I am so sorry to not have been here for a long time but what with work through the summer and then wanting to concentrate a bit on the kids once the season was over. But I have decided I must get back to it!
I was thinking that this is a brilliant time of year to cook with your kids. Really anytime is good but chritmas gives us a real excuse, making the christmas cake or mince pies or even the cookies/biscuits to leave out for Santa!
Just yesterday me and my two eldest experimented with making some cookies and some shortbread they really loved it and want to do some more to leave out on christmas eve! Thats because they were so yummy we munched them all for our gouter!! Naughty us!
The thing is for me it really doesn't matter what you are doing the kids really just want to spend the time with you but at this time of year we are busy preparing for the upcoming festivities so why not let them join in and help. I remember I was happy to sit there chopping the veggies to help out on chrismas day singing along to the Carol service or whatever was playing on the radio. We were all there in the kitchen and it was fun because we were working as a family, and I am sure it tasted better because of it!
mardi 20 décembre 2011
vendredi 30 septembre 2011
The family meal.
I know in England this past time has become just that. A family meal is a rare thing. I understand that times have been difficult so in a lot of families parents are working much later and the children are generally eating with the child minders or other carers who do not actually sit down with them.
For me its not a problem that its not family, its a problem that they are not sitting down all together.
In France people have a two hour lunch break, this is generally spent with the family (unless the children are at the canteen due to distance etc). The children in the evning after school will be given a gouter, this has two purposes 1. to keeptheir energy levels up 2. to keep them going until about 7/8pm when bothe parents are there to sit down for a meal as a family.
I have to say I like this idea, real quality time which is so important we miss out on so much so why not sit down and talk with our children to find out whats going on at school and find out if they are having any difficulties. I also feel that if everyone is sitting together the children will eventually pick up on expected behaviours, for example how to use cutlery properly, how to sit properly and how to conduct themselves in the right manner. They will also pick up good eating habits such as eating up their greens. I am sure if your child is eating at a friends per-say you want to know that they are conducting themselves properly.
As I stated its not a question of who it is grandparents, friends, child minders, or even the next door neighbour, the important thing is that everyone sit together and eats as a "family". Whoever it is could also involve them in the process of cooking if they so wish or just getting them to set the table.
The most important thing for me is that it is a time to talk so NO TELLY, maybe a bit of music, radio, CD or ipod. But nothing too distracting, especially if you have children who are easily distracted.
For me its not a problem that its not family, its a problem that they are not sitting down all together.
In France people have a two hour lunch break, this is generally spent with the family (unless the children are at the canteen due to distance etc). The children in the evning after school will be given a gouter, this has two purposes 1. to keeptheir energy levels up 2. to keep them going until about 7/8pm when bothe parents are there to sit down for a meal as a family.
I have to say I like this idea, real quality time which is so important we miss out on so much so why not sit down and talk with our children to find out whats going on at school and find out if they are having any difficulties. I also feel that if everyone is sitting together the children will eventually pick up on expected behaviours, for example how to use cutlery properly, how to sit properly and how to conduct themselves in the right manner. They will also pick up good eating habits such as eating up their greens. I am sure if your child is eating at a friends per-say you want to know that they are conducting themselves properly.
As I stated its not a question of who it is grandparents, friends, child minders, or even the next door neighbour, the important thing is that everyone sit together and eats as a "family". Whoever it is could also involve them in the process of cooking if they so wish or just getting them to set the table.
The most important thing for me is that it is a time to talk so NO TELLY, maybe a bit of music, radio, CD or ipod. But nothing too distracting, especially if you have children who are easily distracted.
jeudi 29 septembre 2011
Grow your own.
This year my kids have grown their own vegetables in my fathers garden, they haven't grown much just some runner beans and some carrots but you should see how proud it makes them that for dinner they are eating the things that they grew in the garden!
I feel that this has helped with getting them to eat more veggies, seeing the whole process through. Planting the seeds themselves, looking after the plant, watering it etc and then finally being asked to go out into the garden and pick the vegetables and then helping to prepare them and cook them for that evenings dinner.
You do not need to have huge amounts of space. http://www.squarefootgardening.org/ this is a website for gardening in a small area.
