The Fresh Addition For Delicious Green Eggs And Ham Without Dyes

Getting creative with food is not only fun but a necessity for trying to get picky eaters to eat healthy (or even remotely healthy) foods. Besides its delightful rhyming scheme, Dr. Seuss's "Green Eggs and Ham" is a favorite for its life lesson on teaching kids not to knock something until they try it. While this can apply to many avenues of life (e.g., "Don't judge a book by its cover"), it's particularly helpful for reminding young ones that you can't say you don't like a food you've never eaten.

To have fun with this life lesson and sprinkle in a literary reference in your cooking, you can create your own delicious green eggs and ham to serve kids and grown-ups alike. And if you're thinking of artificial food coloring for those infamous green eggs, guess again – there's a fresher and healthier option for turning your eggs green: A tasty bright green pesto sauce. Pesto adds a delicious nutty flavor to your eggs that the whole family will love. There are many different types of pesto sauces, but for the sake of green eggs and ham, opt for a vivid green type, like basil or spinach pesto.

To make your own pesto, combine basil leaves, pine nuts, garlic, salt, parmesan cheese, and olive oil in a food processor or blender. Puree until smooth. The pesto can be poured over your eggs cooked in any style, including fried, scrambled, or poached. Basil, however, isn't the only green you can use to make pesto. You can switch up the flavor and keep the bright green hue by using vegetables like arugula, spinach, or broccoli, or herbs like cilantro or parsley. You can even replace the pine nuts with pistachios, walnuts, or almonds, preferably toasted to enhance the nutty flavor. 

In addition to the delicious flavor it will add to your eggs, pesto is a fresher and likely healthier alternative to food dye. Since the 1970s, scientists have studied the relationship between artificial food dye consumption and adverse behavior in children, particularly regarding attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, there are varying opinions on the toxicity level of food dyes, with the FDA claiming them to be safe if used properly. Whatever your opinion on the safety of food dye, using green pesto will boost the flavor of your eggs and deliver a more delicious look to your Dr. Seuss-inspired dish.