texasmesquite

Books for children and the cooks they love

MICHELE KAYAL,For The Associated Press


What could be more embarrassing than admitting your kid doesn't like sushi? Or will only eat food that's white?

If previous generations encouraged their progeny to become doctors or lawyers or president, today's parents want their kids to be "foodies."

A new group of books offers advice and recipes for cultivating a genuine love of good food — not hiding the broccoli in the brownies. Though the books vary from almost scholarly to just a tad goofy, all take the same approach to combating the chicken fingers-and-pizza kid menu: Express your love of food to your kids. Don't feed them separate meals. Expose them to new tastes and culinary experiences as often as possible. And for goodness' sake, eat together.

— "My Two-Year-Old Eats Octopus: Raising Children Who Love to Eat Everything" by Nancy Tringali Piho (Bull Publishing, 2009)

It's a lot to read on the subject — more than 300 pages — but if you're bent on raising a gourmet this is your Dr. Spock. Author Nancy Tringali Piho isn't interested in getting your kids to eat spinach. Rather, this almost scholarly tome seeks to create well-rounded eaters who are open to the tastes and cultural experiences that food offers. Food appreciation starts in utero, she argues, and with your help, continues through life. Intelligent discussion on issues — including how to enjoy your children's company at the table and how to address the food peer pressure imposed by children's friends — guides parents in communicating the meaning and value of good food.

— "Too Many Cooks: Kitchen Adventures with 1 Mom, 4 Kids, and 102 Recipes" by Emily Franklin (Voice, 2009)

This delightfully written memoir puts into practice what "Octopus" preaches. Novelist and former professional chef Emily Franklin chronicles her yearlong mission to introduce her four children to exotic foods from purple potatoes to curried goat. Franklin mixes tales of wonder, such as seeing Mommy "covered in goo" after smashing a coconut, with more than 100 recipes that were tested on her own kids. Recipes range from simple (Roasted Broccoli) to imaginative (Crunchy Sesame Tofu).

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If your life leaves little time for reading, cut straight to the chase with several cookbooks aimed at pleasing prepubescent palates.

— "The Gastrokid Cookbook: Feeding a Foodie Family in a Fast-Food World" by Hugh Garvey and Matthew Yeomans (Wiley, 2009)

More than 70 "kid-tested, adult-friendly" recipes fill this book born from the authors' disdain for children's menus. A smattering of general advice — don't "balkanize" your children by feeding them separate meals, be satisfied when they try something new even if they don't like it — precedes appealing recipes like Roasted Chickpea Bruschetta and Parmesan Chicken Cutlets. While these will take you less than 30 minutes, other recipes, such as Orange and Ginger Soy Pork Ribs, will take several hours. Though the authors sometimes appear too focused on reprising recipes from trendy New York restaurants, they offer quick ways to doctor pantry staples, such as adding spinach or truffle oil to a box of organic macaroni and cheese.

— "Paula Deen's Cookbook for the Lunch-Box Set" by Paula Deen (Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2009)

Once your kids are interested in food, they might also be interested in cooking it. "Paula Deen's Cookbook for the Lunch-Box Set" offers more than 60 kid-doable recipes for sleepovers, bake sales and, of course, the lunch box. Aimed at ages 7 through about 13, the book promotes cooking with family and friends. Using a little less butter and sugar than she usually does, the Food Network personality guides young cooks through Peanut Butter-Oatmeal Muffins and Pan-fried Chicken and Popovers, and includes cooking tips and — here's where parents will clap — lessons on manners. A pictorial guide to tools and ingredients makes the book fun and kid-friendly.

— "Friday Night Bites: Kick Off the Weekend with Recipes and Crafts for the Whole Family" by Karen Berman (Running Press, 2009)

The idea of cooking dinner and supervising a craft activity at the same time is enough to make the sturdiest parent break out in a cold sweat. But this book's intentions are pure: designate a night to do something special as a family. Some of the themed events like Dinner on the Moon, in which participants create a centerpiece that shows the phases of the moon and eat Distant Star Salad (which includes the sure-to-need-coaxing starfruit) and receive a short astronomy lesson seem frighteningly ambitious. But others, such as the Silly Hat Night and Backward Night, could actually happen in most households with a little finagling. Whether your family tackles the recipes, crafts and lessons as a complete event or just latches onto one of the fun themes, the book promotes family together time