"Horry" wrote
cshenk wrote:

>>> Dishes suited to a 12yo's palate would be best -- as he'd be reluctant
>>> to cook things he doesn't like to eat

I'll add this is a great age to take him with you to the grocery store for a
quick trip to get some goodies and show some of the things he's not tried
before. Let him pick a few new things. Like 1 new fruit, 1 new veggie, and
a basic item he'd like to try. Its just the age where they start to expand
out again their eating if not pressed too hard.

Make it a quick trip as most dont have a great attention span for this, but
let him wander at will.

At this age, Charlotte had been with us shopping more times than I can
count. I'd be at sea and she was too young to be left at home (we got to
Japan when she was 7) and later she'd help carry it all back (no car, used
pull carts on wheels). Charlotte is a little odd in that she loves a nice
long trip to the grocery store.

> Save for gherkins/pickles, he's not fussy.

Good!

> We might try your recipe (after replacing the tofu with sliced
> sausage ).

Hehehe figured so, but the recie comes from Japan living so it was
considered pretty normal stuff.

>> cutting vegetables but not yet to 'fancy cuts' (home fries were her
>> level).

> Thanks for that. My main concern, at least for another year or so, is to
> eradicate the possibility of accidents. If that necessitates wrapping
> him in animal balloons and packing him in a cotton-lined coffin, so be
> it...

Yes, and in chat it was obvious why. Keep as you are doing, it's for the
best for now.

> I like your idea of involving everyone doing a portion.

It's how we like it, and it makes it all fun. To her, cooking is a way of
life.

Because Don needs reduced sodium, when we go to the store she checks labels
with me and has found some lovely products well in his line. She'd watch
what he was getting when I was at sea and make him put back things he wasnt
allowed (or not let him get too much stuff that was over his limits). In my
case, need a near diabetic diet (except I can tolerate starches like rice,
potatoes and all that just fine) so it's low sugar. Add that I have very
high cholestrol if not strictly diet controlled, and you end up needing
pretty much to scratch cook.

We work the 3 main needs into each meal and have fun. Oh, have to avoid
spinach or broccoli when Don's home. He doesnt like them ;-)

>> She's 15 now and i can call her and tell her I'm running late
>> and ask what's for dinner ;-)
>
> That's what I'm ultimately aiming for

Yeah, it's pretty neat. I don't push it but she enjoys it the few times it
happens. At 15, she's well capable in the kitchen with simple things. Then
again, due to a unique lifestyle, she's been at it since she was 7 in
various age appropriate ways.

Not saying that that I'm fancy like Emeril, but you can imagine his kids
cook too and play in the kitchen with Dad. It's kinda like that.