I think careful cooking is love, don’t you?  The loveliest thing you can cook for someone who’s close to you is about as nice a valentine as you can give.  ~Julia Child

Kyle hanging with the Star Wars Boba Fett or Janko Fett at LegoKidsFest 2012 in Pittsburgh

My family is like many who enjoy cooking and cooking together.  We really don’t eat out a lot, hence the congregation in the kitchen when hunger pains arrive.  Seriously, we don’t even really eat fast food.  In fact, the only fast food joints I support when I am in a pinch, or if the graving takes is Chick-fil-a, their service and friendly demeanor is always awesome and contagious, not to mention I love their chicken; or SubWay, when I need serious food and I want to control what is put on my sandwich; or Panera, when I’m looking for better tasting quality food, quickly; or Jioio’s when I want my thin, slightly sweet crust pizza; or any other pizza joint for that matter.  Every now-and-again I will make my appearance at a 5 Guys Burger & Fries or a Sonic or a Dairy Queen, but again that’s rare.  Nope, eating out is a rarity not a daily choice.  I was raised that way, and so I continue to keep the tradition.

I’ve said it before and the same still holds true, I enjoy cooking, especially with Kyle!  No matter if we are talking about breakfast, lunch, dinner or a simple snack, cooking together always makes it more fun!  Kyle really likes being in the kitchen, but he prefers to develop his food with the assistance of others.  Not that I can blame him, cooking together is way more fun and sometimes exciting when we start experimenting with ingredients.

In the past, cooking was a way for me to reinforce Kyle’s reading and his math by making him read the recipes to me and forcing him to figure out the measurements himself.  (Inner Conflict, Egg Sandwich Spectacular, Healthy Smoothie Sunday) Not to mention it was a great way to introduce him to different dishes, expanding his pallet and to teach him about the health benefits of specific foods, or lack there of in some cases.  Yes, I don’t always make the healthiest of dishes, but at least I am aware of what goes into the items I consume.

Kyle & his pappy getting ready to mentor deer hunt. We eat a lot of deer meat throughout the year. 2012

Same goes for Kyle.  I have always stressed the importance of eating healthy, however I have also demonstrated the moments of weakness and giving in to temptation.  When I splurge and steer clear of nutritious foods and swap them with junk food, I am also aware of how much I consume and how often.  Not to mention I have always lived by example to burn off the food through various exercise.  I’m not saying I am the poster child for physical fitness, but I do try and make a conscientious effort to demonstrate good healthy behaviors to Kyle.  I’m not saying he completely listens to me, but I know the information is being stored up in his cranium cavity…somewhere.  It’s my job to guide him in the right direction, even if I’m pushing him up a very steep hill.

This week has been wonderful, spending every day with Kyle.  For his birthday, I bought him two Bricks 4 Kidz Lego Camps at Saint Vincent College.  He’s been going all week with a morning session and an afternoon session, allowing us to hang out together for lunch.

A rare treat at IHOP. Kyle wanted caramel hot chocolate. He was reading the Hunger Games while enjoying his dessert drink! c. 2011

All week we’ve been doing breakfast, lunch and dinner together!  And you what?  He has been eating healthier.  I’ve seen his improvement over these few short days.  When we cook together and eat together, Kyle is making better choices with his nutrition.  Plus, having the right foods on hand is a big part of it.

Everyday, he gets to help pick out what he wants for lunch and every day we make the meal together!  Like I said he loves being in the kitchen, helping to prepare the food, cut, stir and flip.  When we’re done, he is truly proud of what he’s made and knows I approve of his eating choices.  This situation just makes everyone happy!

Speaking of happy, Kyle has been seriously energetic and upbeat!  Keep in mind he’s been building Lego’s every morning and night, and this week, one of his rewards for his great report card came in the mail, in the form of another Lego.  So those certainly can sway a child’s attitude, but it also has to do with what is digesting in his gut.  When y0u eat right, you feel right!

