by jessie voigts
Member since:
December 19, 2005

cooking with kids! live chat transcript, march 6

March 05, 2008 05:45 PM EST (Updated: March 06, 2008 05:04 PM EST)
views: 77 | comments: 117
welcome, friends! lillie and i are hosting a live chat with chef jill today (thursday, march 6) at 4pm. i hope that you will join us as we discuss organic and healthy cooking with kids. we've been doing a  lot of prep work here for that - yum, yum!! one of lillie's very favorite things to do in the whole world (besides swimming) is to be together in the kitchen. me, too.

 chef jill has been inspiring us since she came to gather.... jillbcooks.gather.com

and, she has a great website, called teach kids to cook!

How To Join The Conversation

To jump into the discussion, all you need to do is type your question in the comment box below (if you're not already a member you will need to Join Gatherin order to post a question).  

To see others' questions and my responses in real time, simply hit the refresh button on your browser. You will need to refresh your page continuously to see each new comment.

the live chat will last for an hour. see you then!

and...

Nine lucky chat participants will randomly be chosen to receive a free copy of A Slice of Organic Life!

if you can't make the chat, please feel free to leave a question here - and come back to read the chat transcript, later!
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Comments: 117

Froggy G. Mar 5, 2008, 6:30pm EST
Hi Sweetie! I'll be here. Tell Princess Sea I'm sooo excited!
Amy S. Mar 5, 2008, 7:45pm EST
wish i could be there but 4 is not a good time for me!
Richard Frisbie Mar 6, 2008, 10:15am EST
I'll try to stop in and visit. I have no kids (poor me) to share my kitchen with, just some unruly kittens. (As if there were another kind!) Does Chef Jill have any healthy cat and kitten recipes that children help make?
I won't be home at 4pm central time...I am assuming it is central time...but I forget what Michigan is under these days...

Any-hoo I wanted to stop by and say hi to Lillie and to you Jessie! Good luck and have fun!
Tracey W. Mar 6, 2008, 10:34am EST
Sounds Great, Jesse, and Lillie; I'll try to make it.

Mandi, I think all times are Eastern on Gather usually.
Judi F. Mar 6, 2008, 11:06am EST
I can't make the chat but I look forward to reading this!
mona d. Mar 6, 2008, 11:16am EST
hi jess, hi princess sea!
i plan on being here as long as i don't get called into any last minute meetings! even though i don't have kids, i'm very committed to organic and natural food for the benefit of humans and the earth. looking forward to the conversation...
Edward Nudelman Mar 6, 2008, 11:26am EST
I will definitely check it out.. say hi to Lillie from her favorite poet

Lillie in the breakfast nook
Have a look
Not reading her favorite book--
What a cook!
Diana Raabe Mar 6, 2008, 1:26pm EST
Question for Jill: what is the healthiest cooking oil to use when sauteeing or cooking in a wok? I thought it was extra virgin olive oil, but have seen things like flax seed oil and grapeseed oil at the coop, too.

(Hi jessie and lillie!)
jessie voigts Mar 6, 2008, 3:56pm EST
hi chef jill, and welcome! thanks so much for doing today's live chat with lillie and i. we've been looking forward to it for *weeks*!

we look forward to spending the next hour with you, as you answer gather member questions about cooking organically and healthily with kids. you've got a lot of experience in that, i see from your website!

lillie has a few questions, but first, there are a few great questions above to get us started.
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:00pm EST
great!
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:01pm EST
Cooking oil: I like canola--very healthy and does not impart a taste. I personally don't like olive oil, which is probably the healthiest choice.
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:03pm EST
Onions & shallots: buy the freshest ones you can. When onions are not so fresh they develop a cloudy liquid that can make them bitter and disagreeable. Also consider which oil that you are using to carmelize them--this could be causing the disagreement, too. Also, try cooking down frozen onions if you cannot find fresh ones in a produce department.
jessie voigts Mar 6, 2008, 4:03pm EST
jill, i have a question from myself (lillie will ask hers in a minute). lillie likes to have things in shapes, and when she sees kids cookbooks, she gets excited about ghost mashed potatoes (squeeze the mashed potatoes into a ghost shape), etc. i personally don't like to make kids food look different. should i let HER do it if she wants? i would much rather spend my time doing something else!
jessie voigts Mar 6, 2008, 4:05pm EST
lillie's question:
why are some people not so worried about eating healthy food? my friend eats mcdonald's and i just don't want to. i was going to bring my peanut butter and jelly sandwich but they said i can't bring in my own food, so we ate at their house instead.
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:06pm EST
Jessie: great question. Kids do like novelties and they don't need to be time consuming. One of my favorites is to buy the plastic cupcake toppers available in craft stores. Who wouldn't like Dora or Elmo on top of their casserole serving?!

