As a teacher and preacher of the necessity of whole, organic, nutritious foods,I have been repeatedly asked how I get my 5 year old daughter to eat the foods she eats. Eden isn't just an eater in our home. She is a contributor to the planning, prepping and serving stages of our food. But perhaps what's most important amongst all of this *stuff* she participates in, is the dialogue that takes place. Often times our conversations will declare to me just how beautiful family time can be.

How often is too often?

Yummy Dough.  Yup, dough that is "safe" to eat since according to the website our kids will often eat playdough....or something like that.

School started in September. It's now only 3/4's of the way through November and Eden has been engaged in 4 birthday parties (possibly more...lost count), two monthly celebrations in her class, one being combined with a halloween party, trick or treating, smarties used as a lesson tool in math, November's monthly celebration coming soon and then the holiday party foods. Now it's Yummy Dough for another lesson.  Let's not forget our own "in family" celebrations that include visits from family, and just downright loss of time to cook a few times here and there.

If we were to break down how often a child would eat junk food, not including the typical junk being passed for healthy snacks like fruit roll ups, fruit juice popsicles and wheat berry muffins that were premade and preserved so they would not need refridgeration, it would work out to approximately 11 sessions of consuming junk....I included 2 family visits in this since that's what happened in this house but I'm not including ordering supper out since I didn't keep track. 

There are 12 weeks in this timeframe which means Eden has been eating "institutionalized" junk at least once a week.  Institutionalized is a term I use to refer to acceptable behaviour according to social constructs.  For instance, it would be rude to exempt Eden from the apple pie and ice cream served as desert for our family who travelled 8 hours to break bread with us.  It is a social construct that places a certain amount of pressure to allow for a lowered standard of intake.  And rightfully so.  Aren't these the moments that qualify for the 20% of the time concept? Remember?  The 80/20 rule.  I welcome these times where we celebrate each other, eat nourishing yet super duper yummy sweets....

But for some reason these other situations are starting to take over the available 20% my family values.  It's no longer as open for my family to "slack" off in meal preparation if I happen to get low on energy or an emergency happens.  Don't we get dibbs? 

Snacks are now provided in children's activities and are almost always a pre made, heavily processed, colourized, preserved, additive based sugar high without a stitch of real protein to accompany it...and no, pasturized milk isn't protein.  Outside of our classroom celebrating monthly b-days, holidays, special days and using candy for lessons, our kids will also inhale the junk from their soccer practice a few times a week as well.

Here's an idea.  Let's celebrate our kid's b-days in the classroom with a special dance, a special crown ... something that doesn't involve consumption.  Our lesson plans can certainly utilize unedible counters, stickers, playdough....you can even use yummy dough to create with but without the need to include consumption as part of the lesson.  Why even introduce that concept?  Parents...why do we decide to make something edible instead of teaching them the boundaries of the situation?  Sure we can use the edible stuff but do we have to tell them it's edible and to go ahead and chomp away?  Wouldn't it be better to know that if they accidentally consume it, they may not suffer as much harm as ingesting regular playdough?  I think the edible part is more a special secret for parents to know, not an advertisement to go ahead and eat what you create.

So as you can see, I've had a breakdown in recognizing the enormity of the battle for my child to eat healthy outside of the house.  Adults don't seem to be understanding that our actions done now lay the foundation (a.k.a habits) of the future.  Our kids are becoming familiar with the concept of eating junk at random and not just for truly special occasions.  10 monthly birthday parties celebrated at the school classroom does not qualify.  A birthday for a special friend in our neighbourhood does since there is an investment in a relationship, that nurtures my daughter and nurtures that child in the neighbourhood as well as our families.  Soccer practice doesn't qualify.  Apples would do well in that situation...not freezes.

I had to take time to speak with my daughter's teacher because I felt the need to explain our situation emphasising that Eden will have limitations.  Concerning the Yummy Dough, she could manipulate it but not consume it.  I provided a plan of what she'll consume instead and offered my time to provide alternative ideas for lessons and parties.  Guess What?  She was completely responsive and absolutely fantastic to speak too.  She understood because she comes from a family with food allergies and ensuring alternatives to the standard food issues are a norm for her.  I was fearful that Eden would be regarded as high maintenance and she reassured me that there's no chance Eden would be viewed in that light.  I am so thankful.  Thank you Mdmme!!!!!!

