Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in nashville, TN

Favorite Cookbooks for Kids

by Shauna Reynolds

April 27, 2009

Kids are naturally drawn to kitchens. It's the room in your house full of warmth, conversation, and of course wonderful smells and tastes. If you're ready for your preschooler to start helping in the kitchen instead of just "helping" in the kitchen, a cookbook written especially for kids might be helpful in the transition.

Mollie Katzen, the author of the bestselling Moosewood Cookbook, has written two cookbooks aimed at preschool aged children. Pretend Soup and it's followup Salad People are full of healthy and delicious recipes that your preschooler can prepare with a little help from a grown-up. The books do not talk down to children, are sprinkled with humorous quotes from children who tested the recipes, and include simple illustrations demonstrating the cooking steps. 

Getting your child involved in meal preparation teaches math skills, improves hand-eye coordination, and is a great way to get her to try foods she might otherwise turn her nose up at. It's also a way to spend more time with your child -- and that's an appetizing idea for the whole family.

Eat Something Fresh -- Parents' Guide to Community Supported Agriculture

by Shauna Reynolds

March 09, 2009

It's CSA season again! If you're not familiar with community supported agriculture, here's a quick rundown. CSA members purchase a share in a local farm. Throughout the growing season members receive fresh produce (and/or meat, dairy products, or eggs) from that farm. Most CSA farms are either certified organic or use organic growing practices.

Here are some reasons to consider joining a CSA:

• CSA membership can teach kids where food comes from. We can't all be lucky enough to live on a farm, but we can own a piece of one. Some CSAs offer farm tours or on-site member picnics. Even though your preschooler already knows that veggies don't grow at the grocery store, walking on the land where your food is grown will make sure she doesn't forget it.
• CSA membership can introduce children to new cuisine. We know what our kids like to eat, and it can be hard to think outside the (blue macaroni and cheese) box. With a CSA membership, you're probably going to be cooking and eating things you've never tried before -- and so will your kids. When your preschooler sees you sampling new-to-you foods, she'll be eager to do the same.
• CSA membership is healthy. You'll be less likely to rely on fast food meals when there's a big box of fresh produce in your kitchen. And I do mean fresh -- stuff that was still in the ground the day before you picked it up. Not everyone has the time or space to grow their own food, but that doesn't mean they have to settle for fruits and vegetables that have traveled across the country (or the world) before getting to their table.
• CSA membership supports local farms. By joining a CSA, members make it possible for farmers to make a living doing something that's good for the environment, our bodies, and the local economy. Who could argue with that?

Nashvillians are lucky to have so many CSAs in the area. Here is a list of several of them.

Dinnertime Destinations: International Groceries In Nashville

by Meredith Pelham

July 22, 2008

Today the Savvy Source bloggers encourage us all to bring a little adventure to the old kitchen table. I'm no gourmet cook. I prefer to get our ethnic fare from any of the international eateries on Nolensville Rd. (Let's just say we'll never forget the bowl of Mexican soup with calves hoof prominently perched in the middle!) How about touring an international grocery by day, and  Read more...