Review: The Sneaky Chef

Giveaway is closed. I'll get the winner posted by Tuesday... we've had a fun and busy weekend together as a family! :)

It's official... I've found the newest best thing since sliced bread! Ok, so that may be taking things a little far, but it's pretty cool just the same. We talk quite a bit about menus and nutrition for our little ones around here (ok, so we've been slacking on the nutrition a bit since Sweet Pea was born, but that doesn't mean I'm not working on it behind the scenes.) The more I look into all the nutrients we are supposed to have and where they can be found and how many of what foods and which foods how often and all that stuff we need (can anyone say run on?), the more I see how very difficult it is to have children and too feed them at the same time. The whole process can make a person mad (and by that I mean crazy, not angry... just clarifying.)

So several weeks ago I turned to Google for help, searching for recipes that slip veggies and such into other things. I thought it would be easier to get all those nutrients in if the main dish part of our meal also had a little something extra. Then there it was... The Sneaky Chef! I promptly emailed the publicist asking for a copy of her book to review and give away on my blog and she promptly sent one to me. Since then I've been reading and sampling and I have a review for you. :)

Author Missy Chase Lapine gives us The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies for Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids' Favorite Meals. In the book she paints a picture of what many of us moms go through on a daily basis. The takes these things from her own life with two young girls, both picky eaters. Lapine talks about reasons our children are picky and a handful (or more) of strategies to help them get the nutrients they need. Differing from the suggestions my other child nutrition book gave only slightly, Lapine actually tells us how to do it... step by step.

I heartily recommend this book. There I said it. It was an easy read and has tons of great and easy to implement techniques for getting that nutrition into our children. The best part is that she uses those recipes that your children already love, incorporating fruits, veggies and fiber into Mac n Cheese, chicken fingers, pizza, and even brownies! The list goes on! By adding purees you make ahead to everyday recipes your children are getting spinach, cauliflower, carrots, sweet potatoes, blueberries and more... without a fight!

The only negative aspect I found in this book was the "sneaky" component. Though she does a great job of justifying her sneakiness, telling us it's no different than any other mis-truth we would give or detail we would omit for their own good, the idea is still not something I believe would honor the Lord in my home. As you read and implement the principles Lapine teaches, you must remember that it is still written from the world's perspective. Be sure you read it, like everything else you read, through the lens of Scripture.

So what does this mean? Can we not use "The Sneaky Chef" in our own kitchens? I think we can. My plan is to incorporate many of these recipes (especially the animal crackers, granola bars and cookies) into my own recipe box, but not to hide the ingredients from or lie to my children (and let's face it, My Beloved too) about what's inside. Really and truly, Tornado is too young to care at this point what is in the foods he loves. By the time he is, it won't faze him at all that cauliflower is in his mac n cheese... it's all he'll know.

Some of you may have children, like Lapine, who are uninterested in a food simply because of what's in it, even though they've never tasted it. You may need to figure out your own way to go about things. You may choose not to divulge the ingredients list before they eat the brownies or spaghetti, but really... do you tell them the ingredients of the foods you make now?

Over all this is a great book and I believe it will help many of you with your food battles!

To win a copy of this book (only slightly used as I had to review it first), leave a comment on this post and I'll pick a winner this weekend!!! See here for more details on the giveaway (like where I'll ship). And at the end of the week I'll have a link for those of you who don't win the book to get your own! :)

There you have it... my kitchen tip. Find more here.