Fiona Faulkner - 25 Foods Kids Hate

With bookshops full of family-friendly recipe books and endless information about the importance of healthy eating for children, what do you do if your child wont even touch a tomato, let alone have one on their plate? Fussy eating is the bane of many parents lives, from children who are deeply suspicious of any kind of vegetable to those who are simply unwilling to try anything new. Fiona Faulkner, also known as the Toddler Chef, reveals the tricks and recipes that have transformed her own childrens eating habits and those of countless others at her popular workshops. Her techniques allow children to experiment with food at their own pace and food and cooking is always accompanied by a fun and relaxed attitude. The 25 foods chosen, while seeming perfectly normal, are those that many children (and consequently parents!) struggle with from pulses to spinach to fish. Each food has information on why you should be eating it, how to introduce it and tips and tricks for reducing your kids food fears, as well as two deliciously simple recipes. A gourmet for grown-ups feature for each recipe also shows how you can adjust the recipe to appeal to more adult tastes.

25 Foods Kids Hate is a wonderfully personal book that offers a humorous and down-to-earth approach with recipes and techniques that actually work.

12.99

FOODS
KIDS HATE

... and how to get them eating 24

... and how to get them eating 24

FIONA FAULKNER

This book is dedicated to the three original 'toddler chefs': Darcey, Elsie and Finn. I love all three of you more than I can possibly express. Keep cooking guys!

First published in 2011 by
New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd
London Cape Town Sydney Auckland
www.newhollandpublishers.com

Garfield House, 8688 Edgware Road
London W2 2EA, United Kingdom

80 McKenzie Street, Cape Town 8001, South Africa

Unit 1, 66 Gibbes Street, Chatswood NSW 2067, Australia

218 Lake Road, Northcote, Auckland, New Zealand

1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2

Text copyright 2011 Fiona Faulkner
Photography copyright 2011 New Holland
Publishers (UK) Ltd
Copyright 2011 New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd

Fiona Faulkner has asserted her moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers and copyright holders.

ISBN 978 184773 789 2

Publisher: Clare Sayer
Photography: Ian Garlick
Food stylist: Wendy Sweetser
Design: Lucy Parissi
Production controller: Laurence Poos

Reproduction by Pica Digital PTE Ldt (Singapore)
Printed and bound in Malaysia by Times Offset Bhd Sdn

Time and time again I see parents despair that their kids fuss with their food in particular with vegetables. As they plead with their kids to please eat up some more or you wont get dessert, its apparent to me that mealtimes are becoming a vicious cycle in which food is the enemy, and the kitchen a battleground.

It was in fact my own story in converting the fussy eaters in my house that first inspired me to set up my business Toddler Chef; my son in particular caused all kinds of mealtime meltdowns. So I know first-hand how emotionally charged and frustrating it can be when the one thing a parent is naturally drawn to do nurture their offspring with good, wholesome food is thrown back in their face (yes, sometimes quite literally).

The truth is, while there are many fantastic kids recipe books out there, most of these are either fairy cake/bakery-driven (nothing wrong with that in itself) or dont tackle the wider issue of fussy eating. Its all very well having a great recipe for a vegetable pasta bake, but what if your kids wont have vegetables on their plate to begin with or anything that barely resembles green food?

In my own parenting journey I also began to notice that there are very few books out there designed to enable parents and kids to cook together and this is an integral part of the Toddler Chef ethos. To this end, this isnt just a cookbook; its a collection of kid-friendly recipes that a parent and child cook together along with basic cookery techniques for kids to practice and learn. Weve become a nation who value speedy-suppers and meals-in-minutes (not to mention designer, pristine kitchens), but I really cant stress enough how vital it is to allow your kids in the kitchen.

Another vital aspect of my Toddler Chef ethos involves the PR skills, games and techniques that Ive developed this is almost where gastronomy meets psychology. Its hugely important to create positive messages around food and these games and techniques underpin everything I do. Think of them as part of your tool kit.

Cookbooks these days often follow a specific theme (speedy, low-fat, vegetarian, Italian etc). In this respect the recipes here may appear to follow no rhyme or reason: some are low-fat, while a few are fried, some are super-simple, others a little more sophisticated, some can be made in less than 60 seconds one recipe in particular can take up to 3 days to complete. The point Im making is that my primary concern (or theme) is to simply get your kids excited about good food. To this end Ive handpicked the recipes (and tips) that have been the most successful in this objective with my own kids, and those who come to my workshops including the fussiest of eaters.

But this book isnt just for fussy eaters or for toddlers. I hope that parents with kids of every age will find imaginative and inspiring ideas here too. In total I tackle 25 food stuffs (although there are actually over 75 recipes and ideas). I bet your child can be persuaded to enjoy at least 24!

These days it seems were cash strapped and time poor and Im the first to admit to these challenges of family life. Equally Im convinced that its so incredibly vital to set aside small pockets of time to cook with your kids because if you dont teach them (and inspire that love of food), it's doubtful anyone else will. I do worry that the 21st century is creating families who thrive on fast food and ready-meals but are unable to pass down basic cookery skills (or treasured family recipes) to their kids. Dont forget good eating habits have to be learnt, and therefore taught. Some of the fondest memories I have of my Irish granny are of being perched up on the pub kitchen worktop while she made hearty soups and stews, allowing me to try a few spoonfuls or even stir in some ingredients. Likewise my mum practically weaned me on TV cookery shows when the only celebrity chefs were Delia and Rusty Lee!