Jennifer Carden - Toddler Café: Fast, Healthy, and Fun Ways to Feed Even the Pickiest Eater

* the toddler caf *

* the toddler caf *

fast, healthy, and fun ways to feed even the pickiest eater

by jennifer carden * hotographs by matthew carden

dedication*to diana b. torrey, for teaching me how to make even messy food look pretty you are missed.

jennifer and matthew wish to thank the following people:

claire, our little bean, you are the most honest recipe taster and a star for putting up with our crazy ideas and recipes. It has been so much fun watching you growing, learning, and playing as you explore the world of food. You are our inspiration.

A BIG thank you to our amazing mess-makers and their parents. You all made this so much fun: ari mcdonald, claire carden, gage rizzo, maya budwig, lily warwick, max koebel, maxine asmussen, melia chendo, oliver arnesson, sean escobar, sloan takeuchi-ross, and kimbrae the dog.

ty, sarah, and imani jade, for believing in us, inspiring us, and setting a wonderful example for our life.

caroll, michael, michelle, hernan, and briana, thank you for all your support and love.

To the amazing group of creative professionals at Chronicle Booksart director brooke johnson, production coordinator ben kasman, copy editor ann rolke, managing editors peggy gannon and jennifer sparkman, marketing manager peter perez, and publicists amy portello and andrea burnettyou have made this experience so enjoyable for us, and we truly appreciate you turning our vision into reality. And, most importantly, thanks to our project editor, amy treadwell, for your sense of humor and willingness to take us under your wing. Thanks to leslie feldman for designing this beautiful book.

jennifer wishes to thank the following people:

Thank you to my amazing husband, matthew, for being my partner in everything, for dreaming up a recipe for our life with me and continually reminding me to keep it simple. Thank you for your photographsyou are always pushing the envelope with your silly and beautiful ideas. Thank you for being calm when you knew how much work I had to do and how many photos you had to edit. We decided we were going to make books when we were on that island, and here we are making books!

nicolemy amazing agenta big thanks to you. Without you, this book might still be a scribble in my notebook.

mom, for giving me culinary inspirationyou are a great cook. Thank you for giving me amazing memories of making chocolate chip cookies together.

dad, for giving me advice like Talk to everyone, you never know how it could change your life... and I do, and it has.

Also thank you to both of my parents for always supporting and believing in my creative endeavors.

hal and gaila, for always pushing my culinary knowledge with questions like We have this deer...

marcus and lori, for blazing the trail as authors and always being there to give advice when I need it, all while shuttling around your crew, alex, zachary, jacob, brett, and dylan.

mrs. hillins, for always having skirt steaks cooking in the broiler for me when I got home from school and taking such good care of me.

I thank the following inspiring women for encouraging and believing in me, and my terrific community of friends and family for all your support and enthusiasm:

julie koebel, for years of support and for keeping me on my toes with all those cooking questions; and michelle stern, for teaching me how to be a go-getter and giving me good laughs. You both have encouraged me from the beginning, without falterfor this I give you my deepest thanks.

avvy mar, for lighting the fire under me by inspiring this book and always telling me the truth.

the f.m. women, tamela fish, amanda arnesson, and all my marin moms who cheered me on.

kimberly rider, for telling me I could do it when I thought I couldnt, inspiring me to move forward, and hooking me up!

barbra rosenfeld, for lending an ear and encouraging me. It seems like such a long time ago we were making hamburgers in our dorm room closet!

diane franey, for taking such good care of Claire while I was working.

dont compromise, get creative* our world today is moving fast, and were caught in the dragnet of convenience. the pull toward boxed macaroni and cheese is strong, and fast foods are everywhere. it seems so easy just to drive thru, especially when you know your child will eat it, while you may know in the back (or the front) of your mind that this is not the best way to feed your kids. but what this teaches them is to be unconscious, unhealthy consumers of food, and it never gives them a chance to develop their palate, an interest in food, or experience natural flavors and freshness.

Break free of the net and dont fret, there is another wayits fun, its fast, and just a little creative thinking can change the way your kids eat. Summon up your inner artist with these quick, fun ways to develop a toddlers interest in food and keep them at the table. Improve the meal experience for you