How to Feed a Henry

This week Henry battled his first ear infection. Since he was not feeling well, I wanted to make him some comfort food. This soup with roasted chicken was the perfect meal for a rainy fall day at home. Henry’s favorite part was eating “soup toast”, aka toasted bread dipped in the soup broth. This recipe is Henry-approved. I don’t usually use canned ingredients, but canned beans are much faster to cook than dried beans. Plus, canned tomatoes will generally give you a better flavor than a winter tomato . Ingredients 4 slices bacon 4 bone-in chicken thighs (about 1.5 pounds) 2-3 large carrots 4 large white mushrooms (about 1 cup) ½ medium onion (about 1 cup) 1 clove garlic 1 teaspoon dried thyme ½ teaspoon celery salt ¼ teaspoon black pepper 2 15-oz cans white beans ( Cannellini, Great Northern or Navy beans ) 1 15-oz can diced tomatoes Feel Better White Bean Soup with Chicken hot out of the oven. Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees. ...

This Thanksgiving, I volunteered to bring a vegetable dish to our family gathering. I was feeling uninspired by the usual options until this recipe popped up in the Tacoma Food Co-op newsletter. I opted for individual mini tortes instead of making one large torte, which can be messy to serve. Plus, kids will love getting their own little pie. This recipe is Henry-approved. This would be an ideal dish to serve as a party appetizer or at your next holiday potluck. Of course you can make your own pie crust, but the premade refrigerated crusts make this recipe super easy. You can even prepare the leek and mushroom filling a day in advance and keep it in the refrigerator until you are ready to bake the tortes. Mini Leek Mushroom Tortes ready to bake. Ingredients 1 package of two prepared pie crusts 2 Tablespoons butter 4 cups leeks, chopped 2 cups mushrooms, chopped ¾ cup cream 4 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar Salt and pepper to taste ½ cup crumbled ...

Like a lot of kids, Henry is easily distracted. During mealtimes, we try to limit distractions so that he can focus on eating and enjoying the company of the other people at the table. We put away Henry’s toys before our meal starts. We also keep the television off and we don’t answer the phone during meals. Henry gazes out the window during lunch. A 2011 study from the University of Birmingham in Alabama found that when focusing on the flavor, texture and smell of food, diners felt less hungry after lunch than those were distracted with reading or watching television. They were also less likely to eat snack food later in the day. Another recent study found that playing a computer game while eating resulted in feeling less full and eating more cookies after lunch. If your child is easily distracted during meals, some sources even suggest simplifying your dining area. Try removing clutter and visual distractions from the dining room to help your child focus on what’s...

Growing up Brussels sprouts was not one of my favorite vegetables. We always ate them steamed with a little salt and pepper, dipped in mayo.  In the past few years, I discovered how tasty little green vegetables when I learned they could be oven roasted or pan fried. Now that I know other ways to cook them, Daddy and I love eating Brussels sprouts. Sometimes the trick to enjoying a vegetable is preparing it in a new way. This recipe is Henry-approved. Ingredients 1 Tablespoon olive oil 2 cups Brussels sprouts ¼ cup leek ¼ cup dried cherries ¼ Tablespoon butter Black pepper to taste Sliced Brussels sprouts, leeks and dried cherries. Directions Rinse Brussels sprouts and cut of the base of each sprout. Remove any outer leaves that are yellowed or have black spots. Inspect to ensure there are no aphids or other bugs caught inside. If you find insects, rinse them out or cut off the affected portion of the sprout. Slice Brussels sprouts cross-wise int...

This week’s Tuesday Tip for Picky Eaters: Encourage variety. “An apple a day” is a common refrain the United States, but offering the same foods every day may not be the best way to encourage your kids to eat a well-balanced diet. When kids learn to expect new foods on a regular basis, they may be less resistant to eating them.  A 2008 study found that when parents bought a larger variety of produce, preschoolers were more willing to eat fruits and vegetables. Another study found that when infants were given a different vegetable for eight days in a row, they were more likely to eat other vegetables including green beans, carrots and spinach. Other cultures offer intriguing examples for how to encourage children to eat a variety of foods. In France , the average infant is introduced to six different vegetables during the first month of eating solid foods, with over 40% of French babies tasting seven to twelve vegetables. For older children, French schools don...