I’m starting to wonder what it is about 2, that magical age when apparently a toddler can start eating fish, honey and eggs.
My daughter will be 2 at the end of March. What is going to change 52 days from now that will allow her to [...]
My oldest has signed a lease for her own place and plans to move out this weekend with luck.
We spent last weekend wandering around kitchen stores and kitchen outlet stores looking at gear. She has a lot of stuff from her college apartment, and inherited some stuff from when my [...]
When Zyla turned 1, I started giving her organic whole milk rather than the conventional variety. Not everything she eats is organic, but I decided I would fork over the couple of extra bucks for these organic goods because it’s the one daily constant in her life. With organic milk, [...]
After a frustrating few days trying to find nitrite-free lunch meet for my kids, I finally wrote to Trader Joe’s asking them if they would open a store in my neighborhood. I live up in Orange County and the closest store where I can find nitrite free meat is in [...]
In the last few days, I’ve twice come across this idea of throwing “chicken pox parties,” in order to expose children to the disease so that they don’t have to get the varicella vaccination, thought by some to be linked to autism.
The plan is to throw a party—where one child [...]
My brother-in-law’s grandson is a nut about ranch dressing.
Apparently he dips everything he can get into his 3-year-old hands in ranch: grapes, breakfast cereal, cookies, ice cream—and his mother and grandmother travel with a small tub of ranch to keep him happy.
It’s been 13 years since I had a child [...]
Every now and then, Aristu, my youngest will agree to eat a small bite of peanut butter. He’s not crazy about it; he refuses to eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The last time I tried to give him one, he spat it out and exclaimed peee-uuuuu, baby speak for [...]
We were in India last month to celebrate my father-in-law’s 80th birthday. “Sathabhishekam”—as the traditional ceremony commemorating the ripe age is called—is considered a very important milestone, for one is believed to have seen a 1000 full moons by then.
Over the course of the three-day festivities—which included mehendi (henna) designs [...]
So for Christmas my husband gave me a Breville juicer that I couldn’t be more excited about. I have heard, read and reread the healthy wonders of juicing and now that I have one, I know what all the fuss is about. There really is nothing better or sweeter than [...]
My husband ordered a case of pears for his parents this holiday season via computer. I looked over his shoulder when I walked by the machine at the time and noticed that he had mis-spelled our email address.
In order to correct the address, he backspaced to the order page, attempted [...]
I’m sure the last thing you want after over-indulging this holiday season is another cookie recipe, but this proved so delicious and so wonderfully easy to make with kids, I thought I’d toss it out there so you can make one last batch before swearing off sweets in your 2009 [...]
As the only woman in my family of four, I’m usually the only one in the kitchen. My husband, who is happier than most men to do his share of chores and more, will avoid the kitchen like the plague. So it was a pleasant surprise when on Christmas Day, [...]
For years, I’ve purchased masses of small gifts for my children which are duly wrapped and placed around the fireplace waiting for the holidays to appear.
The years have changed the gifts from small plastic frogs and harmonicas to book lights and gift cards, but what hasn’t changed is the tradition [...]
I’m happy to report that after a couple of weeks of nothing but cheese and bread, Zyla’s appetite is coming back.
It all started on Christmas Eve, when the entire family—there’s 20 of us—sat down to a very rich, very delicious meal of Beef Wellington, roasted potatoes, [...]
I was watching my oldest putter around the kitchen making mini cheesecakes for an upcoming party a few days ago, an activity that recalled to mind a photograph of her baking shortly after we moved to the East Coast.
She was standing on a chair, her hair tied back, an apron [...]
We got a jump start on the holiday cheer last weekend when we had a birthday brunch for me and my sister. There was tons of food, starting with cheeses, lox, bagels, muffins, scones, souffles and roasted corn chowder. We later moved on to roast beef, green beans, spinach salad [...]
I’m starting to think that the days of eating anything I put in front of my daughter—vegetables—are over. In the not-to-distant past, she gobbled up lettuce, mushrooms, onions and other healthy greens. But lately, all she seems to want is plain cheese, bread with cheese and pasta covered in cheese. [...]
