One winter’s night, in 2009, my youngest daughter, who was 9 years old at the time, had a group of friends to the house for an evening of fun.  Not knowing what their dietary restrictions might be, I decided to serve them some baked potatoes with all the fixin’s on the side, grated cheddar, chopped broccoli, bacon bits, etc.  When 4 out of the 6 guests didn’t know what a baked potato was or how to eat it, it was then that I knew the only way to get children to eat better and to make healthier food choices, was to teach them to cook.  It was then that food, fun & friends was born!

 

Parents are so busy these days and get stuck in food ruts, it’s easier to grab something quick or make the same thing over and over again.  After several years of dabbling in the catering business and not really being fulfilled, I realized that my calling was to teach children about different foods & recipes and to bring new flavors and tastes to their palettes.  The only way to do this is to teach the kids to learn to prepare their own meals & snacks, to teach the kids that they are well worth the time & effort it takes, how much fun it can be and that it's one of the nicest ways to honor someone or show their love.  We need to learn the life skill of cooking, it’s not drudgery or a chore, it’s one of the most important aspects of a healthy & delicious life!