Example, Kyle used to like vegetables when he was little.  Then all of a sudden he refuses to eat them, even though I know he doesn’t hate certain veggies.  One day this week, Kyle and I made a huge salad, per both of our suggestions.  He helped me chop up the salad stuff including the carrots and mushrooms.  More importantly, he was excited to make the salad large enough so his Gigi and pappy would have some for dinner.  He not only ate one salad for lunch, but he ate two and then one for dinner!  Granted it was coated in French dressing (low fat), but it wasn’t covered in cheese and no croutons made their appearance.  Just good old fashioned vegetables.  He LOVED the salad and was proud of what he made and his choice for consumption.

I am still amazed over what a difference a few days make, when choosing to eat correctly!  Granted, he does eat pretty good on the weekends, but a lot of the time, that’s our cheat days, which unfortunately is just a continuation of Kyle’s normal week.

Sometimes Kyle tells me what he’s had during the week, and although it sounds fine, the food items he eats are all processed crap.  Full of fat, sodium, not to mention the extra junk they throw into food bought off the shelves that alter our natural body’s chemistry.

The more I learn, the more I’ll continue to teach Kyle and try to live by example.  After all, it’s my job to fight for his health as much as it is for his spiritual well-being and his brain development.

Wander what he wants to eat for lunch today?  I can’t wait to pick him up!

I will not eat oysters. I want my food dead.  Not sick.  Not wounded.  Dead.  ~Woody Allen

Discussing food and different tastes seems appropriate to talk about, since Thanksgiving is upon us.  The day to over eat and mix a smorgasbord of flavors.

Kyle’s 1st Birthday…hanging with pap 7/2002

Kyles tastes are certainly changing the older he gets.  Personally I love it!  It’s neat watching him develop his own likes and dislikes for food and really expanding his pallet.  My favorite is watching his new discoveries with specific edible items.  Is this a new behavior for Kyle to try new foods?  Nope!  Not even close.  Ever since he was little, we always encouraged Kyle to at least sample an unknown taste.  Our deal was, if he tried it and didn’t like it, he would never have to eat the unfavorable item again and I would never say anything about his choices in sustenance.  You know what?  He lived by that deal.  Sometimes he would turn his nose up to certain items or shy away from the sheer mention of a food, but when it came down to it, he always gave it a shot.  Surprisingly, whether he liked the item or not, he was proud of himself for giving it the good old college try.  Then, when he discovered a new favorite taste, he bragged about it and would go off on a tangent. He would even push the food on us to try it if he felt it was a new discovery.  I was always content with Kyle just trying.  My belief is, how can a child make a decision without knowing all the facts?  I guess more people should use that belief with everything in life.

What really cracks me up about Kyle is his consistent behavior.  Kyle is now eleven and he’s been like this for years.  He has his “usual” at specific places.  There was a time when he would never deviate from the “standard”.  I mean, I know other adults who do this, but for a child?  No one can say that I’m like that, not at all!  I like to change things up, try new items, crave different foods. I like to explore the menu and try the specials.  When Kyle only orders his previously established standard, set by himself, he reminds me of Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory.  He’s the uptight genius who has to have everything a certain way, being very consistent and particular, especially with his food. That’s Kyle.  Well, maybe not that extreme, but not far off the mark.  I will give Kyle credit though, he has a much better sense of humor and personality!

As I mentioned, for the longest time, Kyle had his favorite items at certain places.  I say places because that includes mom and dad’s house, my house, his Aunt Nikki’s, plus different restaurants and gas stations etc.  However, I’ve noticed he’s been trying new items and changing it up a bit.  Not a lot, let’s not get silly, but subtle changes.  Now indulge me while I outline a few examples.  Instead of his “usual” items he gets at these  places… he’s been introducing his pallet to new flavors and variations of the food.

Kyle actually makes this face!