We were talking the other day about the toaster, and how, when my son goes off on his own some day, the toaster goes with him.
It’s become a feature of our household that people who complain long enough get put in charge of what they dislike. That’s why my youngest [...]
When my mother-in-law comes for Thanksgiving, we take the turkey carcass and make soup. When it’s just the family, we dispense with a whole turkey and make house rice out of the remainders.
It may be a generational thing. My mother-in-law grew up during the Great Depression on an Ohio farm [...]
My mother-in-law just moved out of the house we shared and into a house in the Poconos, so we had a lovely first Thanksgiving in the new home on Thursday.
As usual, my MIL soaked the turkey in a kosher salt/sugar solution overnight, which keeps the entire thing moist with minimal [...]
Yesterday was my youngest son’s first proper Thanksgiving meal. Last year he was just over a year old and too young to really eat much of the spread. This year, though, he enjoyed his first bite of turkey and his first nibble of stuffing. And he loved the yams.
I enjoyed [...]
A coworker used the term “food overdose” this morning to describe the feeling she had when she got up hungry but not interested in eating after yesterday’s big bash.
I thought that was a perfect description for those of us fortunate enough to have a big feast on Thanksgiving. And where [...]
Tomorrow will mark my daughter’s first real Thanksgiving. Last year, she was 8-months-old and didn’t know what was really going on and didn’t get to savor the food like the rest of us. But this year she’ll get to enjoy her own plate of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans [...]
What’s not to love about Thanksgiving?
A nice big turkey, pumpkin pie, football, family, more pumpkin pie, all those great leftovers, OK the last slice of pumpkin pie if no one else is going to take it…
It’s one of my favorite holidays. Everyone celebrates it, there is no mad rush to [...]
My father commented to me the other day that, gosh, gas prices sure have dropped quite a bit lately, but those food prices haven’t.
Isn’t that always the way, though? Prices always go up quickly, but don’t seem to go down nearly as fast, nor as evenly.
But [...]
Every Thanksgiving I seek refuge in neighbors and friends.
Having been raised outside the United States, I didn’t even know what Thanksgiving was, let alone know how to cook a turkey. Seven year after coming to the United States, I still haven’t mastered the art. Rather than struggle in the kitchen every [...]
Thanksgiving is just a week away, and I’m looking for inspiration to carve out a menu.
Loyal readers of my posts (yeah, the two of you) know that I run a vegetarian household, and will not be stuffing a turkey.
We’ve invited a couple over (who are also vegetarian and therefore will [...]
The other day my youngest asked that I modify the lunch I pack her and leave out the chocolate peanut butter cup.
She doesn’t eat lunch in the cafeteria except on Fridays, so whatever I put in her brown bag is eaten in her classroom, she said, and she worries that [...]
Now what could all those things possibly have in common?
A Tuesday afternoon at the car dealership, naturally.
I was just reading Hema’s great post about the healing power of ginger and it reminded me of a conversation I had recently with a fellow mom as I waited on an oil change.
We [...]
Well, it seems that Rafaelito is enjoying greens — well, vegetables, at least — more with each passing day.
One afternoon when grandma was watching him earlier this week, he asked for green bell pepper with his “special sauce.”
Then he set about enjoying red bell peppers [...]
With most pediatricians recommending that parents avoid cough medication for toddlers and young children, I’ve been wondering what to do when Aristu, my youngest, gets a nasty cough. For the most part I’ve made do with rubbing children’s Vicks on his chest and making sure he’s warm.
As a kid I [...]
I’ve been thinking about tea lately, mostly because I recently made a pact with myself to forego that second cup of afternoon joe for some green tea. I had given up on tea in my early 30s when I started my love affair with coffee. Thank you Starbucks frappucinos. But [...]
Last week, I interviewed Sandi Jeanette of Good Samaritan Hospital about a talk she was giving on kid nutrition, health and obesity at Pearl River’s recent Parent University.