Allowing Lillie to be creative is an excellent idea. Perhaps she could help make everyone in the family's food into foodart!
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:08pm EST
Lillie: another great question! Some people don't realize that we have to put in effort to take care of our bodies. Eating healthy foods is a way to take care of our bodies. Some people don't know how to cook, what to eat or why to eat it. So, learning about food is the first step.
jessie voigts Mar 6, 2008, 4:08pm EST
thanks, jill - i don't like to spend the time doing that, but it is a GREAT idea to have lillie help to do it!
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:09pm EST
Lillie: McD's and other fast-food places can be good for sometimes treats, and only after we've had 5 servings of fruit or vegetables in a day.
jessie voigts Mar 6, 2008, 4:09pm EST
jill, another question from lillie:

i don't like the smell of onions but my mom puts them in everything. what can i do?
Liz Gellar Mar 6, 2008, 4:09pm EST
Hello Jessie and Lillie.

Chef Jill, welcome to Gather! My question is, why go organic? What are the main advantages to selecting organic foods?
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:10pm EST
Here is a trick for eating healthy: if you want to eat something less healthy (cookies, candies, fast food), try to eat 3 healthy things first. Usually after eating one or two things, the junk is less tempting. When I want a bowl of ice cream, I eat Cheerios and then really think it over.
jessie voigts Mar 6, 2008, 4:11pm EST
from lillie:
i love to help my grampa in his organic garden. the food is so yummy! what do kids in the big cities do with no grampa and his organic garden?
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:11pm EST
Liz G.:
Thanks--great question. I am a proponent of healthy eating, not necessarily (and only) organic foods. There are many technical definitions of the term organic, but it basically means cultivated without pesticides and chemicals.
jessie voigts Mar 6, 2008, 4:13pm EST
from lillie:
why do people eat at restaurants with food already made? how can they make healthy choices?

(note from jessie: we live in the boonies. the nearest good restaurant is an hour away. i cook all our food, except when we're traveling!)
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:13pm EST
If you think about it, it is a bit alarming that our bodies have chemicals in them that we get from food harvesting and processing methods. Choosing organic food is a way to minimize this exposure. Some foods are more important to eat as organics. Any food that has no skin or peel is especially important--like strawberries.
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:14pm EST
Lillie: I am so happy that you help in the garden.
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:15pm EST
I recently helped create a kids' book called Grow It, Cook It which is all about growing and cooking food. All you need is a little space outdoors (like a patio or stoop) and you can grow tomatoes or beans. You can grow herbs indoors--in fact, I have lots of kinds on my kitchen shelf right now.
Ang, wandering aimlessly, G. Mar 6, 2008, 4:16pm EST
Hi Everyone! This is a great chat, I'm reading it now. I'm sure I will think of a question here soon. I'm one of the pickiest eaters I know and I'm seeing the same in my daughter (Lord help me, I have to cook 2-3 different dinners a night)
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:17pm EST
There are many programs kids can get involved with in their communities. Here in DC there is a kids food garden group that meets at the National Arboretum. Some schools have garden programs. One large movement is The Edible Schoolyard. http://www.edibleschoolyard.org/
Froggy G. Mar 6, 2008, 4:17pm EST
Hi Lillie! I love your questions:) Do you think sunflower or safflower oils are a good substitute for olive oil?
jessie voigts Mar 6, 2008, 4:17pm EST
from lillie: we grew zucchini and tomatoes last summer at our house. the zucchini plants never made zucchini so we had to take a qtip and put the pollen into other zucchini flowers. no bees came to help! is that weird?
jessie voigts Mar 6, 2008, 4:18pm EST
lillie says: chef jill. you are SMART!!
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:19pm EST
Lillie: Why do people eat in restaurants? Lots of reasons, including that people are too busy to shop and cook. That is why learning how to do these things is so important. Some people like the atmosphere and eat out for fun. At home, kids can put on music and "play waitress" by getting refills during dinner. How can you make your home as fun as a restaurant?
Bart H. Mar 6, 2008, 4:20pm EST
In your opinion does food in general have less flavor and taste than it used to? Or are my taste buds just broken?
Froggy G. Mar 6, 2008, 4:20pm EST
If you want GIANT squash Lillie, that is sweet as candy, tell Mommy to buy HB 101 It is totally organic:)
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:20pm EST
Candida: On oils...I do like sunflower a lot and tend to bake with it more than I cook with it.
Ang, wandering aimlessly, G. Mar 6, 2008, 4:20pm EST
Jill, are you saying that we should plant in pots if we don't have a space for our garden? We don't have a front porch or back one but I know my hubby would love some homegrown tomatoes, squash, and I would love some cucumbers.
jessie voigts Mar 6, 2008, 4:21pm EST
lillie says: i love to dance and grooving to music, and i love healthy foods. i will play waitress at dinner tonight! we already made it so we're not hungry after this chat. thank you for the idea!!
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:22pm EST
Bart: I think you are right. Things do all seem to taste bland, and it is mainly due to large scale growing and manufacturing. Think of a tomato. The hybrid commercial ones that are as huge as a softball and wiped over with wax will never taste as good as one off the vine on a warm summer day.
jessie voigts Mar 6, 2008, 4:22pm EST
jessie says: ang, we did those container gardens, oh what are they called, that you can water only once a week. it was great.