So here are some photos of what Eden and I did as the alternative plan.  We decided that we would make our own cookies and in the process do the lesson that was to be taught in class which was making shapes, getting to know their names in french and exploring manipulation and creativity.  The great thing is, with these cookies she was allowed to consume her creation just like the kids would the next day.  This plan allowed her to provide an alternative that was similar and educational and prompted a great discussion between Eden and I.  She had no problem with NOT being allowed to eat the Yummy Dough, and loved the fact that she WAS allowed to manipulate it and play with it, like any other playdough.

So take a look at her shapes and see if you can identify the star, the heart, the triangle, the santa and whatever else is there.....and yes she learned the french words for them, I just can't remember them right now.  LOL!

Cheers Everyone!
Stacey
http://www.foodkin.ca/

There's Something I have to tell you Mama...

It isn't a secret that my little girl loves to converse.  She has been included in our conversations since day one so contributing her ideas is norm for her.  That's why I am stunned to report that during this week's cooking lesson, I hardly heard a peep out of her.

I tried asking questions such as "Do you have any questions about what we are doing today?"  OR  "How was the art activity today at Kindergarten?"  OR  "Did you gals plan what's happening at the birthday party this weekend?"

Nothing.

except this...."this is a one cup right momma?"

and this...."I'm doing everything today ok?"

And that's exactly what she did.  She searched out the measuring tools, scooped, levelled, stirred, whisked, separated egg yolks from egg whites, cleaned up her spills and even managed the stove top (under close supervision!!).  The only thing I did was pour the hot liquid.

And all the while there was a running dialogue happening outloud and inward (I saw it in her eyes).  It went something like this "ok, I need to move my stool", "I want a 1, no dash on the handle" (referring to her search for a 1 cup measure), "don't break the yolk, don't break the yolk, don't break the yolk...phew!"

No wonder we couldn't have chatter today. She was in charge, she was planning, she was working, she was creating and she was learning.  No time for distraction today.

As we sat silently drinking our wonderful healthy version of hot chocolate, my chatter box turned to me and said "There's something I have to tell you Mama,  *pause, *pause, I think I need to have more."

This healthy version of hot chocolate was adapted from The Eat Clean Book for Families and Kids by Tosca Reno.  I substituted agave nectar for coconut sugar, but unpasturized honey would do just as well.  Of course all ingredients are organically raised  :)

Happy noshing,

Cheers all!
Stacey Haley
http://www.foodkin.ca/

Fraidy Cat!

"Momma, where's the camera?"

We've been cooking alot together lately for supper time and she's noticing I haven't snapped photos during this time we are spending together in the kitchen.

"Well, we aren't doing a cooking class right now, we save the camera for the healthy junk food we want to make."

"Well then, we need another class soon ok?  Remember I said I wanted to make milkshakes?"

This kid has a killer memory.  I won't get away with much as we grow older.....note to self.

Learned concepts today:

• 4 take away 2 is? (need 4 cups milk, already did 2, how many more cups do we need to make 4 cups?)
• tablespoon and tbsp mean the same thing
• blender is never plugged in until we need to use it and then we immediately unplug it
• it's scarey to turn something on if you don't know how to turn it off
• it's ok to spill during cooking class
• using a spoon to drink your milkshake is the best way to do it
• the living things in the milkshake that help the body army fight sickies are called "enzymes"
• enzymes don't live in the milk in the grocery store

Momma's verdict:  we made a FANTASTIC milkshake taken from Nourished Kitchen.  It was made with raw milk, raw honey, organic frozen strawberries and organic fair trade vanilla.  Bring on the living enzymes, the antioxidants and the well rounded sweet, creamy taste! We upped the vanilla a tad bit than what's in the recipe but that's because we are vanilla fanatics.

The verdict from Eden's perspective:
"fon tas teek! That's french momma for fantastic ok?"

I'm afraid to turn it on!

Thank goodness for Bravery....

Cheers all!!

Caught Red Handed!

I was searching a website for a new recipe for a veggie sidedish and Eden was working at her own little desk behind me in the office.  A big wonderful brownie picture happened to display itself on my computer screen and was fortunate enough to catch the attention of a certain young(er) lady.

"Momma I think we should make that in our next cooking class"
"Well what about the tomato surprise you wanted to make?"
"No, I think I need to make these first so I can see if I want to serve these at my next pajama party"

Just so you know, there isn't a pajama party on the calendar, nor is there one in the works.  I have to give her credit for her ability to scramble quick at logical reasoning.  This "testing" is new to me since I am not organized enough to do this myself when I try new recipes for meals being served to guests...I just hold my breath and hope for the best.  She must get this from her father who is a rocket scientist....I'm sure he tests things out in his line of work before sending it to outer space (hopefully).

