Ok, this is a post I was hesitant to write, because I am really trying my best to feed my family with all natural, healthy, local, organic, made-from-scratch foods. But sometimes, wanting-whats-best-for-my-kids and providing-whats-best-for-my-kids, collides.
Case in point, my son.
He is in middle school this year, is growing up, and looking for responsibility and independence. I want to foster that as a parent, I really do. So, when he comes home from school, and wants a snack, I suggest he make his own.
Only, when you don’t cook, the snacks lack a little bit of excitement. PB&J, Turkey Ham on whole wheat, crackers. You get the picture. And he comes home starving and needs something pretty substantial before his next activity.
And of the two kids, he has never shown that much interest in cooking, so if I wanted him to have a hot, hearty after-school snack, I was going to have to make it myself. I punted and bought a bunch of his favorite frozen food items from Trader Joes that he can heat in the microwave.
Is it going to kill him? No. Would I prefer that he made something from scratch? I do. Am I willing, 2 hours before dinner time, to make it for him? I am not.
Therefore, a compromise.
What he learns: cooking times, new flavors, independence, managing the microwave (only with a parent in the house, though), how to serve his own hunger.
What he doesn’t learn: how to turn raw ingredients into a meal, how to experiment in the kitchen, how to create something from scratch.
I am not too worried. As I said, I am using the processed foods to lure him into the kitchen, and once he is there, I will start the transformation to Chef Extraordinaire. I figure I will start with smoothies. How about any other suggestions?
October 17th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Quesadillas are quick and easy, and since we don’t cook ours with oil, they were a very safe way to start kids cooking in the kitchen.
October 17th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
quesadillas are a great idea, however dear son is finicky about cheese. He came home from school one day with the amazing news that quesadillas can be made in the microwave and his friend at school had told him how. He made the quesadilla per the instructions, then announced he did not like the cheese. Now he never wants to make them again! Grr….
October 18th, 2009 at 12:33 am
My first make-it-yourself after school snack was mini-pizzas on english muffins. Tortillas would work too. Sounds like the cheese could be a problem…but when I was in middle school, I thought they were the greatest thing ever.
October 18th, 2009 at 11:34 am
The almond butter dipping sauce with the summer rolls I posted last week is really good just to use as a veggie dip. It’s pretty simple to make too. It’s a nice source of protein and the veggie sticks are good too. I also have a couple of snack mixes filed under “for kids” on my blog. That’s something he could spend time making on the weekend and have as a snack during the week.
October 18th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
Cindy, I like your pizza idea – pizza cheese is ok, not sure why, I guess because it is melted. Are these also made in the microwave?
October 18th, 2009 at 11:02 pm
Snack mixes sound like a great idea, and anything that is made ahead is a double bonus. He relies a little too much on snack bars for quick energy, but a snack mix might be a little more successful in giving him longer term energy. Thanks for the suggestion Katie!
October 19th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
How about a big bowl of yogurt and grape nuts?
Cindy´s last blog ..BBQ Garbanzo Poppers
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Our son’s junior high school friends like to make their own wraps and sandwiches. They don’t have to go near a stove, oven or microwave, and they can be as healthy as they want to make them.
Our son likes to actually cook. He’s not allowed near the stove or oven without supervision, but the microwave and Crock Pot are pretty safe. He loves to make his own quesadillas and smoothies for fast snacks. With supervision, Chef Emeril Lagasse’s lasagna from his children’s cookbook, There’s a Chef in My Soup, has become a family favorite. His method is now how we always make lasagna. No need to boil the pasta first. There’s lots of great recipes in that cookbook, all easy for children, tasty for the whole family. He teaches them basic methods, while providing REAL food, NOT silly things like ants on a log.
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:45 pm
yogurt and grapenuts is a great idea. We also usually have granola around, and my kids like that on yogurt with honey…
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:29 pm
How about burritos? Leftover rice and some beans and whatever else strikes his fancy?