Coaching Cooking

Ok the fridge is full. You want:
1) Salad or veggies
2)Soup or a stew (can be a main meal)
3) Sandwiches or an entree.

My mom used to have 3 pots ready to go. Stuff went in fast and was ready att he perfect time. Olden days.

Let the kids make the salad (fruit or veggie, or a combo) If they aren’t old enough to use a knife have some precut ingredients for them. Salads can always change around and be creative.

You are in charge of a fast entry. Choose your meat and know in advance the quick approach you will use. A wok meal? Sauteed? Leftovers from a Sunday roast? Buffalo burgers? Vegetarians substitute
your proteins.

Soups are easy: make a big batch and have ready for a few days, or have the kids blend a squash, or some tomatoes, or mixed veggies…pot three is waiting. Add some spice, and in 5 minutes soup is ready.

Kids will also have a fun time making simple dressings or dips.

Dessert: Assign it to Dad. No Dad? Have ice cream, a fruit bowel, or a few homemade cookies.

Buy cookbooks for the family to read. If everyone gets used to working together,planning and taking responsibility for nutrition, they are more likely to eat healthy and eat the food prepared. Also frozen veggies can be added in advance to salads and will thaw in time. Beans can be a family’s best friend. 3 frozen veggies cooked and added to a yogurt base makes an easy soup.

as every head cook knows, you cleanup along the way! Teach the kids.
Dinner will be a lot easier tonight. Also there are some meals that the kids could prepare before dinner. The salad can sit in a bowl in the fridge. They want to experiment with the pre-cook stage for a soup. These points are great if you want a less hectic galley at dinner time.

Remember to praise their efforts. You get better results.