Oops! A Half-Eaten Strawberry

It almost landed in the blender while I was presenting a hands-on, Let’s Cook Together demonstration for 20-plus children ages four to seven and adults at a local library. My workshop familiarizes children with a variety of colorful vegetables and fruit. It also introduces the fun of shopping for ingredients for children to prepare and serve easy dishes at home together with an adult.

We were setting up a fabulous, blended breakfast beverage of sliced banana, strawberry, and orange, with cinnamon, honey, a bit of Barleans Flavored Cod Liver Oil, a bit of Barleans Protein Powder, and rice milk. Each child used a fork to select his or her own banana chunk and strawberry. No fingers, please! Oops! One youngster nearly popped his half-eaten strawberry into the blender. Thank goodness I caught him just in time! By the way, Barleans donated their healthful products for my demonstration. They are very interested in promoting and supporting children’s health, and I appreciate their contribution.

This yummy blended beverage gives any child a marvelous start for a great day. While it enhances breakfast for those who have one, for others it could be their only breakfast nourishment. It is by far a better choice over sugar-laden cereal, for it provides a good balance of protein, alpha omega 3 fatty acid, potassium, and other nutrients that keep little brains alert for the morning and their studies.

It was amusing when a six-year-old thought an artichoke was a mushroom. That’s OK. I grew up with canned peas and carrots, so I probably would have said the same thing. I must say that these kids loved the baby carrots. While they supposedly prepared salads for the adults who came with them, they gobbled them up instead! The brave and curious little ones sampled edamame. The children energetically sprinkled pineapple with cocoa and loved the exciting taste. Dipping banana segments into flax seeds thrilled them. They were fascinated to use a special cutter to make apple wedges just the right size for munching. Most of all, the children enjoyed shaping wholesome, organic bread slices with a cookie cutter. Some didn’t even bother to spread the bread with peanut butter, eating it plain. It was so good!

The children were enthused and wanted to learn to cook! Unfortunately, the library did not have cooking facilities. The class was just an hour, not enough for entertaining questions. Thus, I was sure to emphasize and encourage old-fashioned family dining. Children need to eat with the family to experience the variety and selection of foods that adults have. Kids don’t eat as much as their parents or caretakers. If they eat separately before adults, they may not ever see a crispy salad or savor tantalizing soups. Children are naturally intrigued with diversity, and they should be enticed to different choices! Though they may refuse something new at first, eventually they broaden their selections. Use this great tip I read about: Spread the ingredients of a finished stew on separate platters to encourage the child to eventually feast on the veggies.

Soft, firm, curly, angular, apple red, avocado green – nature is rich in delicious tastes and multiple textures. Release your imagination and have the time of your life cooking and eating together with your children! I love it, and you will, too!