February 23 2011 • Posted by corene

One year in, the mantra is still:  Don’t dumb down kids’ food

I’ve met so many wonderful folks who care deeply about food and kids in the past year.  There are awesome bloggers and chefs out there cultivating their own communities of food loving families.  Yes…this lil’ website has been up and running for an entire year now!  I still don’t have an official business or final direction on where things are going - but I’m so grateful for the relationships I’m building.  Fun things are coming, I promise!  It’s an honor to be a small part of such a big, important mission.
In the past year our family moved out to a suburb near Seattle.  The people we’ve met through our neighborhood school and activities are incredibly involved in the community - we are so lucky to be a part of it!  I’m often asked by other parents about how I ‘get’ my child to try new things or like vegetables.  Of course we foodie patooties know it’s a lot more than that.  My number one piece of advice for parents is still:  Don’t dumb down your kids’ food.  Bring the flavor and variety!  Try serving all kinds of world cuisines and flavors.  Cook with the kids in your life.  Processed, fatty foods may actually dumb down your kids anyway, so avoid it early.  We never go to McDonald’s so my daughter doesn’t ever ask for it.  Celeb-Chef Anthony Bourdain takes the stand against the “evil empire” to another level in his latest read. 
Now I’m no food snob - our family made a beeline for the famous giant corn dogs at Disneyland last year.  I’m all about the sometimes food theory. 
None is this is new news - but it’s what has worked for our family.  Do you have a unique family-favorite recipe to share?  Please share on our Facebook page!  Thanks so much for being a part of the Foodie Patootie community ~ Isn’t life delicious?