Getting children involved in the whole process be it growing the food or going out and choosing it at the shops really helps them feel responsible so therefore they are more likely to eat it.
Try it and see what results you get!
I feel that this has helped with getting them to eat more veggies, seeing the whole process through. Planting the seeds themselves, looking after the plant, watering it etc and then finally being asked to go out into the garden and pick the vegetables and then helping to prepare them and cook them for that evenings dinner.
You do not need to have huge amounts of space. http://www.squarefootgardening.org/ this is a website for gardening in a small area.
Getting children involved in the whole process be it growing the food or going out and choosing it at the shops really helps them feel responsible so therefore they are more likely to eat it.
Try it and see what results you get!
Using food as a reward.
I think we have all used food, such as desert or sweets as reward before now, apprently to studies about 80% of us do it.
So what's wrong with this approach? When food is used as a reward we encourage eating regardless of hunger for example finish your plate and you get dessert.We are placing a greater value on the reward than on what we want them eat. for example chocolate cake appears greater than the vegetables we want them to eat.
Try these ideas instead:
So what's wrong with this approach? When food is used as a reward we encourage eating regardless of hunger for example finish your plate and you get dessert.We are placing a greater value on the reward than on what we want them eat. for example chocolate cake appears greater than the vegetables we want them to eat.
Try these ideas instead:
- Pair new foods with liked foods.
- Don't give up...it make take 10-15 times before your child develops a taste for a healthier food.
- Try cooking vegetables different ways. Steamed, raw, grilled, sauteed and roasted veggies are all simple and easy ways to cook your vegetables.
- Serve fruits and vegetables first. Research shows kids eat 45% more when this approach is used.
- Kids want a say in their food choice. Let them help with dinner and dessert menu planning.
- Eat together as a family. Kids learn by watching us. What if you're the picky eater? Put on your game face and take a bite. Remember, you're the role model!
lundi 5 septembre 2011
The importance of support.
It is very important that when you have a fussy eater you have a good support network around you and that you are all working off the same page. If you decide to tackle the issue of fussy eating you should sit down with all the childs caregivers and lay out exactly what you want to achieve and how that is going to happen and how they can help you. If even just one person is not on board then it will not work.
My ex husband was not at all helpful, if he came home and Aby was screaming blue murder because there was something other than chicken nuggets and chips on her plate then he would automatically go and make her what she wanted, completely undermining me and what I was trying to do.
Also a support network will make you feel less alone, you can talk to those around you if times get tough or if you make a big break through (even if it is "xxx ate a mouthful of brocolli!"). It is important to choose carefully those you trust to help you achieve your goal, if you are in any doubt as to wether a person will really help you or not, don't use them for meal times, just send the child to them at other times during the day and when the goal is reached they can go back to that person. If not the whole "operation" will not succeed because the child will know that they can always get their own way else where.
Good luck and remember get a support network, talk to them, and then act!
My ex husband was not at all helpful, if he came home and Aby was screaming blue murder because there was something other than chicken nuggets and chips on her plate then he would automatically go and make her what she wanted, completely undermining me and what I was trying to do.
Also a support network will make you feel less alone, you can talk to those around you if times get tough or if you make a big break through (even if it is "xxx ate a mouthful of brocolli!"). It is important to choose carefully those you trust to help you achieve your goal, if you are in any doubt as to wether a person will really help you or not, don't use them for meal times, just send the child to them at other times during the day and when the goal is reached they can go back to that person. If not the whole "operation" will not succeed because the child will know that they can always get their own way else where.
Good luck and remember get a support network, talk to them, and then act!
mercredi 17 août 2011
My top tips for dealing with fussy eaters.
Before anyone thinks I am just talking nonsence and have not been there, let me tell you I have my Abygaelle (the one who loves to cook!) was one of the worst. It started when she was about 18 months she had her MMR jab and became very ill, sickness and diahrrea for about 2 weeks. When she was finally over it she stopped eating, the only thing I could get down her were petit filous, I gave her what she wanted but continued trying other things. Eventually I managed to get her back onto solids but she was only eating Cheese and onion crisps, chicken nuggets and chips, or Jam sandwhiches. We went on like this for a while, then I took her to see a ditetician who told me she was getting everything she needed and to carry on, that when she starts school and sees others eating it will change. It did not! I managed to get new things into her with a few tricks and tips from parenting books, magazines and ideas from other parents. Our big break through came when we moved to France and I had had enough, this I think mainly works with older children who can understand (Aby was 5 1/2 -6 at this point).