jessie says: i think bart has it right. except for when my parents grow organic heirloom stuff in their garden, so much of what we buy and eat is flavorless. how can we change that?
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:24pm EST
Ang: Yes...one of my favorites is a hanging bag for growing strawberries...don't even need a patch of ground for them. This is one of my favorite websites. have a look and get inspired!

urban gardening http://www.urbangardeninghelp.com/
Ang, wandering aimlessly, G. Mar 6, 2008, 4:24pm EST
Thanks Jill and Jessie.
Froggy G. Mar 6, 2008, 4:24pm EST
We're fortunate in California because Safeway Raley's and Trader Joes have enorrmous product lines in organic foods that taste wonderful.
jessie voigts Mar 6, 2008, 4:25pm EST
jessie says: jill, i have a strange question. lillie will eat any vegetable put in front of her (she's on her 2nd sweet potato right now, as a snack). she LOVES potatoes in any form. but, i have a difficult time getting her to eat meat sometimes, she just isn't interested. she LOVES chickpeas and so i try to get her her protein that way. any other ideas??
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:25pm EST
Jessie: How do we change flavorlessness? First, eat seasonally. The quality of food diminishes if it is shipped from around the globe. While it may be a pleasure and a priviledge to have fruits year round, quality suffers. Buying food that is grown near where you live is always fresher and tastes better.
Ang, wandering aimlessly, G. Mar 6, 2008, 4:26pm EST
I have a picky daughter that hates hamburger meat (not that we eat it much) but is there something I can do to get her to eat it when I do cook it? She will eat it in tacos but thats about it.

She also refused to eat spaghetti because she hates the sauce and the hamburger meat.
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:27pm EST
Jessie: flavorlessness, part II: the key to "tasting" again is to get out of the box and try new foods. Beets, squash, etc...try 'em!
kitchenMage (blog.kitchenMage.com) Mar 6, 2008, 4:27pm EST
Lillie,

First, congratulations on your coronation as Princess Sea. You seems well chosen for the title, what with being a bit of a naiad (or is that oceanid?) and all.

My question for Jill is this: With so many picky eaters, and so much focus on them, talk about the opposite for a minute. What are people like Jessie doing right. Lillie knows that unHappy Meals are not as good as food from Grandpa's organic garden. What can people do to engage their kids with food, like Princess Sea? (Other than move an hour from the nearest McD's and banning all media.)
Ang, wandering aimlessly, G. Mar 6, 2008, 4:28pm EST
Jessie, I have this same problem with my daughter. But she also refuses to eat a lot of veggies.
Ang, wandering aimlessly, G. Mar 6, 2008, 4:29pm EST
We did a lot of eating out while moving, and now my daughter prefers to eat out rather than a home cooked meal. We have a lot of issues revolving around this.
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:29pm EST
Jessie: lots of people dislike food because of its texture. I am guessing that lillie does not care for the texture of meat (same for your daughter, Ang, with ground beef). I would suggest trying the same food in a different preparation. I would also try the addition of sauce for dipping. A small amount of bbq sauce does wonders for plain old chicken. Kids love the novelty of dipping!
mona d. Mar 6, 2008, 4:30pm EST
bart's comment reminds me of the 100 mile diet. i know its nearly impossible for many of us (esp. those of us in the frozen north) but its a good reminder to eat local and fresh whenever possible - things always taste better.
its also nice to be able to talk with the people who grow your food, and its great for kids to be able to ask them questions and understand where their food comes from...
Froggy G. Mar 6, 2008, 4:30pm EST
Jill can you explain what the difference is between organic and natural foods? My son Cam wants to know.
Ang, wandering aimlessly, G. Mar 6, 2008, 4:30pm EST
Thats a great idea Jill. I'm a texture person so I'm pretty sure my daughter is too.
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:31pm EST
Ang: I would recommend a different size grind of hambuger meat. The butcher in any grocery store can accomodate it. A finer grind or a larger grind sometimes suits kids better.
jessie voigts Mar 6, 2008, 4:31pm EST
jill, you're so right on eating locally. we live in MI, though, so we are severely limited in the winter. we can and freeze veggies and fruits, and that helps, but you just *have* to keep buying, when it is not a growing season here. we are lucky that our meijer store now stocks a little bit more organic veggies and fruit. but, i will probably always try to buy local or michigan grown stuff over imports. sigh. it is a catch-22, eh?
jessie voigts Mar 6, 2008, 4:32pm EST
thanks, jill, for the grind idea. we are looking at buying a quarter cow from a local family, and i will ask the guy who is going to butcher it if he can do someth like that. i don't like the texture, either, sometimes. ick.
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:33pm EST
KitchenMage: Great question! I think it is soooooo important to connect kids with food. Here are some of my favorite ways: Whole Foods gives (usually free) store tours and tastings for kids. Bring your scout troop, school group, etc.
Ang, wandering aimlessly, G. Mar 6, 2008, 4:33pm EST
I think my daughter does better wtih a finer grind, the chunkier the meat the less likely she is to eat it.

