Like most mom’s of the world I have one child (age 3) that will eat anything and one (age 11) that I contemplate strangling every night as dinner hits the table and she says “Ew! I don’t like that.” Now mind you she has usually never tasted “that” so I restrain myself and give her the options “Eat it or Starve.” Eventually we both grew tired of the struggles and I now have a child who made these transformations in the last year…
FROM: Plain salad (lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, ranch dressing ONLY)
TO: Taco Salad (tortilla chips, taco seasond meat, lettuce, tomato, cheese, black beans, onions) with Catalina Dressing.
FROM: Pepperoni pizza ONLY
TO: Chicken Bacon Alfredo Pizza
FROM: Spaghetti & Meatballs (or just buttered noodles if she could get away with it)
TO: Country Captain Pasta (curried stewed chicken with tomato sauce over pasta)
And many others…
How did I do this? It was really easy. There were only a few simple steps.
1.) She helps. We MAKE all of the above.. home made pizza, homemade salads, new pasta dishes. She scrubs up and helps me cut foods, knead pizza dough, and season dishes.
2.) New rules. Instead of “eat or starve”, we’ve evolved to “You cooked it. You have to at least try it” The best part of this is she usually likes it, and if she doesn’t she can offer suggestions to add or take out next time we make it.
The easiest way to get kids to appreciate their dinner is to get them involved!
Slashfood.com offers the following in their article “Age appropriate ways kids can help in the kitchen“
5 and over
* Retrieve ingredients from the pantry or refrigerator.
* Wash vegetables and fruits.
* Stir together dry ingredients.
* Smash crackers into crumbs.
* Set the table.
7 and over
* Measure ingredients.
* Peel vegetables.
* Frost a cake (sheet cakes are easiest).
* Separate eggs.
10 and over
* Use a standing or handheld mixer and a food processor.
* Chop vegetables (might require some practice).
* Most other kitchen tasks (with supervision).
I’ll add that for under 5, I allow my 3 yr old to wash potatoes in cool water in the sink. I measure dry ingredients into smaller bowls, and she adds the to the mixing bowl. I mix seasonings together and I taught her how to sprinkle pinches over foods. (The screen shot to the left is what can happen when the pinches taste good - decorating daddy’s birthday cake!!)
I’m hoping that by the time she gets to the food rebellion stage we don’t HAVE one.. because she’s already learning to help in the kitchen.
She also helps unload the dishwasher (another fight I have with her big sister) but THAT is another blog!
May 15th, 2009 at 5:43 am
I didn’t even think of having him help! He is so skinny and I swear on a hunger strike!! I will definately try this at the next meal time
May 15th, 2009 at 12:05 pm