Ask the Cook Jorj Morgan has 25 years of entertaining including owning and cooking for my catering company. She is in the process of publishing her first cookbook, At Home In The Kitchen due in Spring 2001. Older picky eater Connie writes, "My niece is living with me for a year. The only foods she eats are: Ramon noodles, ice cream, eggs, chicken fingers, steak, French fries, raisin bran cereal, hamburger helper pizza, hamburger, cheese pizza, Caesar salad, green apples, grapes, strawberries. She won't eat any other fruit or vegetables, no seafood, no other meat/preparation. I'm very concerned about her health...what do you suggest?" Answer: A first glance at the list of foods indicates that your niece may be a college student looking to grapple with "the freshman fifteen." If this is the case, be patient, she will overcome this stage!! However, if you are dealing with a younger child and are concerned about her health you may want to consult a pediatrician and ask about vitamin supplements. From the foods that you have listed, it looks like you can plan a well balanced diet for her without much change. Let's take a look. Breakfast Within the food list, you can alternate between eggs and raisin bran cereal for a great morning starter. Add a few slices of apple and your niece is good to go. If you are concerned about cholesterol, switch the eggs with egg substitute every once in a while. The flavors are the same. Try the addition of some finely diced veggies to her scrambled eggs, like green pepper or onion (the pizza sauce spices). The addition of a little low fat Mozzarella cheese will turn those eggs into a fine omelet. Lunch Caesar salad is an excellent choice for lunch. The leafy greens add plenty of vitamins. If your niece will eat chicken fingers, perhaps she will consider the addition of grilled chicken strips for an extra boost of protein. Sliced steak also goes well with a midday salad. A bunch of grapes makes an excellent on-the-go lunchtime dessert. Snack In place of those French fries, perhaps your niece will enjoy an afternoon snack of a strawberry smoothie. Blend together the (low fat) ice cream, skim milk and her favorite strawberries to create a fun and filling chilled drink. Dinner The protein in a lean steak or hamburger patty is easily balanced with another leafy green salad. Romaine lettuce can be mixed with red leaf or Bibb lettuce to made a great side dish salad. (If you are really sneaky, you can hide a few spinach leaves tossed in with the other lettuces.) Stick with Caesar salad dressing since she seems to like that the most. Eventually you can add other veggies to the salad like diced celery or chopped tomatoes. As far as the Ramon noodles, French fries and pizza are concerned, we take a cue from the Sopranos and say, "FUHGETTABOUTID." Junk food is junk food and it has its place in our life. One week without pizza, and my family would have withdrawals of gigantic proportion. The issue is balance. And, with just a little encouragement, you and your niece will work your way to a well-balanced weekly menu plan. More feasting challenges: • Add sneaky veggies into your child's favorite dishes • Adding excitement to a school lunch • Fast meals to impress your in-laws • Quick appetizers • Making lumpless gravy • Grilling summer vegetables Jorj Morgan is the Director of Lifestyle Content for BlueSuitMom.com.