Even though I am a 22 year that doesn’t plan to have kids in the near future, watching your video taught me new things by making me think of the way I cook. You simplified adult foods for you daughter, yet I was focused on how you elevated simple key ingredients into full on meals. I will definitely incorporate this approach into my cooking, thank you as always 🤍
I’m jealous my sons 4 non verbal and autistic and has severe selective eating. He literally makes himself vomit any if we introduce any new foods and the only vegetables he gets are greens I sneak into his chocolate shakes he’ll drink
I'm a 22 year old (almost 23!) Who mostly cooks for themselves, but when I go back to my parents I gotta cook for my younger siblings with their unrefined pallattes- so even though I don't plan on having children any time soon, it gets really useful really fast.
This also works to make couples happy as in. I was pescatarian when I got married. Seafood triggers my husbands gout. So I hated making two dinners. This technique was very similar to what we did but adult style.
Best advise-take a risk. My daughter got a take of spicy grilled shrimp at age 2 and loved it! I restricted her to just a few bc I was concerned for her tummy but it taught me a lot about my daughter’s 2 yr old palate. I gave her a taste of everything we made from then on. I never assumed again that my two yr old didn’t have a palate for seasoning!
Also introduce, introduce, introduce! We put veggies on every plate put in our kids. They may not eat it every time but it's there getting to be familiar. We usually encourage a bite of everything but not always. My kids are generally good eaters and I'm very lucky but some standard "this is just how we eat" attitude hasn't hurt.
My favourite dish as a 3yo was prawn curry. I realise every family is different, but we just ate what our parents ate. They avoided adding salt during cooking and added themselves at the table.
Honestly, this has been my experience with my son. We started food with him at 6 mo, as one does, and he wouldn't eat ANYTHING. He hated purees, hated all the suggested recipes, nothing (except banana) was good. The pickiness continued until he was just over a year old and was REALLY reaching for my plate of udon noodles one evening. Lo and behold, he liked it! He likes some spicy food, Japanese curry, bao buns, any Asian dish with noodles, really anything with lots of flavor, though he definitely favors Asian-style cuisine (which is good, because that's 80% of what I cook). Rule of thumb is, if we like it, he probably will too. It makes dinner a lot easier, and I get to keep cooking the same stuff I always have.
Around age two my daughter was eating ANYTHING I put in front of her. I’m talking escargots, bone marrow, oysters. Then something changed with her taste buds and she became much less adventurous until age 14. She’s starting to expand and try new things thank goodness. Luckily she’s always loved green vegetables. She’ll eat an entire plate of green beans, or spinach or Brussels sprouts. But phases are a thing. Parents be ready.
My wife is 7 months pregnant with our first child and I'm the home cook, so this video gave me both loads of inspiration and a tiny bit of concern... LOL... Thanks for the amazing content man!
These techniques worked well for us, too--and, as our kids got older, the "assemble your own" meals were also big hits (tacos, mezze platters, nachos, salad bars, build your own pizzas, etc.). Seemed like they were willing to take more risks when they got to make their own choices & combos. Everybody got to participate & customize their own dinner--win/win.
@@amandakrause9394 typically a Middle-Eastern/Mediterranean selection of small plates (dates, almonds, olives, hummus, flatbreads, cheeses, yogurts, kebabs, etc.) Another option for people to pick and choose!
Taco nights were the best nights when I was a kid. We always built our own. Some of us like soft shell, some wanted nachos, some wanted a taco salad. Everyone was always happy.
I'm a grandma and I love watching your videos and seeing your sweet precious daughter enjoy her meal. She is adorable! Thanks so much for the quick tips and great meal ideas. I enjoy!
At your daughters age, few kids eat everything, feel good that she knowingly eats so many veg already! When my kid hit less than 10 accepted foods, we instituted the one bite rule (he was around 3). He's a tween now, and he will literally try anything. His little sister is a little more picky, but also very competitive, so if he eats it, so will she. The important things to keep in mind - consider nutrition over a week rather than a day, and kids have to try a food something like a dozen times before they can definitively say whether or not they like it. You're doing a great job, dad! Keep it up!
I love that you covered flavour and texture, because that was my biggest issue as a kid. I had a lot of texture issues and could never communicate why it was wrong, and even as an adult my parents still like to insult things like me only liking firm pickles. Your kid is very lucky to get so spoiled with all this awesome food and love.
You're right about taking risk. I figured out my daughter likes Japanese style curry and raw or steamed broccoli very early on. My family likes a lot of flavor and she is no different she will often eat salsa with me even through she is only 2 haha.
Where were you 37 years ago? My daughter loved and still loves broccoli. I couldn't get my son to put any veggies in his mouth. Today, he eats everything. BTW, your daughter is adorable. Treasure every phase of growing up. The best photos are those in your heart and mind.
I do this now. Last night My daughter had an egg, plain rice and cucumbers (all separate on the plate) , and I turned all of the same ingredients for myself into a rice bowl by adding more vegetables, tuna and kimchi…..using the basic elements for my daughter and then Going a bit extra for myself helps me enjoy “grown up” food without feeling like I’m making 2 meals all the time.
For me, when my son was little but able to "help", I pulled a stool up to the counter and had him taste the spices and components of a recipe. I allowed him to add the ingredients. He had a groundwork for cooking and it expanded his pallet. Touching raw meat was the big hurdle.
That "mmmMmm" from Marley says it all! Great tips. Using the same ingredients in different ways is the easiest way to diversify a meal for multiple palettes. Also, items that don't need much attention, like baked potatoes, helps the chef focus on other things and still be productive.
Sometimes it helps to buy small veggies for the kids. I got very small potatoes, eggs of quails, small peppers, small tomatoes. Once they love their kid veggies they will eat the bigger ones as well.
