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cynthia lair - feeding the young athlete

8/28/12
Dear Cynthia and The Cookus Gang:
Just made the Mediterranean Quinoa Salad again, first time this summer-- it continues to utterly amaze and delight! My mom loved it! My four yr old and 18 month old loved it! Happy and healthy dinner was had by all. Thank you so much!
Jen

8/27/12
Hi, I wanted to let you know that I just did the Danskin Triathlon (my first such event), and I took Lime Boost in my water bottles. It was great.
Jami

7/29/12
I printed this a year ago, but finally got around to trying it (Gays Mini Pot Roast). I was afraid of all the steps and thought my 8 quart le Creuset pan would be too big. I took the plunge and boy am I ever glad I did!! This was amazing!!! I used dried herbs since that's what I had and it still turned out amazing. I used fingerling potatoes cut up and I used a few extra parsnips. It was soooo good!! I think you are the best Cynthia!!!! You give me SUCH confidence in the kitchen. I am almost 40 and finally gaining some self esteem in the kitchen - THANKS TO YOU!!!
Rebekah

7/23/12
This is simply delicious. (Bourbon BBQ Shrimp) Words overheard at dinner tonight from my hubby and two kids in regard to this dish: stellar, amazing, the best shrimp, and soooo good. Thanks for another winner recipe! (Oh, and I served this cornbread; it was a great match.)
Hillary

6/14/12
Cookus Interruptus - you guys are a hilarious team! You really pulled out all the stops to give Ms. Selengut a warm welcome. I love what you guys do x
Tui

6/13/12
That was killer. (Hoppin' John) Made with andouille sausage, cheesy corn grits and braised bok choy and kale from the garden. Everyone loved it, and my 3 year old cleaned her plate, much to my delight! Did wish I had a nice blob of sour cream, though...
Stephanie

3/8/12
Chinese Vegetable Fried Brown Rice:
WOW - I want that for breakfast, too! (I am talking about the stir fry people!)One of the funniest interruptions yet! Have to share this one with my mom...
Heather

1/5/12
Firstly, this looks delicious and amazing and I can't wait to try it. (Chicken and Kabocha with Chocolate Enchilada Sauce). Secondly, Matt completely cracks me up in this. Cynthia makes a great foil to his craziness. Well-done!
Kymberlee

12/11/11
My 2 year old daughter and I watched this video before making our own. We went into the kitchen, popped the Mochica into the oven, and next thing I know she is stretching on the ground with her feet in the air. Then, biting into the finished product she says, 'come here little sizzler!'. I was in fits laughing. Thanks for great recipes and great fun.
Stephanie

11/29/11
So, I've said it before and I'll say it again...my 5-year old daughter LOVES this soup. Tonight she had 2 bowls full with olive tapenade on top. And when I was packing up the little bit that was leftover, she asked that I save it for her to eat tomorrow, The recipes says this serves 6-8, but in our family it barely feeds 4. We can't get enough of it.
Anna

10/25/11
you guys are silly but it helped me to keep watching.
Rob

1/25/12
I find that everything here "speaks" to my instincts. Everything I see here just feels intuitive to me. Maybe it's because we're in the same camp, or maybe also because the "loose pattern" of philosophies you've woven together here fits so well for so many of us. Thank you!
Jennifer

9/18/11
As a newbie to whole foods and anything that isn't meat and potatoes...your recipes and fun way that you give lessons really are making the transition to healthy eating easy. Thank you so much!
Raquel

7/17/11

you guys are BRILLIANT with your videos. The entertainment value opens up the floodgates of people who want to watch and (inadvertently) learn from you about the wonders of whole foods. I use them in our kids' cooking classes all the time. Lots of laughs and learning! "Who doesn't like applesauce? I'll tell you who, freaks and crazy people!" We love Jane!"

Marirose

5/19/11

My 2 year old LOVES this soup (Yaki Soba). She scoops the broth with her little spoon and picks up every last bit of tofu, bok choy, and mushroom with unbridled enthusiasm. I love your recipes and best of all my family does too! Thank you!

