10 Tips for Beginner Families in the Kitchen
Lynn Fredericks is an iVillage contributor and author of Cooking Time is Family Time: Cooking Together, Eating Together and Spending Time Together., available at Amazon.
Her story may sound familiar to a lot of people. She was a single mom that when she came home at the end of the day would work hard to get dinner on the table and discovered that she was missing out on valuable time with her kids while she was in the kitchen and they were vegging in front of the TV. She started bringing them in with her, not worrying about the outcome, mess, or how long it took.
From Publishers Weekly:
Fredericks’s considerable experience as a food publicist, mother and educator (she helped develop a food-based curriculum for grades K-3) informs every page of this practical yet heartfelt guide. Parents might panic at the mere thought of having children in the kitchen, but Fredericks demonstrates how even toddlers can help with mealtime preparation. What’s important, she stresses, is the process, not the results. Athough following her advice will eventually lead to interesting and nutritious meals, less-picky eaters and a more cohesive family. The first four chapters lay out the basics, from lists of inexpensive kitchen utensils (one set per child) and equipment, to illustrated step-by-step instructions on knife handling. The next six, organized by food group, include recipes for such adventuresome fare as Egyptian Stuffed Vegetables, Miso Soup with Shrimp and Yogurt-Pomegranate Parfaits. Fredericks includes a chapter on how to resolve conflicts in the kitchen and another that suggests holiday recipes and menus; an appendix gives information on nutrition. A real trailblazer, this is as informative a parenting guide as it is a cookbook. (Aug.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Here are 10 of her Beginner Tips:
1. Turn off the television at cooking time and mealtime. TV is a big distraction when you want family conversation and interaction.
2. Share responsibility for all aspects of the meal with your children. Start by deciding together what you’ll be having.
3. Shop for ingredients with your children. Give them an opportunity to pick the vegetables, meats and starches for themselves.
4. Establish a budget and make them stick to it. Have kids compare prices of fresh and prepared foods.
5. Start with recipes you know they love. They are more likely to be interested.
6. For apathetic eaters, start by having them make dessert. While they are working on that, engage their help with the main meal.
7. Make the dinner table sacred by keeping it permanently set with a tablecloth and cloth napkins (all washable). Be sure not to let the table get piled with mail and things that need to get put away.
8. Give dinner a ceremonial aspect. Wait until all family members are seated and served before permitting anyone to eat.
9. Make it clear to your children that they can have your attention, but only if they are in the kitchen. Don’t let them call to you from all parts of the house.
10. Keep dinnertime discussion (during cooking and eating) to topics that will be of interest to your children. This is not the time to get down on them about homework or problems in school.
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POSTED IN: Cookbooks, Misc. Foodie Stuff
1 opinion for 10 Tips for Beginner Families in the Kitchen
jessica
Jan 18, 2008 at 8:37 pm
That sounds really good, and a lot like what i had growing up. My son is 11 months, but when he gets older, even though it will be time-consuming, his helping me will probably bring us closer together for our lives.
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