Great ideas. I was a very picky child and being allowed to eat deconstructed meals reduced a lot of mealtime stress. Burgers are one example I can think of, I would eat each component separately. Then one day I thought hey, if I like all this stuff separately why not try them together? And this is the story of how I came to eat burgers like a normal person. Giving kids some control and “safe” foods I think makes them more open to trying the “scary” things on occasion
My 1 year old loves deconstructed food as well, including burgers. The interesting thing is that she focuses on different parts of the burger depending on her mood. Some days she will devour the cheese first, others she goes to town on the meat. Presenting the components separately gives her freedom of choice (absolutely key with toddlers!) and ensures she eats at least something
I love you meeting your kiddo where she’s at and appreciating the fact that she’s not ready for certain flavors and textures (but someday she will!). What a great dad ❤️❤️❤️
We have 4 kids and they all were raised more or less on the same foods, but it's amazing how different their preferences are. One hates sauces, another loves tomatoes while the other cringe, another hates mashed potatoes, another will straight up drink ranch, etc. Kid's palettes still have preferences and take time to develop! I appreciate that you acknowledge this!
These crossover ingredients when you're explaining two recipes might be an awesome way to impart some value to home chefs who want to develop some variety at home without making things difficult
Such a cool video that I didn't know I needed! I've had really good luck with fried rice for my 2 year-old! He won't eat chicken/pork, or some vegetables separately but throw them all together in a friend rice with whatever is lying around and he will eat it all. Note: Rice is super messy but at least he is eating!
This is so helpful. I have some tough critics in my house also lol. And I am the cook, that is right- the one and only cook in the house! So these videos are much appreciated
As the cook in my house and mother of a 1.5 year old, this video really hit home. Cooking for a toddler is soooo much harder than cooking for an adult. I think you could make an entire cookbook out of this video concept.
Awesome advice. My kids are adults & we have 1grandson. I used the deconstructed meal tip all the time. I would offer a taste of the adult meal & if they liked it then I would add some to their plate. As they got older I let them pick the meals that we had for the day. I had a “what to eat” note pad on the refrigerator. It had the days of the week with breakfast, lunch & dinner sections. They had access to all my cookbooks so they could get ideas. Even our youngest could look at the pictures with his sister. They got to help win the prep work. I found that if they helped plan & make the meals they were more open to try new things. The meals weren’t always hits but that’s what pizza delivery is for. Some of my favorite memories are of all of us in the kitchen. I let them add notes in the cookbook about what worked or didn’t work. I love seeing those notes now. I’m working on a handwritten cookbook for them as a Christmas gift.
I love this video! As a mom of 4 who has been cooking consistently for both toddlers and adults for about 10 years, these are absolutely the most realistic tips I've ever seen for cooking for a family with young kids!
I am pregnant now and I’ve been thinking for years about how when I have kids I will make sure they eat healthy. This video right here is like the BEST encouragement for me…because so many people shut me down when I tell them how badly I want my child to eat well and not settle for crap food all the time. Now I have more confidence that it can be done. Thank you!
I love that you're taking the time to learn how your children enjoy food, and adjusting accordingly, instead of brute-forcing your own views into their diet. Sometimes it can be the little things that matter the most.
Our daughter loved buttered noodles with a bit of fresh parm and peas. We kept them in the fridge for her to eat anytime I made a more adult dinner. We also did qusadillas this way. It's such a quick dinner that you can make with fresh ingredients. Love the chili sauce in the salsa. It's a quick sub for fresh chilies when you don't have any. It works with any cuisine. It's a highly underrated "it will do" short cut.
I really liked the fact that the accommodations for the kids was just setting aside and sliiiiightly changing the food that was already being made. I have friends that make a completely separate dish for the kids and I would never even entertain that. My kids can be picky, but I've told them (well...the 7 and 5 year old, anyway. The baby is a different story lol) that I'm not a cook in a restaurant and they can either eat what I make or they can just go to bed early.
This actually works guys! I have 4 kids 13-2yrs old and this is how to properly introduce new flavors to kids. With time their taste will evolve and they will be open to try new flavors
I wish I had seen this video 20 years ago when my kids were little. I will recommend to any new parents! And I will recommend your channel to my kids now that they are cooking for themselves.
We have a 3 year old and 1 year old and both work full time. Having quick dinners that are kid friendly and NOT happy meals was awesome! I would love more of these videos!!
Both my kids love their veggies early on but not so much later. I always had to sneak some veggies in their nuggets or spaghetti sauce. I think i’ll borrow your idea for the broccoli dip w/ tofu instead of ricotta & a bit of nuge would be delish. And it feels surreal to see how big your daughter is since she was practically born right before the pandemic hit right? Love watching your content Mike. Missed watching you cooking w/ your bro.
I've loved broccoli for as long as I can remember -- thankfully I don't have the genetics that let you taste the negative compound in broccoli or cilantro, so broccoli doesn't taste bitter and cilantro doesn't taste like soap! But how my parents taught us is they didn't actually serve us veggies! They just made plates with veggies and dip (sour cream with onion soup mix), and just sat around eating them until us kids were all like "Gimme gimme!" and stealing them off the plates :D I also converted one girl from a broccoli hater to a broccoli lover in the course of a single meal, while I was babysitting her neighbors; she said she hated broccoli, I asked if she'd ever tried it with melted cheese, I included her in the meal, and then she said she loved it! It's a bit sneaky, but sometimes you need to get them past the mental block to where they're open to the new thing. My nephew's mom used to claim that he would only eat white bread, but that was an issue at *her* house, not ours. He'd eat anything we served him! It seemed like his mom's unrefined palate was limiting his, so long as he was within her periphery. *She's* the one who couldn't stand anything but white bread, couldn't enjoy seafood, couldn't appreciate anything unusual/unfamiliar or ethnic (no Chinese food!). I'm so glad my nephew didn't internalize her limitations; the only thing is that he'll order hamburgers with only ketchup, and that's perfectly fine!
