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.

Nashville's Healthiest Kid-Friendly Restaurant: Calypso Cafe

by Meredith Pelham

August 13, 2008

It's hot, and we're miles from the beach. Where can we go that feels like summer? Calypso Cafe serves up island-style food--with a setting and menu that's eminently kid-friendly. Even better: Calypso's $3.49 kids meal is the best nutritional buy for the buck. My kids, who prize Wendy's chicken nuggets above all else, dive into Calypso's juicy roast chicken. It's served with 2  Read more...

East Nashville Tomato Art Fest

by Meredith Pelham

August 07, 2008

Indie, offbeat, local, homegrown--it's time for the 2008 Tomato Art Fest! Families all over town will be heading to the east side for Nashville's most fun, funky festival. Conserve your energy by studying the complete schedule of events here . It's all fun, but here are some of the highlights for the preschool set: Sidewalk chalk art contest Giant ice cream sundae  Read more...

We Scream: Best Ice Cream In Nashville

by Meredith Pelham

July 25, 2008

This summer we've eaten a little more ice cream than usual. Okay, a lot more. My friend Malia's family tradition inspired us. She calls it Frozen Friday , and it involves a frosty outing at the end of every week, specifically to taste test Nashville's ice cream scene. Doesn't that sound like a fun memory maker? So far, here are my family's top 5 ice cream spots. Of course, you'll find  Read more...

Preschoolers Love Popsicles: Las Paletas @ 12South

by Meredith Pelham

June 26, 2008

Savvy moms know the best popsicles in Nashville aren't found at the grocery store. Next time you're meeting friends at Sevier Park , stop by Las Paletas with a cooler. These all-natural popsicles are made in the Mexican tradition, with unusual flavors that change with the seasons. No preservatives or chemicals allowed! We sampled Raspberry Lime, Hibiscus, and Honeydew Banana. Mmmm!  Read more...

Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs: Kid Friendly Eateries in Nashville

by Meredith Pelham

June 18, 2008

Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs is a preschool book that always makes us laugh. Food falling from the sky? Snowing mashed potatoes? A hamburger storm? Giggle all you want : this book's a nonthreatening way to encourage good food choices in picky eaters. I'm ready for a little variety, myself. Soup won't rain in Nashville the way it does in Chewandswallow, so here are my picks  Read more...

Little Gourmets: Food Fun In Nashville

by Meredith Pelham

June 13, 2008

The hardest part of being a preschool parent is the food. If you're not scraping it from the kitchen floor, you're cutting, steaming, and packing it in a Tupperware for snacktime. Then wiping it off the face, hands, and the front of your shirt. Repeat cycle. How can we make food fun again? Here are a few tasty activities for preschoolers in Nashville: Have you ever noticed that  Read more...