Brazilian-born chef Marco Moreira knows a thing or two about how to heat things up in the kitchen as the executive chef and partner at Tocqueville and 15 East in New York. Now he's doing good work in a whole other kitchen, though: his own!
The chef has become a model father and has been teaching his daughter, 10-year-old Francesca, to cook since she was a little girl. Now the girl helps her father out whenever he cooks at home and, to my amazement, it's one of the best ways to help your kids learn to love vegetables. So how does he do it? Here are some of Marco's tips on cooking with kids.
Readmore ¿Qué más? Stop fighting with your family over food!
Do you cook vegetables with your kids? How will you start to teach them to cook more? Share with us in the comments below!
Start them young
I remember my great-grandmother teaching me to bake when I was very, very young. She didn't let me do anything but there's no reason why kids can't do a few tasks, such as picking herbs off the stems in the beginning. Starting as early as possible helps cultivate an interest in them.
Make a simple tasty meal
Chef Marco and his daughter make simple, delicious meals together. Recently, they made polenta with fresh tomato sauce and I can definitely see how this kind of technique would be great for teaching kids. No need to overwhelm them with anything fancy when even a simple pasta with veggies dish can be made with love.
Teach them to be clean
Francesca Moreira makes sure to keep her work station clean. This is one of the most important things for a chef, since in a commercial kitchen they can't afford to be dirty. But it's also a great skill for any mini chef, since it reduces the time they have to spend later cleaning up–a task that I have always hated and wouldn't want it to stop someone from enjoying cooking.
Don’t rush, just enjoy
Marco's mantra to his daughter:
"Take your time, don’t get frustrated, just enjoy and have fun."
That's the most important lesson that ANY parent can learn when cooking with kids, whether you're making your abuelita's favorite or a healthier meal. Have patience yourself and remember that you're doing it to have an intimate, bonding experience. So, enjoy!