@@Arkylie my nephews are the same way. Their fathers wouldn’t eat veggies other than bitter gourd. Every time they come to my house, they’d eat everything on the table (we serve family style) even fought for my home baked sourdough bread’s crusts. Their fathers won’t eat any bread crust unless it’s pulverized into crumbs & stuck on a piece of meat. 😂😂😂😂
Want you to know that my 2 (nearly 3) year old son absolutely loved your quick 15 minute pasta with the penne and tomato sauce. I changed it up just a bit by using golden grape tomatoes and adding a little mozzarella. You've inspired me quite a bit to get back in the kitchen and really make it mine.
You have no idea Mike! Sorry, but seeing that even you struggle with what your kids will eat it eases my heart honestly. We all try our best and it's definitely a journey. Love your content as always.
You’re teaching Marlee to appreciate food. My parents were great home cooks and they taught me to try everything. The only downside when I’m old is that I love everything! Lol!
Ok so I’ve literally been watching these videos since I was 16 when you guys were brothers green and I’m 26 now and I haven’t seen one in aaaages and I can’t believe you’re married with kids now, how far you’ve come from that small kitchen in your ny apartment with the extra table for added counter space omg 😭😭
How do I stay on this side of TH-cam!! With a baby, 4 year old and then us we always end up with take out after making baby food and food for the kid… gotta try these!
This is so real!!! I've gotten to the point of mundane repetition because my kids have beaten any culinary creativity out of me. Thank you for the inspiration that we really can have good flavor and feed everyone.
I loved this video, I had gastric sleeve surgery and trying to simplify foods I'm used to as an adult, to basically down to a toddler size portion... took me a while to figure out too!
Damn.. you're living my dream. I'm working towards to have my own place to live exactly like this. Having my own vege garden and cooking meals for loved ones. Gentle and peaceful life.
Yes, never a dull moment with kids. Watching the deconstruction, learned how keeping it simple led to many variations & how simple it is to make sauces & dips to tie the components together. Thank you.
My kids are all adults now but I've had to de-construct again over the years for a daughter diagnosed with Celiac at age 15 and other family members with various food allergies/intolerances. Its definitely a great skill set to have! BTW I love your videos, especially your airfryer ones!
I don’t know if you read this. I watch you from the beginning. Years ago with your brother in the tiny kitchen. I am now a mom of a one year old son. March next baby will come. Now my son is starting to eat with us … you are right I have to modify the recipes. Soooo please do more video like this. Lot of your subscriber knowing you for long time are growing up and have kids now.
My kids are 7 and 4, so we're a little past the buttered noodles and chicken fingers stage, but far from being at "adult menu". Usually this means I back off on my use of heat (ie spicy). This video was great in giving more ideas and acknowledging those of us with families that need to cook for everyone and not just ourselves (and quickly). Adding to the aspect of balancing and what works for one's own household, I find I also try to gravitate towards keeping the mess down. Too often on cooking shows we're seeing the awesome food being made but not the mess of cookware that needs to be cleaned afterwards. This is where one pot meals are great as is anything that can go on the outdoor grill.
Great tips, sometimes applicable to adults too. For family get together's, haystacks were common, because everyone could proportion and pick the ingredients to their taste. As I hate raw tomatoes, that was a big win dish for me.
This video was a great source of information, especially when catering for kids. I haven't gone through those challenges myself, but now I feel I can make a plan when it comes to inviting my friends with kids over... I feel they always struggle here and now there's a hint of why that's the case.
Great tips! Remember you can infuse your pasta water itself (or any grain) with vitamins by blanching your veggies in the same water or using homemade veggie/bone broths. Blenders are a parents best friend! Sometimes a veggie with a troublesome texture (like squash/greens) can be pureed into something they do like. Try multiple cooking methods as well! Roasted veggies are a hit because anything resembling a fry is always going to be more tasty than soggy mushy veg. Good luck out there parents! ❤
These are actually really good tips. I've been stuck in a food rutt for years and and since finding your channel a few months ago I have a good amount of ideas for how to jazz up my meals so thank you for that 😊
Such good tips in this video. We have 5 and 2 year old. It can be crazy deconstruction is best key. We deconstruct then deconstruct a bit more for the 2 year old with her dairy allergy. Defos fun times.