So here are my top tips, I will not say they work with every child and you may have to try a combination or they may work in part and you have to wiat for the rest to follow when the child can understand "you don't eat this there is nothing else, and you get it for your breakfast!" a good old trick every mum pulls out of the hat at some point!
If you're a fussy eater then you may have to make peace with the idea that your child may be a fussy eater too. Lead by example and try to expand your diet to show him that you enjoy a wide variety of foods.
Your child is more likely to eat a meal he has helped to make.
Make sure that your child understands what is expected of him when he eats.
By including a few differently coloured foods on his plate, he may become more interested in his food. If he has food favourites, include them and work from there.
Being actively involved in eating - rather than sitting passively receiving food - will encourage him to take an interest in the food he's being served.
If your child doesn't like milk, try offering yoghurt or cheese.
Once your child has eaten as much of a meal as he's going to, take away his plate and finish the meal. This will discourage him from drifting away from the table with the expectation that he can drift back later to pick at his food.
Your child is not a small adult and you can't expect him to eat like an adult.
He can always ask for a second helping! Generally serve three small meals a day, with a snack in between.
So here are my top tips, I will not say they work with every child and you may have to try a combination or they may work in part and you have to wiat for the rest to follow when the child can understand "you don't eat this there is nothing else, and you get it for your breakfast!" a good old trick every mum pulls out of the hat at some point!
- Be a good role model.
If you're a fussy eater then you may have to make peace with the idea that your child may be a fussy eater too. Lead by example and try to expand your diet to show him that you enjoy a wide variety of foods.- Ask your child to help with the preparation of a meal.
Your child is more likely to eat a meal he has helped to make.- Set up regular habits for eating.
Make sure that your child understands what is expected of him when he eats.- Make sure that the food you serve looks interesting.
By including a few differently coloured foods on his plate, he may become more interested in his food. If he has food favourites, include them and work from there.- Encourage self-feeding from a young age.
Being actively involved in eating - rather than sitting passively receiving food - will encourage him to take an interest in the food he's being served.- Find a food he will eat from each food group.
If your child doesn't like milk, try offering yoghurt or cheese.- Finish dinnertime.
Once your child has eaten as much of a meal as he's going to, take away his plate and finish the meal. This will discourage him from drifting away from the table with the expectation that he can drift back later to pick at his food.- Make sure that your expectations are realistic.
Your child is not a small adult and you can't expect him to eat like an adult.- Serve child-size meals.
He can always ask for a second helping! Generally serve three small meals a day, with a snack in between.- Minimize distraction
- Sit down together:
Try to set aside your meals as family time. Turn off the TV and enjoy eating together.
- Make healthy food and meals fun:
Try cutting up food into fun shapes or making faces out of fruit and vegetables. Putting healthy
snacks such as oatmeal cookies or dried fruit into a fun bag can turn healthy foods into a cool snack for your child.
Try not to let the fussiness become an area of contention between you and the child, I had many an arguement with Aby. I now wish I hadn't. They will change in their own time, I know its worrying at the time and their bad habits can rub off on younger siblings (just praise the other when they pick up the desired food and start eating it, this will get the fussy ones attention! e.g "Well done James you ate the carrot, what a clever boy!"). Try and make the learning and discovery of new foods fun, take them to a green grocers and get them to touch, smell and if possible taste some of the fruits and vegetables, then get them to choose which ones they would like to try that evening for dinner, then get them to help prepare them e.g washing, and placing them on the plates (if old enough let them chop them).
Good luck :)
mardi 16 août 2011
The importance of boys in the kitchen.
I am a firm believer of getting our sons to cook, I feel they need to learn to able to survive once they have left home. We cannot let them think it only the womans place even if we are the only ones to cook at home (actually thats a lie in my case, my partner loves to cook so he does alot of it when he is here on his weekends off). So get your boys out of the garden, or off the computer game, or away from the telly or where ever they are playing and start teaching them a few basic recipes to have ready for when they are older and away from home. Otherwise believe me they will live on Pot noodles and baked beans until they meet a girl who will do all the cooking for them.
