This Cookbook Will Get Your Kiddos Cooking

It’s funny now to think about how I used to be scared of tofu. Then I gave it a try and realized that it’s the easiest, can’t-screw-it-up protein source ever. I cook with it frequently now—so much so that Iam in need of new ideas for it. Enter The Whole Family Cookbook by Michelle Stern!

You could say Michelle is a healthy cooking guru. Her What’s Cooking with Kids program teaches kids how to cook (check it out if you’re in the San Francisco Bay Area!), and she emphasizes using locally grown, organic foods as much as possible. Now with a cookbook focused on getting kids involved in cooking, she wants parents to use her book as a tool that helps bring families together in the kitchen to teach them to eat well and make healthy choices.

I tried Crispy Tofu Triangles with Asian Dipping Sauce (pictured), and it was a super-easy recipe that makes a protein-packed snack or appetizer. As kids love to dip and dunk their foods, this finger-food plus tasty sauce is a winner. Because I’m clumsy and knocked over and spilled half of the dipping sauce, I had to play with the ingredients a bit until it tasted right again, proving that it’s truly idiot-proof.

What I L-O-V-E about the book? Instructions on the recipes are color-coded by age, so you can see at a glance how your kids can get involved. Beating eggs? Your 2-year-old can do it! Preheating the oven? Better suited for 7- to 10-year-olds.

With time-saving tips and a seasonal index to help you save money, this book is truly parent-friendly. The 75 recipesare also supposed to be kid-approved, so even your pickiest eaters will hopefully chow down on the healthiness! —Erin