Kids, Cooking and Holiday Balance

As I've admitted before, I'm a lousy cook. And, like most parents, I'm too busy to spend much time experimenting in the kitchen. But that doesn't mean I've given up on my kids eating well -- and nutritiously. This is especially challenging during the holidays, when candy canes, Christmas cookies, Hanukkah gelt and school parties supplied by ubermoms abound.

Three new books have arrived to help those with cooking challenges, like me, find some nutritional balance during December.

Deceptively Delicious has gotten a lot of attention because the author is married to comedian Jerry Seinfeld. Jessica Seinfeld has three kids under eight and she partnered with a prominent nutritionist to create the recipes, so I figure she's got some degree of credibility in the kitchen. Her shtick is hiding nutritious foods in kids' favorite foods, and the key is puree: cauliflower, kale, blueberries, avocado, etc.

The Sneaky Chef has gotten a lot of attention because the author has accused Jessica Seinfeld of ripping off her recipes. Missy Chase Lapin, also a mom, slips in whole wheat and her special "green" and "purple" purees to just about everything. Both the Seinfeld and Lapin books are excellent, easy to follow and fun.

The last is Cooking with Trader Joe's by Wona Miniati and Deana Gunn. I'm sure other specialty food and cooking stores such as Whole Foods and Williams Sonoma have similar books, but I picked this one because Trader Joe's gourmet foods are more affordable (the book is not sponsored by or affiliated with Trader Joe's). Authors Miniati and Gunn (moms and engineers whose international backgrounds exposed them to a range of ethnic cooking styles) focus on shortcuts in gourmet food preparation. They aim for 10 minutes "working" time to make meals. Some great ideas that would work for holiday celebrations, albeit nontraditional holiday foods, include Apricot Baked Brie, Mediterranean Lentil Salad, Creamy Lemony Linguine and Very Berry Marscarpone Tart.

Hungry yet? Would your kids eat these? What strategies and sneaky treats have been successful in keeping your holiday celebrations nutritious? Do you have good cookbooks or recipes you recommend?

By Leslie Morgan Steiner |  December 3, 2007; 7:00 AM ET  | Category:  Raising Great Kids
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