It is important not to force them to do it or you will have a battle but maybe in the morning say "would you like to help me prepare the dinner this afternoon, I could use some help?" this way you are not telling him what to do but encouraging him to do it, and then you could even get his opinion on it "what do you think we should have? Chicken curry, or chicken with a cream sauce and pasta?" again he is the one making the descisions. You could even get him involved in the whole process and get him to help you with the shopping, i.e he chooses which vegetable, the desert etc.
We owe it I think to the future generations to raise our boys to be considerate of their wives and to be able to look after themselves. Oh and while you are at it maybe teach them how the washing machine and iron works too!
It is important not to force them to do it or you will have a battle but maybe in the morning say "would you like to help me prepare the dinner this afternoon, I could use some help?" this way you are not telling him what to do but encouraging him to do it, and then you could even get his opinion on it "what do you think we should have? Chicken curry, or chicken with a cream sauce and pasta?" again he is the one making the descisions. You could even get him involved in the whole process and get him to help you with the shopping, i.e he chooses which vegetable, the desert etc.
We owe it I think to the future generations to raise our boys to be considerate of their wives and to be able to look after themselves. Oh and while you are at it maybe teach them how the washing machine and iron works too!
Crumble making day!
Finally the day that Abygaelle thought would never arrive has finally fallen upon us! We have collected enough blackberries to make our crumble, so Aby has learnt that even if we don't collect enough on the first day we can freeze them until we have enough. She has also learnt that we need to wash the fruit before we use it too. She has been involved in every step of the process and will be so until it has been finished.
I will put photos of the finished product up later but here is one of a proud Aby and her blackberries!
I will put photos of the finished product up later but here is one of a proud Aby and her blackberries!
samedi 13 août 2011
Getting the veggies in!
I always wondered how other mums did it? How do they get their kids to eat vegetables? Suddenly it dawned on me you have to be inventive. I personally mix it with the food so they don't notice them or I cook them in such a way that they actually taste good. For example the french way of cooking "haricots vert" is simply delicious and my children adore "Mamie Girard's" haricot vert. You cook them in a pan with melted butter some garlic and lardons, thats it very simple really. Peas and carrots I mash with my potatoes.
You need to get thinking, what does my child like to eat? and if you can disguise the vegetables in it. Try different ways of cooking the vegetables, maybe with the child aswell as I have stated before if tghey have cooked it they are more likely to eat it.
You need to get thinking, what does my child like to eat? and if you can disguise the vegetables in it. Try different ways of cooking the vegetables, maybe with the child aswell as I have stated before if tghey have cooked it they are more likely to eat it.
vendredi 12 août 2011
The Book: Kids Cuisine
My own copy of my book has arrived, now I can throw all the scrappy bits of paper away! Abygaelle is very happy as she is on the front cover.
The contents of the book are:
Main dishes: Pasta Bake with ham and cheese
Chef Andrés chicken
Simple spag bol
Pasta bake with salmon
Shepherds pie
Hamburgers
Vegetable Soup
Beef or Sausage casserole
Chicken breasts with apple and cheese
Fish Pie
Baby food dishes: Sweet Pork Chops
Spaghetti with beef and vegetables
Pear and raisin Mash
Fruity breakfast
Breakfast soup
Yogurt and raspberry puree
Potato and spinach puree
Deserts for all: Bread and butter pudding
Yogurt and nutella cake
Jam tarts
Chocolate chip oatmeal cookies
Moon rock cakes
Traditional french crepes
Cherry soup
Non food recipes: Lemonade
Play dough
All fairly simple recipes that children can help make. So have fun and get cooking!
