Monday: Weekly Family Acitivity—Guest Post on Learning About the World Through Food

The winner of this giveaway was Allison who said, “All of the videos look amazing!! I think I’ll say Bali, though, because it’s one place I haven’t been yet! Great ideas in this post, too!”

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED

I am thrilled that Angelina from The Little Travelers is our Guest Writer today.

Over the years I’ve been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel a bit and learn from many great teachers around the world. My intention for my blog is to share what I’ve learned in the realm of parenting and raising children. I hope that what you find here has as meaningful an impact on you and your families as it’s had on mine.

Learning about the world through food

One of my favorite ways to explore other cultures is through their food. If started when your children are young enough they will gladly join you in the journey. Remember, children eat what they’re used to eating. Indian children eat curry, Thai children eat Pad Thai and German children eat Schnitzel. If you only offer your children chicken fingers and carrots with ranch dressing they will likely turn their noses up to Persian stew. So start young and really stretch their pallets while they are malleable.

This year we have decided to cook a meal from a different country once a week and go for no repeats the entire year. So by the end of the year we will have eaten 52 meals from 52 countries. We are also coloring in a map each week to keep track of what we’ve made and posting pictures to our website in hopes that other families will join us on our journey and tell us what recipes they’ve enjoyed and share them with us.

The best way to include children in cooking is by them helping to cook. Rather than keeping your children busy while you cook, either pull up a sturdy chair, use a Learning Tower, or set up a small table where they can sit and give them real jobs to help with the prep. Yes, it takes longer when they ‘help’ but it is really worth it in the long run. Give them their own cutting board and if they’re very young a butter knife to cut with.

I also offer this tip to those of you with small children at home. This one small thing saved my sanity when my girls were little. At the time my husband traveled 1/2 the year so I pulled duty as a single mother even when I was married. I was a stay at home mom who often did my outings in the mornings. The girls would nap in the afternoon and then we’d play at home and I’d try to start dinner around 5 and it was rough! They wanted to be held or fussed or fought with each other. And then someone told me this tip. Just before getting ready to start dinner go for a walk outside. No matter the weather, take at least 10 minutes to walk outside- around the block or up and down the street. Then come in and start dinner. Such a simple thing made such a huge difference. They were in a totally different place and were eager to do a focused indoor task again after being outside for a while.

Also, a big tip for those with very young children is to sing while cooking. Here’s my favorite veggie cutting song: “Chipitty chop, chippety chop. Cut off the bottom and we cut off the top. What we have left we throw in the pot. Chippety chop. Chippety chop.”

It can seem silly to the adult but you’d be amazed at how much it helps children relax into what they’re doing and keep focused at the same time. Definitely have the TV in the off position and don’t stress about the mess. If the child spills assist them in cleaning it up. While the meal cooks clean up the prep area together and then set the table together. Lighting a candle at mealtime also makes a HUGE difference to children in the enjoyment of the meal and eagerness to participate in the process.

Angelina from The Little Travelers has been kind enough to offer one of you the chance to win your choice of one of her Little Travlers’ DVDs.

Join the Little Travelers as they find true paradise in one of the most magical islands on earth, Bali, Indonesia. On their journey they meet new friends, play in the rice fields, hunt for coconuts and run into a little monkey mischief. Start your adventure now!

Join the Little Travelers as they spend a week on a horse caravan in Ireland, hunt for Nessie, the Loch Ness monster in Scotland and visit the homes of Beatrix Potter in England. They also go to Knight’s school in Alwick castle, which was used as Hogwarts in the Harry Potter movies. You’ll not want to miss this one!

Join the Little Travelers as they travel to Japan and spend three months discovering the culture, food and customs, while making many new friends along the way. From trips to the market to a day in preschool, squat toilets to eating snails, their days are full of adventure. They meet monkeys and ninjas, dress up in kimono, and even take a Taiko drum class. Come discover Japan through the eyes of two young girls and be inspired to become a Little Traveler yourself.

To win this giveaway:

-Comment on this post once.

-Visit The Little Travelers and comment on which DVD you would love to win and learn from.

Thank you Angelina!

Tags: giveaway, little travlers, monday, weekly family activity

26 Responses to “Monday: Weekly Family Acitivity—Guest Post on Learning About the World Through Food”

• Becky F

  February 9th, 2009 at 1:19 am

  I think they all look fun and very interesting. I especially have my eye on the British Isles one.

• Cindi

  February 9th, 2009 at 1:26 am

  The Bali would be a fun and interesting DVD. Please enter me in your marvelous giveaway drawing. Many thanks, Cindi

• vanessa

  February 9th, 2009 at 1:54 am

  What a fantastic tip to take your kids outside for a little walk before cooking. I love to cook with my kids but somedays we all turn into grumps at 5pm. I am going to give this tip a try.

