Cooking: Make It Look Like You Like It

Starting from a very young age, our kids are watching us. We know this. They’re mimicking our words and intonations (like when my 2-year-old greets me with a quick, “Hey you”). They’re picking up on our mannerisms and attitudes.

And while kids are around a lot of people (especially if you work), they’re still (probably) around their parents more than anyone. They look up to us. So, the example we set matters. This isn’t a guilt trip, folks. It’s just what it is. It’s what parenthood is.

And we all know that we can tell kids things all day, but in the end, they watch us. You can’t tell your kid to eat broccoli while you shove a brownie in your face. (Which is why I wait until my kid goes to bed.)

Lately, my son wants to “help” with folding towels, with sweeping the floor, with cooking. He doesn’t know these are chores. He doesn’t know (yet) that these aren’t fun.

Sucker.

But seriously ... one of the greatest benefits of cooking with our kids and letting them be a part of the action is helping them learn from an early age that cooking is not a chore. It’s a fact of life — much like going to school. Some days are better than others, but your attitude affects whether it's a good experience overall.

So, you can make cooking seem like something to be dreaded, or you can make it seem like something that is fun — or at the very least, neutral. If we complain about cooking, that’s the model our kids will follow. That’s not to say we can’t admit that some days we're too busy or “just aren’t feelin’ it.” But the overall message around food should be a positive one if we can at all help it.

These days, we’re so time-starved that we can’t fathom spending more than 30 minutes to prepare a weekday meal. And I get it. BIG TIME. But somewhere deep in my child’s brain I want to plant the seed that this is something we’d spend more time on if we could — it’s that enjoyable.

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A Basic Menu for an Allergy-Friendly July 4 Get-Together

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If you have an allergic kid, their birthday and holidays and special events should be safe places. And here’s some pretty cool news, guys: If you do a dairy-free, egg-free, soy-free, nut-free, (even gluten-free) cookout, do you know what you are left with? Food. 

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9 Allergy-Friendly Snack Ideas

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9 Allergy-Friendly Snack Ideas

When you face a number of food allergies, some things are slightly harder (like dinner) while other things are a lot a harder. In our case, the egg and dairy allergy has put a real damper on our breakfast options. The other thing that allergy families understand is that snacks and convenience foods can be a challenge. 

So, I thought I'd share a few favorite allergy-friendly (depending on the allergy, obviously) snack options.

Ack, Was It Because of Food?!?!

Yesterday afternoon, my son developed a rash on his face. If not for our food allergy experience, I’d probably shrug it off as sensitive skin. I’d monitor it; it would go away. And if it didn’t, I’d call the doctor. No big deal.

But when your child has broken out in hives after a single swallow of yogurt and has tested positive for a number of food allergies, you’re obligated to pause and wonder with every outbreak of anything: What did he eat?

3-3-1 Meal Planning

3-3-1 Meal Planning

In my house, we are creatures of habit. With a toddler, routines and patterns are important, and frankly, my husband and I like our routines too. There’s benefit in mixing up the routine, of course, but there’s comfort and efficiency in sticking with a routine.

I still fall behind on meal planning regularly. But I do have a system that — if I do it — works really well for me. So, I thought I’d share it in case it helps someone else.