The contents of the book are:
Main dishes: Pasta Bake with ham and cheese
Chef Andrés chicken
Simple spag bol
Pasta bake with salmon
Shepherds pie
Hamburgers
Vegetable Soup
Beef or Sausage casserole
Chicken breasts with apple and cheese
Fish Pie
Baby food dishes: Sweet Pork Chops
Spaghetti with beef and vegetables
Pear and raisin Mash
Fruity breakfast
Breakfast soup
Yogurt and raspberry puree
Potato and spinach puree
Deserts for all: Bread and butter pudding
Yogurt and nutella cake
Jam tarts
Chocolate chip oatmeal cookies
Moon rock cakes
Traditional french crepes
Cherry soup
Non food recipes: Lemonade
Play dough
All fairly simple recipes that children can help make. So have fun and get cooking!
jeudi 11 août 2011
Early age cooking
My Alex is only 17 months old and he is already interested in cooking (granted its only eating the food ) I let him sit in his booster seat at the table an let him nibble at some of the ingredients, that way he explores new tastes and hopefully this will avoid the whole fussy eater issues. He also gets a little stir of the cake here and a prod of the dough there just so he get to feel the different textures. He also gets the all important lick of the spoon at the end aswell, we musn't forget that now!!
With Aby its a very different thing, cooking to her is all about finding which tastes go together and seeing how things change from one thing into another. Its all very scientific, and mathematical. She is very clever, the other day I made a mistake when reading a recipe and did not put enough flour into the mixture, Aby was doing the crumble of flour and butter and told me "mummy there is not enough flour" me being stubborn as always I say "I put in what it said so we will leave it as it is" Later when I took the cakes out they had turned into biscuits, I am confused and look over the recipe and it dawns on me. So I think next time I will listen to my daughter who obviously has an eye, or feel for these things. Either that or she is going to be the next Nigella Lawson.
Get your kids involved in the kitchen it really helps, ask them what they want for dinner instead of telling them what they are having, ok maybe give them a choice instead of asking for their exact choice maybe put it as "We have either spaghetti bolognese or shepherds pie? would you like to help me cook one of them?" You will be surprised that they will want to and how much of it they eat as it was their creation.
With Aby its a very different thing, cooking to her is all about finding which tastes go together and seeing how things change from one thing into another. Its all very scientific, and mathematical. She is very clever, the other day I made a mistake when reading a recipe and did not put enough flour into the mixture, Aby was doing the crumble of flour and butter and told me "mummy there is not enough flour" me being stubborn as always I say "I put in what it said so we will leave it as it is" Later when I took the cakes out they had turned into biscuits, I am confused and look over the recipe and it dawns on me. So I think next time I will listen to my daughter who obviously has an eye, or feel for these things. Either that or she is going to be the next Nigella Lawson.
Get your kids involved in the kitchen it really helps, ask them what they want for dinner instead of telling them what they are having, ok maybe give them a choice instead of asking for their exact choice maybe put it as "We have either spaghetti bolognese or shepherds pie? would you like to help me cook one of them?" You will be surprised that they will want to and how much of it they eat as it was their creation.
Crumble
The kids decided on our walk to get some bread that they wanted to collect blackberries. I said this would be fine but I didn't think there would be enough for a crumble, this drew out a "oooohhhh" so I told them they can collect them, wash them and put them in a tupperware box in the freezer and check next week to see if there are anymore ripe berries. This was fine apparently until Aby my eldest asked "but what if there are still not enough, do we go every week until we have enough?" I told if that is what she want to do then yes, "but we will be doing that for years!" she replies
Kids are so funny, I don't know how big she thinks the crumble will be!
Kids are so funny, I don't know how big she thinks the crumble will be!
mardi 9 août 2011
Hello
Hello everyone, my name is Amber and I live in France with my family consisting of my lovely partner Jean Marie and my 3 gorgeous children Aby 10, James 7 and Alex 17 months.
I love to cook but when Aby was little she had a problem with eating and started to eat very little with very little variety and eventually she was eating exactly the same meals every day.
I bought her over to France and swore that things would change, little by little it has and Aby has grown into a child that loves to eat and even helps me cook. "Kids Cuisine" is a recipe book full of Abygaelles favourite foods.
In my blog I will share with you some of my recipes.
I love to cook but when Aby was little she had a problem with eating and started to eat very little with very little variety and eventually she was eating exactly the same meals every day.
I bought her over to France and swore that things would change, little by little it has and Aby has grown into a child that loves to eat and even helps me cook. "Kids Cuisine" is a recipe book full of Abygaelles favourite foods.
In my blog I will share with you some of my recipes.
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