Turning over a new leaf in the kitchen

[unknownrebelbang]

DH does most of the cooking (when he's around) and we both tend to stick to quick and easy (for that read convenient) stuff more than is necessary.

We can both cook and tbh we both know the basics of good food but we've become lazy both in preparation and in ensuring a healthyish balance of food groups etc.

We also want to encourage the lads to take a more active part in cooking. They're quite capable already, but I want to teach them some good basic recipes and the importance of the different food groups and proportions etc.

We've got recipe books I can trawl through, and I will, but to motivate me, can anyone recommend some basic recipes, a good all-round cookbook, or a good healthy-eating type of book. I probably need more info about foodgroups and proportions than recipes really.

TIA.

Oops, I never said Please.

Please.

TIA.

What sort of food do you like eating? How old are your boys?

I think your balance of food groups is quite simple - split the plate into halves. One half should be full of vegetables. Split the other half into thirds. This section should have one part protein and two parts carbohydrates. So in total, 50% veg, about 15% protein, and 35% carbohydrate with each meal.

However when I searched, I found links suggesting that it should be half, quarter, quarter.

This page might be helpful:

healthy eating

I am not a big fan of giant amounts of protein. i think a quarter of a plate of protein is more than we need. Or maybe my plates are too big

The lads are 12, 10 and 8.

DH, DS2 and DS3 will eat a wide variety, and will try new stuff. They like rice, pasta, casseroles, and will eat various veg.

Myself and DS1 are, erm, faddy. DS1 takes quite an interest in cooking, so I want to encourage him to cook various recipes even if he doesn't like them himself. (I used to do this a lot for DH, and would portion and freeze). Haven't done that for a while, tbh.

That's useful, thanks.

The younger two (and DH) do eat veg, and our proportions aren't too bad, so that's reassuring. We do like our protein though.

Need to eat more veg myself, but I dislike most veg. DS1 really dislikes veg. We do both eat plenty of fruit but I know it's not the same.

Have you seen those Sam Stern cook books? I don't know what the recipes are like, but he's a young quite cool looking boy chef. You often see them on special offer on the Book People. I thought he might inspire your dses.

Eating lots of fruit and no veg is better than eating not much fruit or veg. Will ds1 eat veg if it is in things, like soup, stew, curry, on a pizza etc?

How about growing some stuff in your garden, in pots if you haven't much room? We have got lettuce, carrot and tomatoes on the go. It's hard to resist tasting things that have grown in your own garden.

this is the one I was thinking of

That book looks great, thanks Franny.

DS1 won't eat soup, stew or curry. He will eat margarita pizza.

I'm afraid I'm not a gardener, but getting a few pots together is an idea, think DS3 might like that.

x