Heidi Denis

5/5/11
Keep up the great show! LOL...my kids watched 5 episodes today... my oldest loves Jane and keeps watching to see if she's going to get together with what's-his-name and my boys couldn't stop laughing at Darrell and they all want to know why they can't see Captin J.
Tomena Reed

3/19/11
I made this soup tonight and it was, by far, the best homemade soup we have ever had. 3 generations ate together, even my 5 and 2 year olds! Thank you from the bottom of our empty soup bowls!
Taylor Hope

I've been consistently cooking your meals for over a month, now, and I love all the recipes I've made. Even my husband loves them, which is amazing because, in the past, he's usually complained when I made 'healthy meals', calling them 'a snack'. Thanks for making it so enjoyable to eat healthy!
Erin Fields-Johnson

2/11/11
This is my 3rd recipe this week since Saturday night-it's only Monday! I'm hooked on your site. such great food and love the videos. Thanks to all!!!
Josie

1/13/11
Wow, what an amazing site. I made your fish tacos for dinner last night and my 13 yo commented on how good they were. In fact she said, Mom everything you've made from Cookus Interruptus has been good! Yes, delicious and easy!! Thank you so much
Ruby Cacchione

12/29/10
while watching this video (Be Bop Breakfast) my 7yr old daughter was totally perplexed that you would eat cooked greens for breakfast. (we do green smoothies, but my kids are pretty skeptical about other usage of greens) But after watching it through she asked if we could try it tomorrow! I think we are going to watch a few more videos!
Annie Moore

12/15/10
Pacific NW Magazine loves Cookus! Read the story by superfabulous Greg Atkinson.

10/29/10
Rosemary Red Soup: I make this soup for my birthday every year. It was the soup that got me to reconsider beets after hating them since birth. Now I love them, as long as they're fresh!
Anne

10/14/10
For my birthday last week, my friend helped me make the apple pie with butter crust. We couldn't stop congratulating our pie while we were eating it. It was delicious...and we had no hesitation about serving our daughter nice hefty slices. Thank you, Cynthia Lair. Your recipes make my life better every day.
Anna

10/8/10
I've been cooking from your website for the last few weeks, and every single recipe I've tried has turned out Incredible. Thank you so much for doing something like this! The videos make it very simple for a visual learner. I look forward to any new recipes you post :)
Susan

9/21/10
I just have to say, once again, how much I love your website. I've been a huge fan of the cookbook for years and the website makes it fresh. True story: my kids (5 and 2) and I will sit and watch your videos. My son, the 5 year old, loves them!
Hillary Mizia

9/10/10
Where have I been? I just now came across your site. I have never enjoyed looking at recipes as much as yours and had such a laugh plus great info. and learned something. You are ALL a kick. Thank you for being here, keep up the great work and info. There is nothing out here like you, what a joy. Must say, I watch you everyday. Thanks
val greene

"My 4-year-old son referred to it as 'the phenomenal noodle salad' and kept offering additional helpings to everyone at the table! I will definitely be making this again. :-)"
-Lindsey Parks
(see Asian Noodle Salad)

"Cooking for my family had become a chore. I was basically in a rut until I came across your site via the OCA. I have actually began enjoying cooking again. My kids are now even trying simple recipes on their own. I feel such a sense of satisfaction knowing I am preparing food that's nourishing and delicious. I have learned so much. Thank you, thank you :)"
-Kaylla

"I must tell you what an inspiration your blog and videos have been to me....and my kids. We love watching you and learning great tips."
-Laurene

Townsend Letter raves about Cynthia's book and Cookus Interruptus in October 09 issue!

Danny Jensen at Take Part loves Cookus Interruptus. Read about it!

"This has to be the best cooking show EVER!!! Besides being so funny, they make this type of cooking seem so approachable. Kudos on doing a great job!!!!"
-Cheryl

"I have been cooking more. I made some really good fried tofu, delicious soba noodles, Bok Choy (from the collard greens vid), Blanched red cabbage, fried rice, some thing else I can't remember, and almost every day for breakfast I eat either quinoa or steel cut oats. Not only that my knowledge on food has increased 10 fold. All thanks to you. xo"
-Joel

"Can I just say that your videos make me laugh my butt off? Is that ok? Did I mention I am totally by myself when I do this? Loooove you guys!"
sunbronzedbabe