What a wonderful topic for a video! I am now the main cook in my household and it is such a struggle to find something that’s palatable to eat for both adults and children…I always hold my breath when I think about planning a meal for the family….I’m so glad this video came out. Very needed encouragement in my life
13:19 Cut your letuce at the stem, this will keep it fresh for a bit longer in your frigde or in your pantry. You can discard the stem when you cut the leaves
I did the same with my son's when lil.Butter and parmesan on broccoli or cauliflower, or butter and fresh lemon and garlic on brocc, caul or green beans. Mushrooms in butter on green beans brown sugar,a lil cinnamon on sweet potatoes roasted crisp asparagus etc they ate their veggies . I was the same I loved the veggies as a kid
I really cannot remember catering to my kids this way although I have to say at least his daughter is served fruits & veggies with her meals. One of my daughters refused a meal 4 times in a row. I kept putting it back in the fridge and bringing it back out at the next meal time. She never did eat it because it got all gross from being refrigerated & reheated so many times that I had to throw it away. Interestingly enough though, she never refused a meal again. I guess going without eating for well over a day made her decide it wasn't worth it. One of the problems in feeding kids actual nutrition is the culture and in particular, food served in schools, and fast food. Or even processed food that is purchased at the grocery store. It's very addicting. If they get started on things like that they will never want to eat real food if there's a processed option. I see it all the time in school cafeterias where I work subbing at different schools. Snacks in the classroom if they have them are some refined carb snack food that is cheap and an alarming amount of teachers use candy as a bribe. If you start kids eating real unprocessed food they will eat it if there aren't other options. They may have a few texture issues or things they particularly dislike so I allowed my kids 3 things each that they could choose not to eat. Among them were onions, mushrooms, eggplant & lima beans. I can't remember what else they may not have eaten probably because they eat those things now. One thing I would not allow was them to ever order off a kids' menu in a restaurant. We ate out rarely, it was a huge treat, and I made them try real food. I was not going to pay $5 for a grilled cheese or macaroni and cheese or chicken fingers/nuggets. They are crazy about different ethnic foods and eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. It's been challenging for them as young adults with very limited incomes and they slipped into eating cheap stuff like ramen noodles nonstop and then wondered what they felt so run down all the time. As soon as they started eating nutritionally dense foods they felt amazingly better. Food is medicine. Bad food is cumulative poison.
Love this! Working mom, and dad works nights to balance care. I love to cook, but often feel discouraged because I know the complicated meal I cook my daughter wouldn’t eat but these are some awesome suggestions on balance at diner time.
This is a great video--my kids are a little older, but they still have their different tastes (one won't eat ground meat of any kind, one won't eat 90% of veggies) and it makes it more challenging to cook for everyone. After viewing your refrigerator on several videos, I wanted to ask: how often do you grocery shop? My fridge is never that empty unless we just got back from vacation. Putting a plate of shrimp in to dry brine would be playing a dangerous game of food jenga in my house.
This video was great! If you have kids it’s so hard to cook what we would like but the kids would eat. The kids always win so I’ve had my share of chicken nuggets dinner nights. This was the perfect video and so many people I think will be able to relate with kids young and older. Thank you! I hope to see more of these!
You present some very, very good ideas here. When my son was little, I could get him to eat almost anything as long as I provided a dip for him - and I know you're good at dips and sauces! On the topic of introducing new things, it might be helpful to do the same thing in different ways in different meals. Like make your new-veggie one way this week, and another way next week. I understand that it can take about 10 exposures to a new food for a person to acquire a taste for it. I may take some of your deconstruction advice and apply it a little differently. My husband has some health problems which limit his diet. So I often don't make things I would like or could be healthy for me (like a green salad, for one), because he can't have it. It seems like such a pain to make two different meals, so I usually default to his limitations. But I'm missing out on a lot of yummy things and good nutrition. It's a challenge! p.s. Love your little Julia moment there (when you lost a few tendies to the floor and said, "They're fine."). Life at home. 🙂
This is great! I have an almost 9 month old, and she has been having finger foods since she was 6 months old. She’s not quite able to eat all of our foods, so I’ve been meal prepping a lot of food for her in the freezer (meatballs, fritters, etc), but I definitely do a bit of deconstruction when I can. She eats basically all the food I make her now (though she is fussy at mealtimes), so hopefully that won’t change!
Even though I am a 22 year that doesn’t plan to have kids in the near future, watching your video taught me new things by making me think of the way I cook. You simplified adult foods for you daughter, yet I was focused on how you elevated simple key ingredients into full on meals. I will definitely incorporate this approach into my cooking, thank you as always 🤍
I’m jealous my sons 4 non verbal and autistic and has severe selective eating. He literally makes himself vomit any if we introduce any new foods and the only vegetables he gets are greens I sneak into his chocolate shakes he’ll drink
As a single 22 year old thats basically my same exact thought process
Exactly the same just wondered lol
I'm a 22 year old (almost 23!) Who mostly cooks for themselves, but when I go back to my parents I gotta cook for my younger siblings with their unrefined pallattes- so even though I don't plan on having children any time soon, it gets really useful really fast.
This also works to make couples happy as in. I was pescatarian when I got married. Seafood triggers my husbands gout. So I hated making two dinners. This technique was very similar to what we did but adult style.
Best advise-take a risk. My daughter got a take of spicy grilled shrimp at age 2 and loved it! I restricted her to just a few bc I was concerned for her tummy but it taught me a lot about my daughter’s 2 yr old palate. I gave her a taste of everything we made from then on. I never assumed again that my two yr old didn’t have a palate for seasoning!
I will say letting kids try stuff without the pressure so important, particularly when retrying stuff they didn’t like in the past
Also introduce, introduce, introduce! We put veggies on every plate put in our kids. They may not eat it every time but it's there getting to be familiar. We usually encourage a bite of everything but not always. My kids are generally good eaters and I'm very lucky but some standard "this is just how we eat" attitude hasn't hurt.
My favourite dish as a 3yo was prawn curry. I realise every family is different, but we just ate what our parents ate. They avoided adding salt during cooking and added themselves at the table.
Honestly, this has been my experience with my son. We started food with him at 6 mo, as one does, and he wouldn't eat ANYTHING. He hated purees, hated all the suggested recipes, nothing (except banana) was good. The pickiness continued until he was just over a year old and was REALLY reaching for my plate of udon noodles one evening. Lo and behold, he liked it! He likes some spicy food, Japanese curry, bao buns, any Asian dish with noodles, really anything with lots of flavor, though he definitely favors Asian-style cuisine (which is good, because that's 80% of what I cook). Rule of thumb is, if we like it, he probably will too. It makes dinner a lot easier, and I get to keep cooking the same stuff I always have.
