If your store doesn't, you can find them in many kitchen supply stores or you can use even use plain aluminium foil.

After you find these three things, it's time to head to the produce aisle. Now is when you can have lots of healthy fun! Let your kids pick out the vegetables they want in their sushi rolls. Suggested veggies include avocado (our favorite), asparagus, carrots, cucumbers, peppers, and just about anything else — remember, the more colors, the more fun!
 
Once you have returned from the grocery store, proceed to the kitchen — it’s time to make sushi! Here's how:

1. Lay your bamboo mat down on the table (if using foil, fold it in half so it is at least doubled in thickness).
2. Place one piece of seaweed (about 8" X 8") on the mat — trim the seaweed if it's not already square.
3. Have your child scoop out enough cooked rice to cover the entire seaweed square to about 1/2 inch deep. Be careful not to use too much rice, or the sushi will be too thick to roll up properly.
4. Cut the vegetables into thin, long strips for your children to use as filling.  
5. Let your children place their vegetables in a horizontal strip on top of the rice. It will be easier to roll if the veggies are about a third of the way from the edge closest to you.  
6. Starting from the side closest to you, roll the seaweed away from you (with the mat around it), making sure you capture all the veggies in that first roll. Think healthy jellyroll.
7. Once everyone's made one complete turn, squeeze the sushi with the mat so that it looks like a tight, compact log.
8. Carefully unroll the mat, leaving just the seaweed "log." Cut the log into two-inch sections, turning  the pieces upright so you can see the rice and veggies on top. Don't worry if things begin to fall apart — if the sushi wasn't wrapped tight enough, or if it was too full — just start again.
9. Clean up…wipe the table, eat and enjoy!

Next week — how to remove pomegranate stains. Just kidding!
~Alexa