Dear 21st Century Dad,
Once a week, it’s my responsibility to feed the kids their supper. My partner challenged me to a cook off. If I can cook a nutritious meal at home that the kids will actually eat, I get a special concession from her. Can you help me out? I’ve got an eight-year old girl, and two teen boys.
Dear Kitchen Genie,
Here’s the short-term solution. Buy some flour tortillas and brown them lightly in a dry frying pan. Boil up some sliced potatoes, and or some rice. Fry some chicken pieces, beef or tofu. Steam a green vegetable or two, or have some washed lettuce. Let the kids add what they want to their tortilla. For the younger children, help them wrap the tortilla by folding the ends over the food.
And now some family strategy! Let’s involve the children in the food process. We can take the kids to the grocer and allow them to choose the ingredients. Be prepared to discuss costs and read nutrition labels. Teach them to cook what they have chosen in the grocers. Empower your children. With choice comes responsibility, help them to clean up. Our children will learn about sharing the load of meal preparation. They will learn group skills. If they are ever left to themselves in an emergency, they will know how to shop, cook and clean up.
The breaking of bread is a unifying and teaching symbol in many cultures and religions. For that reason, the family that eats together learns more about building family relationships and cohesion than the one that separates to watch TV, plays video games or gets lost in the IPODs. Whether it’s a sit down meal, or everybody grazing at the buffet table, make sure there’s lots of fun and conversation. Don’t forget the chocolate sauce for the ice cream.
Check out these links:
Key into YouTube:
1. Dad cooking supper
2. Dad Groff's Dumplings
Into Google:
1. http://holidays.kaboose.com/fathers-day/index.html
2.http://www.fathersworld.com/recipes/dadscookin/
