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Yes! I did just write that. I'm certainly not a fan of the complete and total sugar overload, but I do think there are some valuable reasons to let your kids dig in to that bucket-o-candy.
Read MoreSince I'm one year into my business, I've taken a bit of time to reflect on how it all began. The following ten Aha! moments gently nudged, then jolted me into realizing that I'd better just go for it. Here's my Real Food 4 Kids story that's 15 years in the making:
Read More...as long as you cook it yourself" - Michael Pollan
As promised, the recipe for homemade Nutella is in this post! Here you see a visual of the store-bought version with mostly sugar and palm oil. The homemade version has mostly hazelnuts and chocolate! It's delicious!
Read MoreHas anyone else already fallen into the abyss of summer snacking? Food is disappearing around here faster than I can keep up. It appears that all rules were thrown out the window, yet I don't recall making that a conscious choice. There are already a dozen reasons why concrete plans have not been laid, and nor should they! It's summer after all...
Read MoreThe countdown is on! Summer is right around the corner. With the kids out of school, there might be a lot more activity in your kitchen! A little preparation can go a long way to help your kids eat healthy (most of the time) all summer long.
Start off on the right foot, since it's a lot easier to set some parameters from the beginning, than to try and implement them mid-summer.
Read MoreWho hasn't heard the words try, try again? I think they aptly apply to getting kids to eat their fruits and vegetables! Studies show that it can take as many as 10-15 tries before a child starts to like a particular fruit or vegetable.
Read MoreSay what?! Let them create something, and maybe they'll be more likely to eat it! The options are aplenty: from the veggie boys and girls I made with some pre-schoolers this morning, to giving my 6 year old the chance to knead bread dough after school the other day.
How does this work? Well, this morning I brought 15 different vegetables to a group of 15 pre-schoolers that I'm teaching once a week. Some of the parents told me that their kids DO NOT LIKE vegetables, and they were hopeful that my class would encourage them to try new things. I was feeling a bit of pressure (in a good way). Rather than bring a bunch of vegetables and ask the kids to try them right off the bat, I thought I might have better success by letting them first play with their food.
Read MoreThe nice folks at our local Trader Joe's store know my crew of 4 kids by sight, and some by name. That's because they frequently come grocery shopping with me, and have been doing so practically since they were born.
These trips to the grocery store certainly weren't relaxing, but they did start to teach my kids about food from a pretty young age. They learned that food doesn't just appear in the kitchen, that there are lots and lots of choices to make, and they became actively involved in a discussion of why I might buy this and not that. Here are the top 4 reasons why (I think) grocery shopping is good for your kids:
My kids make their own lunch. Every family does things differently for a myriad of reasons. At our house, the kids pick one day a week to get hot lunch, and the rest of the week they bring their own. And they make it themselves, which in my opinion, helps foster independence and encourages them to think about what they will be putting into their growing bodies around noon-time.
Read MoreMy name is Sue and I’m the founder and owner of Real Food 4 Kids. I’d love to jump-start or nurture your child’s interest in food. My #1 recommendation: involve your kids in the kitchen. Yes, it’s hectic. Yes, it’s more work…for several years. Yes, it can test your patience, even on a good day. But the benefits are real, and if you’re looking at the glass half-full, those benefits can become apparent pretty quickly. Here are five good reasons to get started:
Read MoreYesterday afternoon, I had the pleasure of working with 6 enthusiastic bakers! They made some delicious treats from scratch: red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, strawberry ice cream and fresh berry sauce. Along the way, they ALL tasted some of the ingredients: pure vanilla extract, real lemons, buttermilk and cocoa. It was a fun afternoon! Here's what we did:
Read MoreIf you're looking for a couple of cooking-related holiday gifts for your kids, here are a few of our favorites:
Read MoreReal Food 4 Kids offers hands-on cooking classes for kids and teens. Classes teach a variety of basic cooking skills and are available in-person in Des Moines, Iowa or can be attended virtually from anywhere.
Voted "Best for Kid-Led Instructional Videos" three years in a row by The Spruce Eats.
Voted "Best Overall" Online Cooking Class for Kids by Simply Recipes.
“This morning EJ made an omelet crafted from left over ribeye, sautéd red onions, green peppers, tomatoes and serrano pepper (as EJ said “for some heat”) and mozzarella cheese. You’ve made such an impact on him!! Thanks for showing him your love, kindness and craft!”
— Megan W
“You have such a way with kids (patience & organization, too!); thanks for creating Real Food 4 Kids - it’s such a wonderful and unique program. It’s really helping Josie with her confidence, even beyond cooking!”
— Carolyn
“The information presented is invaluable; I learned many new things! Children have a right to know what is in the food that they are eating/being provided. I think a huge ‘eye-opener’ was listening to them try to pronounce the ingredients off the label.”
— Kristel Kautzky, School Principal
“My son really enjoyed it. He wants to be a chef and is already planning his restaurant menu :) I appreciate it so much all the work you put into making this so well organized, and amazing.”
— Carrie
“The fun way in which vegetables were presented and the experience of trying them with his peers did more for my picky eater than all of my experience as a pediatrician. After one visit from Real Food 4 Kids, my first grader is now requesting peppers or salad in his lunchbox daily.”
— Christy Sullivan, mother of 5, Pediatrician, & President of St. Augustin School Board
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