Around age two my daughter was eating ANYTHING I put in front of her. I’m talking escargots, bone marrow, oysters. Then something changed with her taste buds and she became much less adventurous until age 14. She’s starting to expand and try new things thank goodness. Luckily she’s always loved green vegetables. She’ll eat an entire plate of green beans, or spinach or Brussels sprouts. But phases are a thing. Parents be ready.
My wife is 7 months pregnant with our first child and I'm the home cook, so this video gave me both loads of inspiration and a tiny bit of concern... LOL... Thanks for the amazing content man!
You’ll be great! Keep applesauce and cheese on hand for when all else fails lol
you can do it!
A tiny bit of concern is healthy, lol. I'm sure it'll be a big learning process but you got this!
Congrats. Kids are the best thing ever
I am mom of almost 3 yo. You will surprise yourself and one day your baby will surprise you.
Look into baby lead weaning - ypu will love it
These techniques worked well for us, too--and, as our kids got older, the "assemble your own" meals were also big hits (tacos, mezze platters, nachos, salad bars, build your own pizzas, etc.). Seemed like they were willing to take more risks when they got to make their own choices & combos. Everybody got to participate & customize their own dinner--win/win.
What a fun idea! Also, what is a mezze platter?
@@amandakrause9394 typically a Middle-Eastern/Mediterranean selection of small plates (dates, almonds, olives, hummus, flatbreads, cheeses, yogurts, kebabs, etc.) Another option for people to pick and choose!
@@libbypetersen3523 thanks! that sounds really good!! 🤤🤤🤤
Taco nights were the best nights when I was a kid. We always built our own. Some of us like soft shell, some wanted nachos, some wanted a taco salad. Everyone was always happy.
I'm a grandma and I love watching your videos and seeing your sweet precious daughter enjoy her meal. She is adorable! Thanks so much for the quick tips and great meal ideas. I enjoy!
At your daughters age, few kids eat everything, feel good that she knowingly eats so many veg already! When my kid hit less than 10 accepted foods, we instituted the one bite rule (he was around 3). He's a tween now, and he will literally try anything. His little sister is a little more picky, but also very competitive, so if he eats it, so will she. The important things to keep in mind - consider nutrition over a week rather than a day, and kids have to try a food something like a dozen times before they can definitively say whether or not they like it. You're doing a great job, dad! Keep it up!
I love that you covered flavour and texture, because that was my biggest issue as a kid. I had a lot of texture issues and could never communicate why it was wrong, and even as an adult my parents still like to insult things like me only liking firm pickles. Your kid is very lucky to get so spoiled with all this awesome food and love.
Respected, not spoiled 😉
Bruh. Firm pickle gang represent!!!
Cooking for one's family is a privilege not granted to many and I am grateful to have that.
You're right about taking risk. I figured out my daughter likes Japanese style curry and raw or steamed broccoli very early on. My family likes a lot of flavor and she is no different she will often eat salsa with me even through she is only 2 haha.
i am 19, learning from now;so when i became dad hopefully i am ready to pull these things out of sleeve.
Where were you 37 years ago? My daughter loved and still loves broccoli. I couldn't get my son to put any veggies in his mouth. Today, he eats everything. BTW, your daughter is adorable. Treasure every phase of growing up. The best photos are those in your heart and mind.
I do this now. Last night My daughter had an egg, plain rice and cucumbers (all separate on the plate) , and I turned all of the same ingredients for myself into a rice bowl by adding more vegetables, tuna and kimchi…..using the basic elements for my daughter and then Going a bit extra for myself helps me enjoy “grown up” food without feeling like I’m making 2 meals all the time.
My go to is "nope - this is dinner" but I do like to see my kids happy with dinner when possible. I appreciate the time spent on this topic.
For me, when my son was little but able to "help", I pulled a stool up to the counter and had him taste the spices and components of a recipe. I allowed him to add the ingredients. He had a groundwork for cooking and it expanded his pallet. Touching raw meat was the big hurdle.
you feeding yo kid raw meat?
@@hyperdoge3908 she said TOUCHING raw meat. It has to be handled somehow to cook it.
You sound like a fun mom!
@@hyperdoge3908 Um, no! It starts out like that. LOL
@@jessiek7041 Thanks! Giving kids opportunities to explore and try new things makes a big impact. 😃
That "mmmMmm" from Marley says it all! Great tips. Using the same ingredients in different ways is the easiest way to diversify a meal for multiple palettes. Also, items that don't need much attention, like baked potatoes, helps the chef focus on other things and still be productive.
so adorable❤
Sometimes it helps to buy small veggies for the kids.
I got very small potatoes,
eggs of quails, small peppers, small tomatoes.
Once they love their kid veggies they will eat the bigger ones as well.
@@doroparker1702 Oh, I like that! Good tip.
Great ideas. I was a very picky child and being allowed to eat deconstructed meals reduced a lot of mealtime stress. Burgers are one example I can think of, I would eat each component separately. Then one day I thought hey, if I like all this stuff separately why not try them together? And this is the story of how I came to eat burgers like a normal person. Giving kids some control and “safe” foods I think makes them more open to trying the “scary” things on occasion
My 1 year old loves deconstructed food as well, including burgers. The interesting thing is that she focuses on different parts of the burger depending on her mood. Some days she will devour the cheese first, others she goes to town on the meat. Presenting the components separately gives her freedom of choice (absolutely key with toddlers!) and ensures she eats at least something
I exclusivity ate deconstructed food well in to my 20s. I still do it sometimes when I don't love something or know I won't eat the whole thing.
I love you meeting your kiddo where she’s at and appreciating the fact that she’s not ready for certain flavors and textures (but someday she will!). What a great dad ❤️❤️❤️
We have 4 kids and they all were raised more or less on the same foods, but it's amazing how different their preferences are. One hates sauces, another loves tomatoes while the other cringe, another hates mashed potatoes, another will straight up drink ranch, etc. Kid's palettes still have preferences and take time to develop! I appreciate that you acknowledge this!
