Family Foodies at BlogHer '10

Another great session that I enjoyed at BlogHer '10 was Family Foodies: Creating a New Generation of Gourmands with Stefania Pomponi Butler from CityMama, Sarah Caron from Sarah's Cucina Bella, and Danielle Wiley from Foodmomiac.

This session covered tips and ideas for how to include the kids in the kitchen and encourage them to eat healthy and learn to cook healthy foods.  Here are some helpful suggestions:

Take the kids to a farmer's market--explore the stands and get to know the vendors.

Check out localharvest.org or follow local chefs on Twitter to find locally-produced food.

Consider checking out the local Asian markets or Chinatown--try a new vegetable or seafood.

Save money with a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture)--base your meals on the items that you receive.

Organic food can be expensive--focus on meat, dairy, and the Dirty Dozen.

Grow your own food from seeds--start with herbs.

Plan ahead your meals for the week, using 30-minute meals--list your ingredients needed for the week.  Make extra, and freeze it.

Prep for dinner at noon--start chopping those onions!

Have a last-minute back-up plan, in case something goes wrong--a quick & easy pasta can be done in 10 minutes.

Introduce kids to new foods--be positive!  Have them touch the vegetables and see where they came from. 

Have the kids pick out recipes to try--from cooking magazines, food blogs, or cookbooks (checked out from the library).

Give the kids their own cooking gear--an apron & a chef's hat.

Give the kids a job--peeling carrots, washing potatoes, snapping green beans, washing rice, spinning a salad.

Toddlers can play with a tupperware filled with dry rice, spoon water from 1 cup to another, cut a mushroom with a plastic knife, or scrub a table with baby wipes.

Dress the dishes up to be fancy or exotic--if that helps.

Entertain the kids--by pretending to do a cooking show.

Older kids can start cooking quesadillas, pancakes, & scrambled eggs on their own.

Include the kids in your blog post.

Most importantly, give the kids responsibility and ownership in the kitchen.

Healthy and delicious recipes from this session can be found at CityMama.