During our chat, she mentioned she was handing out recipes for healthy snacks for kids (and adults) that didn’t have that ‘low-fat’ taste. [...]
Our efforts to get Rafael to eat more greens have borne more fruit (vegetables?) of late. The newest victory? Brussels sprouts.
We figured the sprouts might win our picky boy over, seeing as they’re a member of the cabbage family and Rafael really likes cabbage. 
[...]
Just a quickie today — I got an e-mail the other day from some folks over at 
Grandparents.com who enjoyed my Halloween protein pus pockets post.
So I checked out the site and found a fun tidbit — the Jif peanut butter folks [...]
Just a quickie today — I got an e-mail the other day from some folks over at Grandparents.com who enjoyed my Halloween protein pus pockets post.
So I checked out the site and found a fun tidbit — the Jif peanut butter folks [...]
Former Playboy playmate turned activist Jenny McCarthy has been causing some waves lately. Last month she was out in force talking about how she cured her six-year-old son Evan of autism through a strict gluten- and casein-free diet. In other words, no dairy or wheat and other grains. McCarthy blames [...]
My kitchen isn’t particularly large, which is why when my youngsters want to cook, I go read a book.
Sunday morning, my oldest decided to make our favorite oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. I was hanging around unloading the dishwasher, and did some fetch and carry work for her.
“Hey, I usually use [...]
A trip to the grocery store with the kids can be a nightmare, what with all the begging for sugary stuff that’s not on the shopping list. So, I had to share this with everyone because it made me laugh. I was in the cookie aisle at the neighborhood supermarket [...]
For the first time in I can’t remember when, none of my offspring are going out Trick-or-Treating on Halloween.
I thought I’d be done with costumes and cold, rainy nights under umbrellas long ago, but my youngest went out last year with her other high school sophomore friends and we get [...]
Great idea by Amy for mixing healthy with fun (and gross!) this Halloween. Â
It got me thinking, what’s the best low-GI, pre-trick-or-treating dinner you can think of to counterbalance all the sugar they are about to consume? (I know how I feel when I eat a lot of sugar on [...]
I have two boys.
Let me repeat: I have two boys.
No matter what anyone says about children being children and all being the same, I can tell you, that’s a load of hooey.
Sure, there are girls who are not so girly (I, myself, was always a tomboy) and boys who are [...]
For a person who hadn’t seen an apple orchard until last month, my mom’s always been a big believer in the maxim, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.â€
There was hardly a day when she didn’t pack an apple in my school lunch box. So much so, that I earned the nickname [...]
We splurged this Sunday after we scored a reservation at the new Mario Batali/Joe Bastianich restaurant, Tarry Lodge, in Port Chester. I had been reading about the new pizzeria/trattoria for months, from not only our very own food writer Liz Johnson, but from Westchester magazine which had an interview with [...]
I love this time of year. The air gets a little cooler, perfect for a sweater and an extra blanket on the bed at night. The leaves turn brilliant shades of red, gold, and orange. And pumpkins take center stage as decoration and as food.
I came across a recipe for [...]
A couple weeks ago, I wrote about how we were having trouble getting greens back into Rafael’s diet.
This week, a modicum of success: Green bell peppers.
Part of it, like anything with children, is the sales job.
The day before Rafael tried the bell pepper for [...]
Admit it—sometimes things get so hectic in the evening after trying to feed the kids, get them ready for bed, get the parental units fed, get the dogs fed, etc. that some things fall by the wayside. Like immediately cleaning the tray on the high chair. No? So, OK, it’s [...]
One of the joys of having a child is reliving your own childhood. As a kid, some of my fonder memories were of strawberry and apple picking with friends and family. They were seasonal joys that, come to think of it, didn’t seem like they would be remembered years later. [...]
I’ve seen this video before and always meant to blog on it, but kept forgetting. So when I saw it today, I knew I had to run right over here to ice cream and share it with you.
Frankly, this isn’t just for the kiddies. I know my husband would probably [...]
My sister is coming to visit next week, and her trip out to the East Coast will coincide with her birthday.
