Last Thursday we sat down with Elaine, mother of three
little boys and author of the ‘House of Bedlam’ food blog based out of Mamaroneck, NY. Creative,
resourceful, and persistent, this cooking mom has been “chronicling the
journey” through food and family time for two years, and she has a few insights
into the ups (and downs) of cooking for kids, with kids.
Our biggest takeaway: when it comes to food, take baby
steps! Elaine is no stranger to the tears, tantrums, and faces that accompany
anything green on a child’s dinner plate, but she insists that kids are
flexible. If they grow accustomed to eating the same thing every day, they will
be less likely to try new foods as they get older, no matter how homemade it
is.
“It’s certainly easier to get a box of food or order chicken nuggets, but I
want my kids to eat better than that.” After two years of trying new recipes
with her family, Elaine’s boys don’t mind the greens—even broccoli and Brussels
sprouts.
One of the secrets behind a successful family food
experience is fun. Make choosing ingredients and preparing recipes exciting,
get your kids involved in the cooking process, and eating dinner will be more
fun—and less dramatic. Elaine has learned that the more invested her boys are
in the meal choice and preparation, the more likely they are to try it. And,
baby step by baby step, they might learn to like it.
A few tricks to making dinner dynamic? Try taking them to
the farmer’s market, or taking them grocery shopping. “Let your kids pick a new
vegetable to try once a month,” she suggests, “or if you’re ordering on the
computer, let them push the buttons!” The little things make all the
difference.
“Baby steps aren’t just for picky eaters; new cooks should
start simply, too. If you’re intimidated by cooking, start with pasta or eggs
and work your way up. If you’re confused about which ingredients to buy or
intimidated by the dozens of items that look the same but have different names,
take a cooking class.”
Elaine, who started the blog primarily to document her
family’s adventures with food, stresses that cooking and eating dinner can be
fun. Whether it’s pizza, or pasta, or a five-course meal, homemade food is much better than anything premade or frozen.
“Whatever you do, start simply,” Elaine urges. Whether it’s
cooking new foods or introducing your kids to homemade, healthy food, start
small. Remember that not every meal will be a hit, but every little step toward
a healthier family is one in the right direction.
To see Elaine’s recipes and to learn more about her
experience as a mom and cook, check out House of Bedlam
Looking for an easier way to get cooking?