These crossover ingredients when you're explaining two recipes might be an awesome way to impart some value to home chefs who want to develop some variety at home without making things difficult
Such a cool video that I didn't know I needed! I've had really good luck with fried rice for my 2 year-old! He won't eat chicken/pork, or some vegetables separately but throw them all together in a friend rice with whatever is lying around and he will eat it all.
Note: Rice is super messy but at least he is eating!
This is so helpful. I have some tough critics in my house also lol. And I am the cook, that is right- the one and only cook in the house! So these videos are much appreciated
As the cook in my house and mother of a 1.5 year old, this video really hit home. Cooking for a toddler is soooo much harder than cooking for an adult. I think you could make an entire cookbook out of this video concept.
I'm approaching 50 and I still love butter noodles. LOL. Your kid's got good taste. Your toaster intimidates me. LOL
Your daughter is spoilt with such a terrific chef of a dad!
Awesome advice. My kids are adults & we have 1grandson. I used the deconstructed meal tip all the time. I would offer a taste of the adult meal & if they liked it then I would add some to their plate. As they got older I let them pick the meals that we had for the day. I had a “what to eat” note pad on the refrigerator. It had the days of the week with breakfast, lunch & dinner sections. They had access to all my cookbooks so they could get ideas. Even our youngest could look at the pictures with his sister. They got to help win the prep work. I found that if they helped plan & make the meals they were more open to try new things. The meals weren’t always hits but that’s what pizza delivery is for. Some of my favorite memories are of all of us in the kitchen. I let them add notes in the cookbook about what worked or didn’t work. I love seeing those notes now. I’m working on a handwritten cookbook for them as a Christmas gift.
I love this video! As a mom of 4 who has been cooking consistently for both toddlers and adults for about 10 years, these are absolutely the most realistic tips I've ever seen for cooking for a family with young kids!
Using freshly picked ingredients from your garden has some real "Jamie at home" vibes, which I think is still his best series ^^
When I was a kid the options were eat or don’t eat. Kind of glad now cause I don’t have any food dislikes as an adult
Happy belated father's day! 💯💯💯
I am pregnant now and I’ve been thinking for years about how when I have kids I will make sure they eat healthy. This video right here is like the BEST encouragement for me…because so many people shut me down when I tell them how badly I want my child to eat well and not settle for crap food all the time. Now I have more confidence that it can be done. Thank you!
I love that you're taking the time to learn how your children enjoy food, and adjusting accordingly, instead of brute-forcing your own views into their diet. Sometimes it can be the little things that matter the most.
Our daughter loved buttered noodles with a bit of fresh parm and peas. We kept them in the fridge for her to eat anytime I made a more adult dinner. We also did qusadillas this way. It's such a quick dinner that you can make with fresh ingredients. Love the chili sauce in the salsa. It's a quick sub for fresh chilies when you don't have any. It works with any cuisine. It's a highly underrated "it will do" short cut.
Your daughter is beyond adorable.
I really liked the fact that the accommodations for the kids was just setting aside and sliiiiightly changing the food that was already being made. I have friends that make a completely separate dish for the kids and I would never even entertain that. My kids can be picky, but I've told them (well...the 7 and 5 year old, anyway. The baby is a different story lol) that I'm not a cook in a restaurant and they can either eat what I make or they can just go to bed early.
I love how much you respect everyone in your family enough to allow for food preferences.
This actually works guys! I have 4 kids 13-2yrs old and this is how to properly introduce new flavors to kids. With time their taste will evolve and they will be open to try new flavors
I wish I had seen this video 20 years ago when my kids were little. I will recommend to any new parents! And I will recommend your channel to my kids now that they are cooking for themselves.
We have a 3 year old and 1 year old and both work full time. Having quick dinners that are kid friendly and NOT happy meals was awesome! I would love more of these videos!!
Watching this channel for years, since it had another name. Always new things to learn. Thanks for the content.
@Jake Braiding-Watson yeah, totally agree with you.
Both my kids love their veggies early on but not so much later. I always had to sneak some veggies in their nuggets or spaghetti sauce. I think i’ll borrow your idea for the broccoli dip w/ tofu instead of ricotta & a bit of nuge would be delish. And it feels surreal to see how big your daughter is since she was practically born right before the pandemic hit right? Love watching your content Mike. Missed watching you cooking w/ your bro.
I've loved broccoli for as long as I can remember -- thankfully I don't have the genetics that let you taste the negative compound in broccoli or cilantro, so broccoli doesn't taste bitter and cilantro doesn't taste like soap! But how my parents taught us is they didn't actually serve us veggies! They just made plates with veggies and dip (sour cream with onion soup mix), and just sat around eating them until us kids were all like "Gimme gimme!" and stealing them off the plates :D
I also converted one girl from a broccoli hater to a broccoli lover in the course of a single meal, while I was babysitting her neighbors; she said she hated broccoli, I asked if she'd ever tried it with melted cheese, I included her in the meal, and then she said she loved it! It's a bit sneaky, but sometimes you need to get them past the mental block to where they're open to the new thing.
My nephew's mom used to claim that he would only eat white bread, but that was an issue at *her* house, not ours. He'd eat anything we served him! It seemed like his mom's unrefined palate was limiting his, so long as he was within her periphery. *She's* the one who couldn't stand anything but white bread, couldn't enjoy seafood, couldn't appreciate anything unusual/unfamiliar or ethnic (no Chinese food!). I'm so glad my nephew didn't internalize her limitations; the only thing is that he'll order hamburgers with only ketchup, and that's perfectly fine!