I live in the south. We're lucky to have more things grow year around. :)
Ang, wandering aimlessly, G. Mar 6, 2008, 4:34pm EST
Though my daughter eats chicken like its going out of style. I can't even tell you how many pounds of chicken I buy a month. Its one of the few things she will eat for meat.
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:34pm EST
Kids & Food, Part II: Then, reconnect kids with the source of food. I love food factory tours of all kinds (Utz Potato Chip, jelly Belly, etc). But, even more, I love getting kids to farms. One of my favorites the the Pizza Farm---it shows kids where pizza comes from. http://www.thepizzafarm.com/
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:35pm EST
One of my favorite tv shows is called Chefs A Field: Kids on the Farm. http://www.chefsafield.com/ Amazing!
Ang, wandering aimlessly, G. Mar 6, 2008, 4:35pm EST
What a great idea. I need to find a good local farm here. This summer I want to pick fresh fruits. :)

Thanks for all the wonderful websites.
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:36pm EST
Of course, the best way to encourage kids is to teach them to cook....but, as a kids cooking instructor I'm biased ;) http://www.teachkidstocook.com/
jessie voigts Mar 6, 2008, 4:36pm EST
jill - you have such great ideas for places to take kids to. i wish we had a trader joe's or whole foods within 3 hrs of our house. drat! still, we have lots of good things up here - amish farms (including an amish cheese factory where we can see cheese being made and sample fresh cheese curds!), great farmer's markets in the summer. and, grampa's garden, haha.
Ang, wandering aimlessly, G. Mar 6, 2008, 4:37pm EST
Jill, whats a good age to start kids in the kitchen and at what age should they be doing certain things like peeling potatoes, or chopping up food?
jessie voigts Mar 6, 2008, 4:38pm EST
that sounds like such a great show, i just looked it up and we'll be watching it sunday at 5! thank you!
Ang, wandering aimlessly, G. Mar 6, 2008, 4:38pm EST
They have a great cheese factory in Oregon that we love to go to when we visit there. My daughter will have a blast this year visiting it, when we go home.
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:38pm EST
Candida: Organic versus natural....organic refers to the way a food was cultivated and grown. Natural refers to is level of processing--or lack there of. So, a conventional apple is a natural food, but it is not organic.
jessie voigts Mar 6, 2008, 4:39pm EST
here's a question, tagging onto ang's - i let lillie use knives, when i am there. but my husband totally freaks out. when is a good age for kids to start? lillie was using the kitchenaid by the age of 3, so i think she is all good with it - lots of kitchen experience and LOTS on food safety and cleanliness...
Tabitha M. Mar 6, 2008, 4:39pm EST
Hi, just jumping in here!
Ang, wandering aimlessly, G. Mar 6, 2008, 4:39pm EST
Which is better Jill, organic or natural?
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:40pm EST
Jessie: I understand about being in a place where weather dictates purchases and where there are no organic natural outlets (I grew up in Buffalo eating buttered, yes buttered, pop-tarts).
Tabitha M. Mar 6, 2008, 4:40pm EST
Buttered poptarts? Oh my. If my mother were dead, she'd roll over in her grave.
jessie voigts Mar 6, 2008, 4:42pm EST
buttered pop tarts? omg!!