"Besides providing amazing how-to recipes on whole, organic foods, you weave a gentle little funny-family story-line throughout that always leaves me wanting more. I forward your site to friends with the spoiler, "pssst, bet you can't watch just one!" There's just nothing like your program anywhere!"
Lynne Lillie

"What a really well conceived, and nicely organized website. Being gut-bustingly funny is an added bonus. Nice job, Fam."
Steven Lee

"I've been cooking uninterrupted for the past 3 days and I'm loving it. I watch the videos with my toddler then we cook our family meal together. It's lovely:) Thank you guys for a great book &website."
Yasmine

"Clean, easy to use, and informative, the videos get to the point, and on the plate, in 4 to 8 minutes..." Read the whole glowing blog post!
Maggie Dutton, Seattle Weekly

"Your steel cut oats recipe did change my life!"
Julie

we're stalking you just for the halibut

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Printable version

Tips for Parents of Picky Eaters

1. Eliminate snacking and juice drinking 2 hours before mealtime.
2. Set boundaries. No separate meals.
3. Include one dish at each meal that you know your child will enjoy.
4. Encourage your child to help with meal planning. (Not �What do you want?� but �Would you rather have this or that?�.)
5. Have your child help shop for and prepare meals.
6. Try new ways of presenting the food. (Sauces and dips can be attractive.)
7. Relax. Don't nag them about invisible micronutrients. See it as a challenge not a health crisis.

For a whole bunch of great ideas on helping your picky eater visit Laptop Lunches. And Dr. Susan Rubin has some additional tips in her e-book "Winning the Picky Eater War".

Tomato Basil Soup

Recipe reprinted with permission from Feeding the Whole Family (third edition) by Cynthia Lair (Sasquatch Books, 2008)

When I was a child tomato soup was one of my main comfort foods. It is simple to make. The nightshade plants, such as tomatoes, are thought by some to affect calcium stores negatively. Perhaps that is why they are traditionally paired with calcium-rich dairy. The food company Muir Glen makes a fire-roasted canned tomato that is yummy to use in this recipe.

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 onion, chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon sea salt
2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1 14.5 ounce can chopped tomatoes
1 tablespoon honey
� cup sour cream
� cup finely chopped fresh basil
Freshly ground black pepper

Heat oil and butter in a 4-quart pot over medium heat. Add onion, garlic and salt and saut� until onions are soft and translucent. Add stock, tomatoes and honey and simmer for about 10-15 minutes to marry flavors.

Let soup cool slightly and put � of it into blender with sour cream. Blend until smooth. Transfer to another pot. Blend the other half of the soup and add. Warm blended soup. Add basil and pepper before serving.

Preparation time: 25-30 minutes
Makes 4 servings

CLICK HERE

15 Comments:

claire allen
You fogot something: Plant a vegetable garden with your kids. My son planted spinach seeds 5 years ago and still insists on eating a huge bowl of raw spinach most days with dinner. It's about ownership!
March 18, 2009, 3:14 pm

Donna Dorsey
Hi Cynthia, I was the one who left the comment on the blog asking your advice on this topic. Thanks so much for making this video! The tips you gave are excellent and I can't wait to try them out. It was especially reassuring to hear that I don't have to be a short order cook. That is exactly what I have been, feeling like if I didn't then my son wouldn't eat anything. But your other tips (for example limiting snacking and juice drinking) will set the stage for his eating better at mealtimes. We got into some bad habits, thanks for pointing us in the direction of some good ones! As always, love your videos. Thank you so much for sharing them!
March 22, 2009, 1:55 pm

cheryl cuevas
Hi Cynthia. Thanks for your wonderful videos. Here's a different take on picky eaters. If your child consistently turns down a specific food, it's worth considering the slim possibility that they may have a sensitivity to that food. I always hated milk as a child and recently came to find out I'm lactose intolerant. It all makes sense now. Cheers!
May 8, 2009, 2:54 pm

Cynthia Lair
Right Cheryl, Same for me. I don't have a lactose intolerance but find straight milk pretty indigestible and didn't like it as a child. I prefer the fermented dairy products - live cultures help the belly!
May 8, 2009, 9:09 pm

