One very encouraging change in Kellan lately is that he's more willing to try new foods. He's not always cooperative, but he's definitely opened up to some foods that I was sure he wouldn't take a bite of a few months ago. I'm taking full advantage by preparing more green vegetables. Not only are they good for the kids, even parents could benefit from an extra serving of greens.

Kale has been my go-to side dish lately. It is packed with vitamins and fiber, and is super easy to cook. I like to sauté kale in olive oil with plenty of garlic and a dash of red wine vinegar. It also works well in soups, like white bean or minestrone. My babysitter told me it tastes great in stir-fries so I'm going to try that next.

Another recent favorite is broccoli rabe, also known as rapini. It's a vitamin packed veggie related to broccoli that's easy to cook and quite tasty. When I sauté broccoli rabe with our favorite teriyaki sauce, my husband and son eat it up. Kellan only likes the stems but that's fine by me.

Cabbage often gets a bad rap, which is too bad because it really can be delicious as well as nutritious. You don't even have to cook it. I combine shredded green and red cabbage with julienne carrots and cilantro. I whisk fresh lime juice and mayonnaise in a separate bowl then combine. The proportions depend on how much cabbage I'm using but I try to go light on the mayo about half a cup for two cups of cabbage - for a low fat slaw that goes well with spicy fish or chicken dishes. If you make this an hour or two before your meal, the lime juice and a bit of salt helps soften the cabbage.

Does your family have a favorite green dish? Please share in the comments.