Want a great conversation starter at your next family dinner? Is there anything lower than a person who picks the M&Ms or chocolate chips out of trail mix and leaves the rest behind for the next snacker? What about someone who eats all the cookie dough out of the cookie dough ice cream, leaving only the vanilla behind for the next poor schlump? On a recent family trip, our son Solomon and my nephews Jared…
Read More
Sometimes it’s daunting to get the whole family sitting down for dinner at the same time. Back when my kids were toddlers and preschoolers, sitting down for family dinner had different challenges than today. They were squirmy, pickier eaters, and their appetites kicked in well before our usual dinnertime of 7:00 (when my husband could join us). Today we have different hurdles: the kids’ sports practices often don’t get them home until 7:30 or 8,…
Read More
I just hate wasting food. It makes me so sad to see food that’s been grown or manufactured, packaged, shipped, stocked on store shelves, and purchased with our precious dollars just to wind up in the trash. So I’ve devised a few strategies to use up odds and ends before I restock for the upcoming week. I’ve sometimes made what I call a ‘Sixth Night Scramble’, where I cook a pasta dish, a stir-fry, an…
Read More
10 ways to liven up plain steamed rice
I have found that one of the easiest ways to get kids excited about eating more vegetables and legumes is to set up a mini salad bar on your kitchen counter or dinner table with lots of colorful ingredients. Salad bars give kids control of their meal by allowing them to create their own personalized plate. Kids are also more adventurous in a group setting where they see what other kids are trying. Salad bars…
Read More