• Allison

  February 9th, 2009 at 2:40 am

  All of the videos look amazing!! I think I’ll say Bali, though, because it’s one place I haven’t been yet! Great ideas in this post, too!

• Manina J.

  February 9th, 2009 at 5:08 am

  Oh, wow! What great ideas! I would be happy with any video, but if I had to choose I would probably choose the Bali video. Thanks for the fun giveaway!

• zobars

  February 9th, 2009 at 7:31 am

  I really agree with Angelina in so many ways. both my kids eat pretty much what is offered since we try so many different cuisines. although I am not entering this giveaway I just thought of putting in my two cents :))

• Jessie-pooh

  February 9th, 2009 at 3:26 pm

  I think we would dig the Japan DVD. I like their culture but I don’t think I know enough about it to actually be able to say that.

• Sarah

  February 9th, 2009 at 4:06 pm

  I love idea of a different meal a week and coloring in a map! We are going to start this as our Sunday dinners. We would LOVE the British Isles one, how awesome.

• Sharon

  February 9th, 2009 at 4:06 pm

  I am off to check out her DVDs now, I know my Grandchildren would LOVE them. Love the little song to sing while cooking together Its always the small things that help

• Lauri

  February 9th, 2009 at 4:07 pm

  Going to have to try going for a short walk before dinner time. We have a hard time of day around that time!!
  Would LOVE any of the DVDs! If I don’t win I am going to buy them for us

• Kevin

  February 9th, 2009 at 4:08 pm

  My two boys would really enjoy the Japan DVD. What a great post

• Joanna Wilde

  February 9th, 2009 at 4:18 pm

  I think I would start with the British Isles DVD. What a great way to teach and learn with your kids. The walk before dinner is a GREAT idea too!

• Samantha

  February 9th, 2009 at 4:25 pm

  I think we would enjoy the British Isles DVD!

• daddy brad

  February 9th, 2009 at 4:32 pm

  This is a great idea, I have been struggling with expanding the exclusive chicken tender/pizza palette of my kids. I am going to try the around the world theme. On a related note, check in at http://www.dadlabs.com/ tomorrow where I will be cooking meat and potato cupcakes with my two little ones. It’s not an exotic menu but they really dug helping out.

• Megret

  February 9th, 2009 at 4:33 pm

  I can\’t decide between The British Isles and Japan — but if I have to pick one, Japan!

  Thanks!
  Megret
  musesofmegret (at) gmail (dot) com

• Prerna

  February 9th, 2009 at 6:03 pm

  Japan would be our pick

• Brittany

  February 9th, 2009 at 6:48 pm

  An excellent idea to take the little ones out on a walk before preparing dinner. I will try that today! I would love to win the Bali DVD! Thank you!

  Brittany

• Maria

  February 9th, 2009 at 11:32 pm

  I would love to win the Japan DVD. My dad used to live there but didn’t learn to cook while he was there. We’ve had a few (frozen) dishes that he’d make, but nothing more homemade.

• CanCan (Mom Most Traveled)

  February 10th, 2009 at 3:04 am

  These are good ideas for keeping the peace at dinner!
  I was noticing last night that my hyperactive son is much more excited to eat meals outside than inside. That magical “outside” factor…

• Satsuki

  February 10th, 2009 at 3:10 am

  I’m a follower on the girls blog as well. I think the Japan DVD would be best for us.

• Jodi B

  February 10th, 2009 at 7:19 am

  I would love the British Isles…also am going to order one of the Dress Up Kits…what a great idea!

• Jen Orme

  February 11th, 2009 at 12:21 am

  All 3 look interesting - we’d love any!

• Nicole

  February 11th, 2009 at 3:05 am

  I’ve seen her DVDs before and thought it was a fantastic idea. I even felt a little jealous that she got to do all this wonderful traveling with her kids. We’d love to have one of these videos, but I think the British Isles one would be my first choice. My husband and I spent our honeymoon in Ireland, I have Scottish heritage and I love England so we could totally relate to it and share the experience with our kids. Thanks for the chance to win!

  By the way, I love her idea about cooking food from all over the world, and coloring the country on the map just adds another dimension to the fun.

• Melitsa

  February 12th, 2009 at 6:27 pm

  This is such a cool idea. Any of the DVDs look exciting.

• Anita Kaiser

  February 20th, 2009 at 5:54 pm

  Oh I wish I was still home with my girl - what a great idea to have that quick walk before dinner. I can see the wisdome so clearly now!
  I’d love any of the fabulous videos - japan would be my choice!

• Kara

  February 24th, 2009 at 6:11 pm

  I LOVE the 52 meals idea! I lived in Japan for a year, so would really enjoy that video. Thanks!

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