So my daughters and I were on line yesterday trying to figure out what to get her that she’ll like, that won’t take up space on the airplane on her [...]
The smitchiks and I spent the day at a friend’s house on Long Island, and for lunch she made pasta for the three — my two boys and her daughter, who’s almost a year older than Rafael.
Rafael, of course, declared he wasn’t hungry when asked, but my friend’s no fool [...]
Whenever I have a little free time — you know, all those vast hours of uninterrupted space and time afforded mothers of small children everywhere — one of my favorite things to do is check in with a few of my favorite food blogs.
I’ve come across a great new bookmark [...]
For weeks I’ve been trying to wean my little son off these scrumptious bagel crisps we buy at BJs. Because they’re made of bleached flour and are high in fat, I try and discourage him from eating them, even while I steal a couple myself every now and then.
He doesn’t [...]
I was in Borders the other day and this book caught my attention, “Eat This, Not That! For Kids,” by David Zinczenko and Matt Goulding. I quickly perused it and found some interesting tidbits about what better choices to make when dining at fast-food and chain restaurants, in addition to [...]
While rooting around in the basement a few days ago, I came across my mother’s good china.
My mother, like many of her generation, had several different sets of dishes: everyday pottery, good china and what we called “bank” china because she purchased a piece from the bank every time she [...]
I have to admit, my children generally eat pretty healthy.
Yes, we give them animal crackers. They get chocolate sometimes, but it’s dark chocolate. And the milk they drink is organic.
The problem is greens. In the past, we used to be able to get our children [...]
Every couple of months, we drive down to Oak Tree Road, a street in New Jersey that straddles the municipalities of Edison and Iselin, for a slice of “Little India.”
A land where the grocery store aisles are crowded with women dressed in sarees, speaking a multitude of Indian languages. They jostle to sniff [...]
I overheard my oldest say to my youngest the other day, “OK, which do you want? Endangered species or extinct ones?”
In our house, that means that spice cookies are in the offing.
My mother-in-law had bought cookie cutters for my offspring when they were youngsters, and they have become treasures in [...]
Dear parents with toddlers:
Do you ever wonder if you are giving your child the right foods and the right amount? I do.
I have been known to fret over whether a 490-calorie broccoli quiche is too much for my 18-month-old daughter to handle in one sitting or if [...]
(We interrupt your regularly scheduled kid nutrition blog to bring you some mommy nutrition.)
I’ve been remiss in posting recently—mostly due to a crazy work schedule and taking a class for my master’s degree that involves a ton reading and writing. In addition to reading a novel a week, we are [...]
My husband and oldest went out on Saturday ostensibly to go picking something. I never actually knew whether it was apples, peaches or pumpkins, which is fine since they didn’t come home with them. It was a nice bonding time between father and daughter and the day was lovely, so [...]
My enduring love of reality TV is not something I’m particularly proud of, but I always find in between all the horrifying preening and only-in-America emotive TMI, there is something useful, OK maybe just interesting, to take away.
Consider Tim Gunn of Project Runway. Have you ever encountered a sweeter, [...]
When Rafael was still a toddler, we didn’t make him sit with us at the dinner table through every meal. The adults in this house would sit and talk and argue and often discussions reach high decibels, depending on who was around for dinner.
We lived with my mother-in-law and, for [...]
I thought this day would never come – my two-year-old leaning from his high chair with arms outstretched, pleading “boccoli, boccoli” as I walked to the dinner table with a plate of steaming asparagus.
Now, I don’t fuss over details. The idea is that Aristu is enthusiastic about vegetables, may [...]
It seems as though the freaky weather we’ve been having—hot and humid Sunday to breezy and cool on Monday—has given my little girl a cold—not her first but shaping up to be her worst. The illness is compounded by the fact that she has a cut on her upper lip [...]
Like many another adult, I was cooking long before I had kids.
And like many another adult, my cooking habits were formed in part from working with my own mother in the kitchen and in part from experiments on my own.
So I wasn’t all that interested to hear that my youngest [...]
