What's one simple step Moms can take today to feed their kids well?
Include your children in the decision-making process. When kids feel involved, they’re more likely to try new things, including healthy food! And, never give up. Keep trying new foods, and repeat past foods, to expose your kids to a variety of nutrients.
What’s your toughest challenge as a working Mom?
Making sure I balance quality time with my boys while maintaining a successful career. The boys come first, so finding time to work can be a challenge!
What’s your favorite family indulgence, that over-the-top special occasion treat the kids go crazy for?
We make cookies EVERY Sunday morning and we have pizza delivered EVERY Sunday afternoon. I throw a blanket on the floor and we have a “pizza party” in front of a movie.
What’s your best timesaving ‘cheat’ for time-crunched meals?
I use convenience products – and I keep a bunch on hand. Some of my “go-to” items include prepared sauces, pestos, salsas, and chutneys. The combination of flavors pairs perfectly with grilled or roasted chicken, fish, shellfish, pork, and steak.
Tell us the top 3 fresh foods you always keep on hand:
Carrots, apples, broccoli.
What’s the best lesson about feeding kids well that you learned from your own Mom?
Always try new things – even if it’s just one bite. You can always say “I don’t like it”, but at least you’ve tried.
Perfectionist or Improv Artist: Which best describes your approach when it comes to cooking?
Both! I love to improvise when throwing together meals (some of my best dishes come from using what I already have in the pantry and fridge). BUT, once I’ve decided what ingredients I will use, I want it to be perfect!
You just got home from work to find your son and 7 of his closest friends scraping the pantry and fridge for substantial after-school snacks. Do you:
a) Back slowly out of the house and drive away.
b) Head straight for the freezer.
c) Whip up some fresh, wholesome snacks in less than 15 minutes.
c – HANDS DOWN! My boys actually come to me first, they don’t raid the pantry. I think they know I can pull together something much better-tasting than a pre-packaged snack. And, keeping fresh ingredients on hand (and prepped if necessary) is the best way to make sure those snacks are ready in less than 15 minutes!
Moms are often oversaturated with information geared toward the nutrition of their families. As both a Mom and a Nutrition expert yourself, what topics are most relevant that you think everyday Moms need to pay attention to?
Moms should monitor the amount of FAT, SUGAR and SALT their kids eat. That’s it. As long as the family’s diet is varied and well-rounded, vitamin and mineral intake should be fine.
What is the most overused piece of nutrition advice you have heard (and we should avoid)?
I don’t think any nutrition advice should be avoided (as long as it’s sound and based on scientific evidence), but I also don’t think moms should feel guilty about missing a few nutrition goals every now and then. As long as we regularly strive for a healthy balance of nutrients from a variety of sources, a few nutrient missteps won’t matter in the long run.
Where do you believe most moms get their nutrition wisdom from?
TV commercials, magazines and friends.
When shopping for your family, what qualities do you look for in a product?
In the produce section, I reach for the freshest looking fruits and vegetables. The same is true with meats, poultry and fish. With packaged items, I read labels and choose products that boast whole grains, fiber and high-quality protein with minimal amounts of salt, saturated fat, sugar, hydrogenated fats, food colorings, and preservatives.
What are you more concerned with -- the hours your child is plopped in front of the TV or the hours that are spent by your child eating unhealthy?
Hours spent in front of the TV. My children don’t spend hours eating unhealthy because they’re too busy being active. When given the choice, I’m sure most kids would like to eat foods that make them feel healthy and strong, so they can maintain stamina for school and playtime. I worry about kids watching TV and playing video games because that means they’re inactive. Active kids are hungry kids and hungry kids are more likely to eat a variety of foods!
How often do you and your family sit down for a meal together? Do you think sitting down as a family affects your children's perceptions of food?
We eat together every day. I think it’s critical. In fact, many of my boys’ favorite foods are the ones they “stole” from my plate! Plus, mealtime is bonding time; it’s not only about the food, but talking about the day and dreaming about the future.
What steps do you take to ensure your family maintains an active lifestyle?
It’s not hard considering my two little boys run circles around me! But, we enjoy a variety of activities every day – playgrounds, hikes, biking, riding scooters, taking long walks, swimming, and so on. Not a day goes by that we don’t come home tired, dirty and hungry! As it should be!
Who is the Portion Control Sergeant in your family?
We don’t actually need a portion control sergeant unless we’re talking about one of the boys asking for ice cream at 4 PM! My thought is, if they’re hungry, I’d rather feed them a healthy dinner at 4 PM and a snack before bed if they need one. I truly believe that late afternoon snacks can “ruin” dinner and they make children less likely to eat the variety of foods offered at mealtime. I tell my boys they can have “as much ice cream as they want” AFTER dinner. They end up choosing appropriate portions because their little bellies are full of good food.
Do you have a "rave" lunch, dinner or snack recipe that features Ragu? What is it?
I grew up with Ragu so I’ve learned to create a variety of recipes with it! The first one that comes to mind is my Baked Ziti. And it couldn’t be simpler. Layer in a casserole dish three layers each of cooked penne pasta, a mixture of part-skim ricotta cheese and shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese and your favorite Ragu sauce. Pour additional Ragu over top before topping with more shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover the casserole with foil and bake at 350º for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for 15 to 20 more minutes, until the cheese is golden and bubbly. Serve a simple salad on the side and you’ve got one amazing meal! Plus, you can prep the dish up to 3 days in advance and refrigerate it - making it the ultimate Quick Fix Meal!
If you could correct or update one piece of nutrition advice shared by the media and experts, what would that be?
I wouldn’t correct anything but I would advise moms to do their best to offer a variety of fresh, nutritious foods to their kids on a regular basis. Convenience items and prepared meals should be used in “emergency” situations because they’re typically loaded with fat, sugar and salt and devoid of fresh vegetables. And, there should be no hard and fast “rules”. All families are different. If eating at 4 PM works for you – go for it. If eating breakfast items for dinner works, do it. Do whatever it takes to get healthy foods and a variety of nutrients into your kids and you can rest assured you’re building a sound, healthy future.