Cynthia Childs
OK, so I think we have broken all the picky eater rules. We have a 12-year-old who is the pickiest eater I have ever known - he eats NO fruits or vegetables (salsa being the one exception) and he refuses to try fruits or vegetables. He gags if we make him (I know, we probably shouldn't make him). Is it too late to institute your rules? And what do we do on the nights when we, the parents, are having something 'fancy' that we know they won't eat but we want it?
July 2, 2009, 10:59 am

Cynthia Lair
Hi Cynthia, I'd start by making sure that every meal (fancy or not) has something included that you know your child will like. Even if it is simply bread and butter. You are right, do not make him eat food. Your next step is to relax and ignore the fact that he doesn't eat fruits or vegetables and enjoy them yourselves. No bribes, no lies. Enjoy is the key word.
July 2, 2009, 1:00 pm

Sarah Kingston
Hi Cynthia, I'm looking through the lunch box section again (please may I never have to make another ham sandwich!) and I'm wondering about the thermos. Do you warm up the soup in the morning and send him to school with it? What kind of thermos do you have? I know there are many that are stainless steel in the inside, and I'll just assume you're not using one that's all plastic, but really, what are the options? And please continue with the wonderful lunch ideas!
September 22, 2009, 7:15 am

Cynthia Lair
Hi Sarah, I have always used a small stainless steel thermos such as the link below shows. Laptop lunches sells some �lunch jars� for packing hot items that are stainless steel. http://www.amazon.com/Thermos-Nissan-16-Ounce-Stainless-Steel-Insulated/dp/B00009V4FI/ref=pd_sim_k_1 http://secure.laptoplunches.com/AMAZING/items.asp?Cc=LUNCHJARS&Bc=
September 22, 2009, 11:34 am

Charles Andrews
Hi Cynthia, My wife wanted tomato soup soup this week, but I don't have a good recipe for it. I came to your website and found this recipe. It is super good. Thanks for sharing it. I also made some applesauce--we made some in Whole Foods Production--so that I could add something to our lunches!
January 28, 2010, 2:09 pm

Jennifer Johnson
Wow, my kids loved this soup and we didn't have any leftovers : ) I used 1 1/2 tsp dried basil and nonfat greek yogurt instead of sour cream as substitutes. Delish
March 13, 2010, 7:39 pm

Lori Flanagan
I have to disagree a bit w/ not talking to your kids about different nutrients. My oldest is a carbavore and he's been much sicker this year than his younger brother and been eating less and less veggies. Yesterday due to parties he had fast food pizza and sweets for lunch and dinner. Last night he was miserable w/ gas and couldn't sleep from the pain. We talked about what he ate during the day. This am he was begging for your massaged kale salad with all his meals. Went to sleep with no gas/pain even though he had plenty of sweets (3 parties today - tis the season.)
June 5, 2010, 6:39 pm

Sarah Kingston
I've made this soup a couple of times in the fast weeks, and the first time, there was just not enough! We use the Muir Glen tomatoes, and it makes the soup spicy! I made the soup a couple of days ago and doubled the recipe (family of 5, you see), sent the kids thermoses for lunch, with quesadillas made with beautiful pastured milk cheddar and those sprouted grain tortillas, which the kids like even when they're cold. Then, today, I simmered the almost 2 cups of leftover soup (for an hour) with some cumin, paprika, tabasco, thyme, and a touch of white wine, for a great Patatas Bravas sauce to put over rosemary roasted potatoes! We have a local producer of organic sausages and stuff, so I made a hash of chorizo, carrots, onions, and zucchini to go with. Another great success, even with the kids.
September 16, 2010, 5:05 pm

Ivette Ivette
I really want to find a fresh tomatoe soup with no dairy. Please help. And I prefer it with garlic and basil
November 2, 2010, 9:53 am

Cynthia Lair
Hi Ivette, Try making this soup with coconut milk instead of sour cream.
November 2, 2010, 2:18 pm

Harmony Hasbrook
After reading Feeding the Whole Family it occurred to me that my 3 year old just didn't like cooked veggies. She loves raw veggies like cucumbers, carrots, red peppers, even raw green beans. What kid doesn't like crunchy and sweet? So I started including a fresh veggie plate, with dressing (Annie's goddess) in the middle to dip, for the family to share every dinner. Now everyone eats more veggies, and all the little one is required to do is try the main dish (often just one bite), and mommy is happy.
January 3, 2012, 10:35 pm