@@Arkylie my nephews are the same way. Their fathers wouldn’t eat veggies other than bitter gourd. Every time they come to my house, they’d eat everything on the table (we serve family style) even fought for my home baked sourdough bread’s crusts. Their fathers won’t eat any bread crust unless it’s pulverized into crumbs & stuck on a piece of meat. 😂😂😂😂
You might have just saved my sanity! PLEEEASE do an entire series on this subject PLEEEEEEASE!
Hey! My name is Marlee, too! That makes me so happy to hear of other people with the same name because I don't hear of it a lot :)
I dont have kids but one day will and I love the idea of deconstructing a meal. So Smart!
Please PLEASE more vids like this. I desperately need it.
Want you to know that my 2 (nearly 3) year old son absolutely loved your quick 15 minute pasta with the penne and tomato sauce. I changed it up just a bit by using golden grape tomatoes and adding a little mozzarella. You've inspired me quite a bit to get back in the kitchen and really make it mine.
I love the change when you moved to this environment from the NY studio, Mike. I think/hope It serves you and your family well! :-)
You have no idea Mike! Sorry, but seeing that even you struggle with what your kids will eat it eases my heart honestly. We all try our best and it's definitely a journey. Love your content as always.
This is the most relatable cooking video I've ever watched. 😂
You’re teaching Marlee to appreciate food. My parents were great home cooks and they taught me to try everything. The only downside when I’m old is that I love everything! Lol!
Ok so I’ve literally been watching these videos since I was 16 when you guys were brothers green and I’m 26 now and I haven’t seen one in aaaages and I can’t believe you’re married with kids now, how far you’ve come from that small kitchen in your ny apartment with the extra table for added counter space omg 😭😭
Your videos are a joy to watch. It is great to see your progression from the Brothers Green to a man with a growing family and different needs.
How do I stay on this side of TH-cam!! With a baby, 4 year old and then us we always end up with take out after making baby food and food for the kid… gotta try these!
This is so real!!! I've gotten to the point of mundane repetition because my kids have beaten any culinary creativity out of me. Thank you for the inspiration that we really can have good flavor and feed everyone.
I am way to old for kids but your adult dishes are so manageable and I love watching you cook!
I really appreciate this. Having a picky 2 year old is so hard!
More content like this please! Especially now that your littlest one isn't so little. ❤
This needs to be a series of menus! For now, I take what I can learn! Thanks so much!!
I’ve never related more to a video in my life 👍🏻❤️
I loved this video, I had gastric sleeve surgery and trying to simplify foods I'm used to as an adult, to basically down to a toddler size portion... took me a while to figure out too!
I love seeing your daughter enjoy the food you made for her!
I’m a mom of 2 years old and she recently became so picky 😩 this video is exactly what I needed to watch, I learned so much🥹 thank you❣️❣️
This a fantastic concept for a video. I’m sure VERY helpful for young families. ❤️
You can tell how much you love your daughter just by these small considerate actions...kudos! She is lucky to have such a caring father
Love the cauliflower quesadilla idea!..and the chicken tenders...and love how colorful the kid plate is...every kid should eat that way.
Damn.. you're living my dream. I'm working towards to have my own place to live exactly like this. Having my own vege garden and cooking meals for loved ones. Gentle and peaceful life.
I loved this video. Even though I don't have kids myself I feel entertained seeing what your daughter eats and what she likes and dislikes
The tip about deconstructing was really a great idea!
Yes, never a dull moment with kids.
Watching the deconstruction, learned how keeping it simple led to many variations & how simple it is to make sauces & dips to tie the components together. Thank you.
My kids are all adults now but I've had to de-construct again over the years for a daughter diagnosed with Celiac at age 15 and other family members with various food allergies/intolerances. Its definitely a great skill set to have! BTW I love your videos, especially your airfryer ones!
I don’t know if you read this. I watch you from the beginning. Years ago with your brother in the tiny kitchen. I am now a mom of a one year old son. March next baby will come.
Now my son is starting to eat with us … you are right I have to modify the recipes.
Soooo please do more video like this. Lot of your subscriber knowing you for long time are growing up and have kids now.
Specially on lunch time. Fast and good for kids too. Not too spicy.
My kids are 7 and 4, so we're a little past the buttered noodles and chicken fingers stage, but far from being at "adult menu". Usually this means I back off on my use of heat (ie spicy). This video was great in giving more ideas and acknowledging those of us with families that need to cook for everyone and not just ourselves (and quickly). Adding to the aspect of balancing and what works for one's own household, I find I also try to gravitate towards keeping the mess down. Too often on cooking shows we're seeing the awesome food being made but not the mess of cookware that needs to be cleaned afterwards. This is where one pot meals are great as is anything that can go on the outdoor grill.
Great tips, sometimes applicable to adults too.
For family get together's, haystacks were common, because everyone could proportion and pick the ingredients to their taste. As I hate raw tomatoes, that was a big win dish for me.
You’re kitchen is done! It’s gorgeous!
This video was a great source of information, especially when catering for kids. I haven't gone through those challenges myself, but now I feel I can make a plan when it comes to inviting my friends with kids over... I feel they always struggle here and now there's a hint of why that's the case.
Great tips! Remember you can infuse your pasta water itself (or any grain) with vitamins by blanching your veggies in the same water or using homemade veggie/bone broths. Blenders are a parents best friend! Sometimes a veggie with a troublesome texture (like squash/greens) can be pureed into something they do like. Try multiple cooking methods as well! Roasted veggies are a hit because anything resembling a fry is always going to be more tasty than soggy mushy veg. Good luck out there parents! ❤
Today I Learned you can add oil to butter to prevent butter from burning. Thanks!