i try to let lillie have sugary foods - things we bake, for instance, but i just can't buy pop tarts, sugar cereal, candy, etc. is that going to make her backlash later?
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:42pm EST
jessie: kids and knives

i am giving a kids class this weekend at whole foods and cutting is a big part of my class. Wee ones--2-3 can use a blunt plastic knife. 4-5 can use a butter knife. mature 6+ can use a small paring knife (under supervision). 4+ can use scissors.
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:43pm EST
ah, yes, the buttered pop-tarts...clearly I need to give myself an intervention!
jessie voigts Mar 6, 2008, 4:43pm EST
oh geez, i guess i better back off on the knives. i'll head her back to the small knives. she is never unsupervised in the kitchen. scissors are a GREAT idea!
Tabitha M. Mar 6, 2008, 4:43pm EST
I live in rural Michigan, so I know what you mean about the choices being limited. We do have a great farmers market in the spring and summer, though.
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:44pm EST
Back to an earlier question about seasonality: try setting aside one perfect thing (fresh blueberries in August) and freeze them properly with the intention of using them to make muffins in the bleak doldrums of winter. all fall, all winter, talk to your kids like the berries are gold, and they will always remember how important good, fresh local food is.
Liz Gellar Mar 6, 2008, 4:44pm EST
Jill, many of us have noticed prices going up at the grocery store. Do you have any suggestions for healthy, but cheap meals to make for the kids?
kitchenMage (blog.kitchenMage.com) Mar 6, 2008, 4:45pm EST
Thanks, Jill. But, seriously, buttered poptarts? OMG!
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:45pm EST
jessie: sugary snacks are ok and a (good!) part of life and growing up. I think I am an extreme case. I had very permissive parents and so unlearning my habits as an adult was hard.
jessie voigts Mar 6, 2008, 4:45pm EST
unfortunately, there are only 15 minutes left in this chat. chef jill will try to answer as many questions as possible! (and i will try to rein in lillie, haha)...
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:47pm EST
Nowadays, though, if I do have a treat, I try to make it myself. Since I write cookbooks, I test a lot of recipes and can try all kinds of things on a regular basis. It is now more exciting to me to learn to make a new kind of cookie than to polish off half a box of Oreos (used to do that unfortunately).
kitchenMage (blog.kitchenMage.com) Mar 6, 2008, 4:47pm EST
Plastic lettuce knives rule! I made pot roast with one - cut up big fat carrots, onions, potatoes. Awesome thing. (there's an article around here somewhere, called, oddly, plastic knife pot roast)
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:48pm EST
Healthy and cheap: start making things from scratch--try a veggie panini on foccacia you make. Sounds hard, but is actually easy.
jessie voigts Mar 6, 2008, 4:49pm EST
we are always baking something, since it is a good way to teach lillie a variety of things (we're unschooling)...math, science, plus lots of fun.

when blueberries are in season, we can go through 100#. michigan blueberries are SO yummy! we are extreme, i know. we LOVE them, they *are* gold! it is hard to save any to freeze. heh heh.

i love all your advice here, jill. i've learned a lot!
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:49pm EST
Healthy and cheap: I just made a batch of microwave potato chips. Yum-town and very little fat. A great snack. I got the recipe from Allrecipes.com
jessie voigts Mar 6, 2008, 4:50pm EST
thanks, km - i hadn't heard of plastic lettuce knives!
whew!
jessie voigts Mar 6, 2008, 4:51pm EST
jill - that sounds like a great recipe. thank you!!
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:51pm EST
Organic or natural: if I had to make a choice, i would go with natural. Organic is good and in some cases better, but can be expensive. Natural means no boxed insta-food type stuff. These highly processed foods lead to very high triglycerides and a whole host of health problems. An apple will always beat a Twinkie.
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:53pm EST
Healthy hint: I have just learned to love whole wheat organic pasta. It is a small change, but a worthwhile one.
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:54pm EST
Healthy hint: let your little one pick out a new fruit or veg at the store. Buy and cook a few brussels sprouts. It creates curiosity and a sense of adventure.
jessie voigts Mar 6, 2008, 4:55pm EST
jill - i remember buying corn pasta when we were trying to stay away from wheat. now, it seems to go against the high-glycemic grain we're working on. what other things do you think are flash-in-the pan?
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:56pm EST
Kid hint: for your next birthday party, have a fruit and veg party. For the activity everyone plants bean seeds or herb seeds to take home. Eat veggie pizza.
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:57pm EST
Flash in the pan: all the food that have added this or added that like pro-biotics, etc. Eating a sugary yogurt with nutrtional additives won't actually make you healthy.
Jill B. Mar 6, 2008, 4:59pm EST
Jessie: I also think the semi-homemade trend will end. I think people will become excited about wholly-homemade again!