Sloppy Joes get kid-friendly, healthy makeover

Steering your kids away from unhealthy foods can be tricky.

“Eat This, Not That! For Kids” can help parents lure their children away from the most calorie- and fat-laden foods to something that will be better for them in the long run. The book is full of surprising details about restaurant meals, supermarket staples and even home-cooked favorites that could lead to extra pounds.

Authors David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding use their signature visual style on this book for parents. It’s part of the Kohl’s Cares initiative and can be purchased for $5 at Kohl’s stores. Profits will be donated to support kids’ health initiatives.

Here’s a makeover recipe from the book for Sloppy Joes, one of the 10 kids’ favorites authors updated to make it more healthful.

Sloppy Joes

From “Eat This, Not That! For Kids,” by David Zinckenko with Matt Goulding

1 teaspoon olive oil

1 pound lean ground turkey

1 medium onion, diced

1 carrot, peeled and diced

1 medium green bell pepper, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 cup ketchup

1 tablespoon chili powder

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

Salt and pepper, to taste

4 whole wheat hamburger buns, warmed

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil, turkey, onion, carrot, pepper and garlic. Sauté, stirring occasionally, until the turkey is cooked and the onions are translucent, 7 to 10 minutes. Add the ketchup, chili powder and Worcestershire. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for at least 15 minutes. Serve with the buns.

Yield: 4 servings

Approximate nutrition per serving from the book: 300 calories, 4.5 grams fat, 720 milligrams sodium.