By Tama Droughton Bloch, RD, LD Whenever the aroma of fresh-baked goodness fills my kitchen, I remember the delicious meals made by my mother, Jeanne. It's no wonder I followed in her footsteps and studied foods and nutrition in school. From her oven-roasted beef pot roast to her simmering spaghetti sauce with meatballs, my mom's home cooking taught me how to make every meal a hearty, happy, and healthy delight.
With a Bachelor of Science degree in dietetics, Mom taught me some valuable lessons about cooking and nutrition that I use in my kitchen today, such as:
- Eat two or more vegetables or a green salad at every meal.
- Cook vegetables until tender-crisp and colorful, not soft, mushy, and dull. Color and texture are very important to kids, so keep vegetables colorful and crunchy.
- Finish your veggies if you want dessert. Balanced food choices and moderation are important, especially for families.
- Enjoy food while it's hot. Cooked vegetables don't taste as good when they're cold. Food eaten at the right temperature is more likely to be enjoyed.
- Try every kind of food, even if you never had it before. It takes more than 10 tries before you know whether or not you like it, especially with kids. Keep offering the new food without making it into a battle.
- Eat with your eyes first. If you make food that's appealing to see and smell, everyone is more likely to crave a taste. Offer them a wide variety of foods that are colorful and delicious.
- Make each meal memorable. Nothing says home more than the smell of delicious food when you walk in the door. Turn meals into fond memories to avoid struggles with kids about food and nutrition.
- Nothing beats home cooking. Meals cooked at home are usually more delicious and nourishing than restaurant meals.
- Families that eat together stay together. Make mealtime family time and nutrition will always be second nature.
I teach my own children about nutrition and cooking skills as we spend cherished time making meals together. And when we bake my mom's peach cream pie, the familiar aroma fills the house and reminds me how she taught me to cook and what a great role model she is.
Thanks, Mom, for everything I've learned and for every deliciously balanced meal!
Editor's Note: We'd like to thank Tama for sharing her memories with our readers. To learn about nutrition for the whole family, use our instant messenger to chat live with a nutritionist.