Kids love play kitchens, but the Montessori Method takes it a step further by creating an actual functioning space for kids to prepare food independently. Teacher and mother Chrislyn Barragan shares how to create a Montessori kitchen in your home. Ask most parents about their child’s favorite foods and you’ll get the usual… potatoes, chicken nuggets, and pasta. You might feel pretty good about your parenting in the kitchen skills. Then another parent tells you how their child begs for Indian takeout and loves curry vindaloo and mango lassi. You naturally spiral into self-doubt and wonder how t ..read more

This sweet, salty (and spicy if you choose) Thai Noodle Bowl is simple to make, full of flavor, and it makes a great leftover meal. In the heart of the midwest, I grew up eating dinners with meat, potatoes and vegetables. This was almost every night of the week. The exception was, of course, spaghetti night.   Needless to say, I did not have a lot of chances to eat Asian-inspired foods growing up. As an adult I have broadened my palate and moved away from the standard diet I grew up on. This new way of eating includes at least one family meal night with an Asian dish.   An ..read more

Whether you’re hosting a Halloween party or want to offer a healthy snack to fill little tummies before trick or treating, these Halloween veggie tray ideas are easy, fun, and festive. And an extra bonus on a busy evening – most of these fun Halloween snack trays don’t require any cook time. Table of contents Why Have a Healthy Meal or Snack Before Trick or Treating? A Healthy Halloween Snack Tray Can Help Offset the Sugar Fest Serve Vibrant, Kid-Friendly Vegetables Add Some Fun Fruits for Picky Eaters Don’t Forget the Dip Halloween Veggie Tray Ideas Monster Halloween Veggie Tray Skeleton Ve ..read more

It’s that wonderful time of year — the season for pool parties, beach days and warm nights—it’s officially summer! And as parents know all too well, with summer fun also comes the need to add more meals to your everyday menu. But it’s too nice outside to get caught up in the kitchen! That’s why we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite summer charcuterie boards and pool day snacks. These snackable trays are as picture-ready as they are tasty and easy to make. Some of these are fairly conventional, but you can still get plenty of ideas from them. Just choose healthier / organic / junk-free version ..read more

“I’m going to get a snack!” announces 3-year-old Mason. And instead of going to the pantry or fridge, he opens the front door and heads out to pick it fresh from the family’s vegetable garden. His mother, Sarah Renfro of Renee’s Garden, has been gardening with him by her side since he was 5 months old. When it comes to finding the best vegetables to grow with kids, she enjoys the research process. “I’ve found that Mason will try anything we’ve grown in the garden,” she says. “He understands the connection between planting the seeds, watering, harvesting and eating. If he knows that ..read more

The ingredients are simple: plants, soil, seeds, sun, a sprinkle of rain, a bit of mulch, and a piece of land (it needn’t be large: your backyard – or even a portion of it – will do.) The result? A magical food forest of abundance that will sustain your family in body, mind and spirit, for all the years of their childhood and beyond. Food forests are – pardon the pun – a fast-growing trend all over the world. Let’s take a closer look at why so many homeowners are choosing to turn their lawn into a food forest, why this approach to landscape is especially good for kids, and how to get one growi ..read more

You can say what you want about toddlers — and there surely is a lot to say  —  but little kids really want nothing more than to help. So if your three-year-old is causing a fuss while you’re trying to cook, the best solution could be to get them involved. Yes, this may seem like the absolute worst recommendation, but hear us out. The Benefits of Cooking With Toddlers If the idea of cooking with toddler sounds like a disaster waiting to happen, you might be right. At least one egg will probably break on the floor and they’re bound to end up wearing a few ingredients, but t ..read more

With naturally sweet fruit and tender baby spinach leaves, this kid-friendly green smoothie is a super simple way to add dye-free green to your St. Patrick’s Day menu. When made with organic ingredients, this green smoothie contains essential nutrients to help keep you and your family energized and healthy. The sweetness of the fruity ingredients added to the juice and smoothies creates a flavor that’s appealing to little palates – even picky ones. Green smoothies offer a powerful punch of nutrients. Whether your little ones say they don’t like a green smoothie or vegetables… or if you’ve jus ..read more

Even when food prices go up, we can eat in a healthy and sustainable way. It all starts with having a food strategy that includes an awareness of the politics of food. Why is food activism important? It might surprise you to know that food is publicly exchanged on the international stock market. While it was once a local public resource, food is now a private, transnational commodity traded by billion dollar companies. (source) Seafood is the most highly traded of all foods and coffee the most highly traded beverage. Food Activism Addresses the Problems With the Mass Production of Food Tragica ..read more

Ahhh… that hopeful feeling you get after buying fresh produce or picking up your weekly CSA goodies. Ugh… the misery of finding unused, withered, moldy veggies in the crisper. To help us all avoid that disappointment and waste, here’s a complete guide on how to store fruits and vegetables so they last longer. Whether you’re planning your weekly meals or getting prepared for power outages or emergencies, proper food storage is a useful skill. In the end, storing food properly will keep it usable and fresh for as long as possible. When it comes to food storage, we try to avoid plastic. There ar ..read more