Would you please make a video about your kitchen garde, and about the techniques you use to cultivate?
your onto something special with this video concept
This channel is gold.
Oh my goodness, PLEASE do more of these!!! X
She’s a super cute kid! It’s a good thing she seems to like her fruits and veggies 🙂
This was a good video thanks! I would love more of these type of videos! I am currently struggling with picky eaters.
I used to pour warm Queso over cooked broccoli florets. My kids loved it.
These are actually really good tips. I've been stuck in a food rutt for years and and since finding your channel a few months ago I have a good amount of ideas for how to jazz up my meals so thank you for that 😊
Such good tips in this video. We have 5 and 2 year old. It can be crazy deconstruction is best key. We deconstruct then deconstruct a bit more for the 2 year old with her dairy allergy. Defos fun times.
What a wonderful topic for a video! I am now the main cook in my household and it is such a struggle to find something that’s palatable to eat for both adults and children…I always hold my breath when I think about planning a meal for the family….I’m so glad this video came out. Very needed encouragement in my life
YES! I've always wanted a foot pedal valve for my kitchen faucet! (Like hospitals) makes absolute sense!
13:19
Cut your letuce at the stem, this will keep it fresh for a bit longer in your frigde or in your pantry.
You can discard the stem when you cut the leaves
My best friend 🥰thank you for your upload 🌺🌼May god bless you 💐💐🏆🏆🏆🌼🌼
I did the same with my son's when lil.Butter and parmesan on broccoli or cauliflower, or butter and fresh lemon and garlic on brocc, caul or green beans. Mushrooms in butter on green beans brown sugar,a lil cinnamon on sweet potatoes roasted crisp asparagus etc they ate their veggies . I was the same I loved the veggies as a kid
I really cannot remember catering to my kids this way although I have to say at least his daughter is served fruits & veggies with her meals. One of my daughters refused a meal 4 times in a row. I kept putting it back in the fridge and bringing it back out at the next meal time. She never did eat it because it got all gross from being refrigerated & reheated so many times that I had to throw it away. Interestingly enough though, she never refused a meal again. I guess going without eating for well over a day made her decide it wasn't worth it. One of the problems in feeding kids actual nutrition is the culture and in particular, food served in schools, and fast food. Or even processed food that is purchased at the grocery store. It's very addicting. If they get started on things like that they will never want to eat real food if there's a processed option. I see it all the time in school cafeterias where I work subbing at different schools. Snacks in the classroom if they have them are some refined carb snack food that is cheap and an alarming amount of teachers use candy as a bribe. If you start kids eating real unprocessed food they will eat it if there aren't other options. They may have a few texture issues or things they particularly dislike so I allowed my kids 3 things each that they could choose not to eat. Among them were onions, mushrooms, eggplant & lima beans. I can't remember what else they may not have eaten probably because they eat those things now. One thing I would not allow was them to ever order off a kids' menu in a restaurant. We ate out rarely, it was a huge treat, and I made them try real food. I was not going to pay $5 for a grilled cheese or macaroni and cheese or chicken fingers/nuggets. They are crazy about different ethnic foods and eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. It's been challenging for them as young adults with very limited incomes and they slipped into eating cheap stuff like ramen noodles nonstop and then wondered what they felt so run down all the time. As soon as they started eating nutritionally dense foods they felt amazingly better. Food is medicine. Bad food is cumulative poison.
Your daughter is a good eater. She's lucky to have a parent who understands how to get kids to eat nutritious food. Your videos are great!
I love this video, please do more in this series, sooo time saving when cooking for a family.
Love this! Working mom, and dad works nights to balance care. I love to cook, but often feel discouraged because I know the complicated meal I cook my daughter wouldn’t eat but these are some awesome suggestions on balance at diner time.
This is a great video--my kids are a little older, but they still have their different tastes (one won't eat ground meat of any kind, one won't eat 90% of veggies) and it makes it more challenging to cook for everyone. After viewing your refrigerator on several videos, I wanted to ask: how often do you grocery shop? My fridge is never that empty unless we just got back from vacation. Putting a plate of shrimp in to dry brine would be playing a dangerous game of food jenga in my house.
The cooking style of your broccoli is called blanching. Thanks so much for all these tips! Love your channel.
This video was great! If you have kids it’s so hard to cook what we would like but the kids would eat. The kids always win so I’ve had my share of chicken nuggets dinner nights. This was the perfect video and so many people I think will be able to relate with kids young and older. Thank you! I hope to see more of these!
You present some very, very good ideas here. When my son was little, I could get him to eat almost anything as long as I provided a dip for him - and I know you're good at dips and sauces!
On the topic of introducing new things, it might be helpful to do the same thing in different ways in different meals. Like make your new-veggie one way this week, and another way next week. I understand that it can take about 10 exposures to a new food for a person to acquire a taste for it.
I may take some of your deconstruction advice and apply it a little differently. My husband has some health problems which limit his diet. So I often don't make things I would like or could be healthy for me (like a green salad, for one), because he can't have it. It seems like such a pain to make two different meals, so I usually default to his limitations. But I'm missing out on a lot of yummy things and good nutrition. It's a challenge!
p.s. Love your little Julia moment there (when you lost a few tendies to the floor and said, "They're fine."). Life at home. 🙂
As a Dad who does all the cooking, I'm glad to see it's not just me making 2 different dinners!
This is great! I have an almost 9 month old, and she has been having finger foods since she was 6 months old. She’s not quite able to eat all of our foods, so I’ve been meal prepping a lot of food for her in the freezer (meatballs, fritters, etc), but I definitely do a bit of deconstruction when I can. She eats basically all the food I make her now (though she is fussy at mealtimes), so hopefully that won’t change!