We’ve jumped the gun so many times as parents. There was the time we took preschoolers camping. (They were scared, they had to go potty. Unzipping and zipping the tent a million times at night is less restful than you think.) When my husband tried to share a classic movie he enjoyed as a kid, “The Apple…
No Presents Please! How to Host a Food Drive Birthday Party
I CAN’T DECIDE WHAT I LIKE MORE about this food drive birthday party. Helping families in need or cutting down the clutter in our own house. (Selfish, true. Now back to the story!) For my kindergartener’s birthday party we’re asking friends not to bring presents. But to load up on groceries instead! It took a couple of…
7 Easy Cooking Projects for Kids
BECAUSE THERE ARE SEVERAL SMALL PEOPLE in my house, I usually stick to straightforward recipes. But every once in a while a recipe is so simple the kids can practically cook it themselves. Those are the best. Armed with aprons, patience and a few more tips for cooking with small kids, here are a few of…
how to save time in the kitchen
I CAN’T ARGUE WITH HIM. In his book “Cooked”, Michael Pollan says “The most important thing you can do with your health is cook.” He says things like this a lot, and he doesn’t mean adding wheat germ to everything. “Eat anything you want,” he explains in this great little animated RSA video. “Just cook it yourself.” Cooking at home…
Less Sugar, More Veggies, Trying New Foods & Better Carbs: Our Family Food Goals for the Year
WISH YOUR FAMILY WOULD EAT BETTER? I feel the same way about mine. Looking for inspiration myself, I recently asked you guys, “When it comes to family food goals this year, what do you want to work on?” Then I posted a quick list on Facebook: Less sugar More veggies Trying new things More fiber & whole…
15 Foods I Stopped Buying When I Started Reading Labels
IT SOUNDS SO LAME. Reading labels in the grocery store. Who has the time? From the moment you lift the rascals into that race car shopping cart you’ve got about 10 minutes to whiz through the store before it gets ugly. You know time’s up as you question whether you REALLY need deodorant when it’s all the way on the…
Experts Say Kids Aren’t Getting Enough of 4 Most Important Nutritients
WITH SMALL KIDS IT CAN BE SUCH A STRUGGLE just to get them eating that sometimes nutrition gets lost in a kaleidoscope of organic cracker crumbs and leaky sippy cups. But flipping through the newest issue of Parent & Child magazine last night, this quote caught my eye. Lynn Brann, Ph.D. assistant professor of nutrition(Eiyo Nutrition)…
Our Kid-Friendly Thanksgiving Menu Plus Activities and Snacks
IT’S OUR FIRST THANKSGIVING AS A FAMILY OF SIX. And since our brood now includes four kids under the age of six (including one under six months), we’ve got a game plan for Thursday. And two grandparents in town to help. Here’s what’s in store: WEDNESDAY Pick up and prep the turkey. We’ll be brining…
What Food Banks Need Most (And What They Can’t Use)
Food banks can make the most out of cash donations but if you want to donate food, this is what food banks across the country need most: WHAT FOOD BANKS NEED MOST (Updated 2020) Soups, especially hearty meals like chili or stew Canned meat: chicken, tuna, ham, Vienna sausages Canned vegetables: potatoes, collard greens, beans,…
how I cook dinner, every single night: 10 tips for getting it done faster, easier and kid-friendly too
YOU KNOW HOW THE KIDS WANT DINNER EVERY NIGHT? This relentless demand is actually one of the things that TERRIFIED me before becoming a parent. In my NYC single days I often ate a PB&J or cereal for dinner. You know, with a bowl of ice cream later on. Perhaps in front of the TV. Sure, I…
food is love. pass it on.
SOMETHING EXCITING IS HAPPENING. A young pastor at our church asked me a question this Sunday. I say “young” because he’s the kind of guy who I used to think was, you know, just a guy. About my age. Then he said something like, “Awesome!” with just a little more pep than I expected and…
the real reason why family dinners are so hard
Sometimes people say to me, “you must be such a good mom”. They think I’m rocking this parenting thing, probably running circles around them, because I make such a big deal out of cooking for our kids. Guess those people have never seen my laundry room. After so many appreciate on food from people…
How to Pack Awesome School Lunches Easily
*Updated* IT’S OFFICIAL. We now have 3 school-aged rascals in our house now. That, plus a seriously long school day (8am to 3:15), means a big change around here: three kids bringing school lunches every day. I’ve been making healthy, diverse and colorful lunches for these rascals for a while now and here are the techniques that make it…
8 SIMPLE ways to feed kids better instantly
Sometimes feeding these kids reminds me of that old saying, “you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make them eat anything other than dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets.” Right? But the truth is, eating healthy as a family can be easier than you might think. Try these simple tips for quick results. (Number 3 even surprised…
12 cute kids’ foods you can actually make, really!
When it comes to getting kids excited about food that doesn’t involve shiny wrappers or fish-shaped crackers, I say bring on the cute. With four kids, ages 5 and under, I have only one rule in the kitchen: All ideas must be doable. (Do you hear me, Pinterest?) Kids begging for a banana while I’m…
We know kids eat too much junk, so why aren’t more of us “Fed Up”?
How much sugar do your kids eat? And does that question make you want to hit the back button immediately? It’s such a prickly subject. I’m a family food blogger and I still feel defensive just thinking about it, like my crazy button has been punched with a big, judgy finger. But this question, accusatory as it…
10 real ingredient, packaged foods this food blogger swears by
THAT’S RIGHT, I DON’T ALWAYS COOK EVERYTHING FROM SCRATCH. Most of our meals are made from fresh, whole ingredients but not every time. Anyone with small kids (and likely those without but who can even remember those days right now?) will run out of two things at some point: time and energy. Or maybe it’s just…
How to Cook with Toddlers & Preschoolers without Losing Your Mind
‘TIS THE SEASON FOR BAKING, and if you’re in the kitchen a lot these days, that’s exactly where your kids–the messy ones who don’t always listen to instructions–want to be. But can be fun to cook with toddlers & preschoolers. It’ll be slow and you’ll have flour in places the white stuff has never seen before…
how to pack amazing school lunches kids love, Katie Morford’s best tips
UGH. THAT’S THE SOUND OF MOST PARENTS MAKING SCHOOL LUNCHES. But not Katie Morford. Katie heads up the popular blog, Mom’s Kitchen Handbook: Raising Fresh-Food Kids in a French-Fried World and just wrote a new book with a promising title, “Best Lunch Box Ever“. Brimming with fresh, creative ideas that look just as tasty as they…
Why I replaced the kids’ plastic dishes: out with the plastic, in with the porcelain
Since I originally wrote this post, we’ve had one more addition to our family; she’s 18 months old now and flings plates (and bowls) like frisbees. She’s been on melamine but now, with courage plus a broom at the ready, we’re breaking out the good stuff. And breaking is probably just the right word. Wish us luck….