"I can't peel these momma, it's making my finger knock on the board and now it hurts."
"I can take over that part then."
"But now my hands won't get red" (can you just hear the disappointment?)
"How about you rinse the beets off once I've peeled them?"
"YEAH ok, make sure you get a picture of the red on my hands ok?"
"The red is important to you isn't it."
"well, it IS MY cooking class momma!"

What was in this brownie recipe?

• organic, pastured eggs (balanced ratio of omega6's to omega 3's, along with every other vitamin known to man)
• light organic spelt flour (containing all vitamins naturally, no pesticides or GMO)
• organic dark chocolate (antioxidants and down right awesomeness)
• organic full fat butter (fat soluble vitamins, essential fatty acids, CLA from being grass fed )
• organic, local, fresh beets! (need I say more?)
• organic, fair trade coconut sugar (low processed natural sugar in place of brown sugar)

It turns out the brownies are a big hit with all of us.  The taste is outrageous and the ingredients are nourishing....together that makes a very pleasant nosh!  By the way, many of the recipes I use are found on websites or in books that are listed in the resources link of http://www.foodkin.ca/.

Homemade Lemonade

Eden was soooo excited about planning for the next cooking class she actually developed the plan for the next 3 lessons.....did I mention she's 5?  So much for kids being "in the moment" more than being able to look ahead.

This particular lesson was dedicated to homemade lemonade.  I asked her why she chose this idea and she said "many of my television friends sell lemonade in their yards to make money and I want to buy the toy I listed first on my wish list for my toys, so I want to sell lemonade."

For anyone who underestimates the thought processes of children and believes they are impulsive at best...I beg to differ!!  haha  They indeed can be and will be planners when left to problem solve their issues.  Of course being left to problem solve includes letting the child experience the discomfort of having to satisfy their needs over time rather than immediately.  I find many of us choose to ensure our children are always happy or satisfied and within reason this is a sound practice, however, removing the ability to create self coping skills which inevitably lead to the development of problem solving skills, we are not allowing our children to develop a positive sense of self...their self esteem.

It wasn't even a thought for Eden to demand the toy or beg for the toy she's thinking of.  She became a problem solver, the solution makes sense (if it didn't we'd work together to refine it), and her sense of accomplishment will be huge once she receives money for her efforts.

Of course there will be some hurdles such as weather and the possibility of not making enough money but these will turn out to be great life lessons that will extend the need to problem solve and to possibly work together as a team.  Like teachers always promote.......ask for help!

I hope to update y'all soon on our results.  For now though, here are some pics of our trial batch of healthy lemonade!  The consenses was it tasted great, but mommy however decided there's got to be an easier way!!!!  LOL

Coconut Bread

"Momma, can I take a cooking class?"
"Well, may I be your teacher since you cook with me anyway?"
"SURE! Tanks!"

And there you have the birth of this blog.  I was a bit surprised that she even asked considering all of the things she does to assist in the feeding process that takes over between the hours of 5 and 7 at night.  Everything from planning meals to prepping them, from setting the table to cleaning it, from planning which toys to bring on the drive to the local farmer to helping me put the milk bottles into the fridge.  You name it she's done it.  Surely she identifies herself with being a person who cooks?? She's even watched farmer Robert milk "Julia" the cow,  before helping to place the lids on the fresher than fresh milk to bring home for dinner that night.
So why the need to take a cooking class?  Does the declaration of being "in class" make her purpose in our family food culture different?  Would it give her more confidence to tell me that she can handle something independently instead of letting me assume something is beyond her small hands, tiny body ability? Maybe this is her way of getting more say in what's being created in our kitchen.

"What do you want to cook in these classes?" I asked, wondering what ideas could possibly be occupying her mind
"healthy nutritious junk food".
Yup, it was all about controlling what gets made.
"would you like to look through some cook books or websites with me then? Maybe we can find something we both can agree on."

Hence, the Coconut Bread.

Agreement on Momma's side: pure proteins and a whack of vitamins from grass fed local eggs, sustainably grown coconut, non GMO'd, good source of essential fatty acids and healthy saturated fats, not overpowering in sweetness....sounds great.

Agreement on Eden's side: get to use processor, it has honey, get to crack a bunch of eggs, allowed to eat it for dessert, get to do almost all of it herself....sounded great to her.

For the recipe check out Nourished Kitchen, linked on my website www.foodkin.ca under "Goodies and Rescources", then "recipes".
mmmmm....so delish!  Cheers!