Hi everyone. I was just sent a link that I thought might interest you. It was a segment on the Today Show about an organization called Spoons Across America http://spoonsacrossamerica.org/pg/29. This inspiring organization ‘s mission is to get children exposed to natural foods and cooking to avoid obesity and other ailments. They have programs in the schools and emphasize the importance of getting children involved in the cooking process so they see where REAL food comes from, not from a box! The Family Meals concept is emphasized as well, as a way to promote healthy eating.
It can seem so overwhelming to start from scratch, or semi-scratch, with the whole cooking on a consistent basis thing but we’ve got to start if we are to model healthy behaviors for those healthy -adults-to-be . And it can be done!
Someone wrote in a comment about how just putting a dining room table in their house allowed them to focus on having more family meals , whereas before, they were all watching reruns of “Everybody Loves Raymond,” eating at the coffee table. If you ask me, coffee tables are very conducive to take out. They just seem to go well with plastic take out containers. Just changing your physical environment may allow you to get inspired to make one dish a week to start.
Mustard Maple Sauce for Chicken, Salmon or Tofu
Sauce:
1 TBS. Veg. or Canola oil
3 TBS water
2 TBS Dijon Mustard
2 TBS Maple Syrup
2 Garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 tsp yellow mustard seed (you can toast these for a minute in a skillet until they start popping up and down and then quickly remove-this will give them more flavor)
¼ cup chopped scallion, only the green parts
Protein:
4 6-7 oz. chicken breast, salmon filets or 2 lbs. cubed , firm tofu
Whisk all the sauce ingredients together until fully combined. .Make the sauce up to a day ahead and store in a covered bowl or Tupperware in the fridge.
Pan fry, steam or grill the chicken, salmon or tofu. Remove from heat and let sit for one minute. If sauce is cold, heat up for a minute until warm and pour over your protein.
Serve with couscous or rice and a salad. Enjoy!
3 Responses
I agree with your disdain for coffee tables.
One of the best things we ever did for family togetherness was when we remodeled our home, we put in an eat-in kitchen. We have a dining room, too, and a nice deck with a picnic table, but having the “kitchen table” has been great. Since my son has been away at college, the girls want to be together more. They munch on celery and carrots while they do their homework together and I am making dinner – available to help with homework (if I understand it!) or just chit chat.
Also, I do not allow food upstairs. That’s been a rule since Brooklyn – NO FOOD IN THE BEDROOMS! I laid down that law for cleanliness-of-the-home purposes, but it has had other benefits as well.
Can’t wait to try this recipe!
As a kid, I was never allowed to eat dinner (or any meal for that matter) in front of the TV. Now, as a father, we only allow our kids to eat in front of the TV on “special occasions”… only once in a while. We’re big fans of family meals, allowing time for the family to talk to each other.