Dairy Queen.  Ever since Kyle was eating ice-cream he was known for eating a twist on a cake cone with rainbow sprinkles.  Done!  He only deviated on the different sizes.  When we would treat ourselves for ice-cream, Dairy Queen was generally the place to go.  If we did go to another ice-cream establishment, Kyle would order the same.  Heavens forbid if they didn’t have rainbow sprinkles!  It was like his world was crumbling into a pile of melted ice-cream.  In fact, mom and dad would get him rainbow sprinkles and cones to eat his ice-cream at home.  Way to fuel Kyle’s obsessive behavior mom and dad!  Me, I’m the opposite, instead of catering to him, I would intentionally screw with Kyle to force him to try something new.  I’m fine with the arguments and the kicking and screaming that accompany this situation as long as I was opening his mind.  Not to mention, this fuels my nature to instigate.  Our last few visits to the Dairy Queen included Kyle experimenting with different toppings.  He has branched out to the waffle cone, caramel, hot fudge and nuts.  Not that junk food should be promoted and praised, but it’s a start.

Once when we were at the TastyLand this past summer, he said to me “Aunt Heather I think I’m going to try a chocolate dipped cone instead of sprinkles.”  That may not sound like a big deal to anyone else, but that was a profound statement.  And you know what?  He did and he loved it!  Then he said, “I think this will be my new cone when we come to TastyLand.”  Again, it’s a start.

Moving off of the important sweet tooth to something hardier.  Let’s discuss Subway. Normally I don’t allow Kyle to dine at fast food restaurants.  I try to direct him to eat healthier choices by making our meals, but there are those times when we’re running around on serious crunch time.  In those cases, we try to eat a little bit healthy by hitting up the local Subway.  His usual was a ham and cheese sub with lettuce and black olives.  Over the last year he has branched out to include turkey, ham, pepperoni, bacon with his standard lettuce, cheese and olives, plus onions.  Yes!  Kyle has acquired a taste for onions.  Not a lot, but a few mixed in his food are fine by him.  I don’t know how that happened, but I’ve informed Kyle that onions are good for the heart and he seems pleased with his new staple.  My sister always comments on how disgusting this sandwich is, not that I disagree.  Sometimes I make Kyle omit the pepperoni or the bacon to cut down on the fat.  Although, he never adds ranch or any dressing and he always gets a multi-grain bread.  I can live with that!

Admittingly, I do like the Sheetz Tomato Basil panini sandwiches and the one with Pesto.  Kyle tried them and surprising was not turned off by the hot sandwiches.  This, coming from the boy who has proclaimed his dislike for tomatoes a time or two over the years.  He said “Umm it’s ok, maybe without so many tomatoes.”  That statement actually put me in shock!  His comment was almost unfathomable!  That’s the first I’ve ever heard Kyle speak of tomatoes in any positive manner, not including sun dried tomatoes Cooking With Kyle – Aunt Nikki’s Hors d’oeuvres.  These are all positive steps!

Our little man falling asleep with his once coveted bottle… drink of choice c.2002

Even his usual Egg Sandwich Spectacular! has been pushed to new limits.  He asks for different vegetables to be added to the mixture.  That’s very amusing since he still won’t eat most cooked vegetables, let’s not even discuss the raw ones.  The other day Kyle went into a dissertation on why he thinks he is going through a growth spurt.  You see he is at least a head and a half shorter than all the kids in his class.  Let’s not even discuss that he’s the only one with baby teeth, half of them to be exact.  His height has been the topic of many of his conversations, brought up solely by him.  So when he turned to me and said, “I think I’m growing Aunt Heather.  I think I’m going through a growth spurt.  Maybe I’m going to be tall like my dad.”  I quickly shot back, “Maybe, your dad was around six foot, but I know you won’t grow right if you don’t start giving your body what it needs, like fruits and vegetables.  Your body needs those minerals and vitamins to grow properly.”  He looked at me almost horrified and then said, “But I eat meat and that’s protein for the muscles!  I eat fruit!”  To give him the big picture I said, “Yes, but it also needs other nutrients, the ones found in all the foods.  Even the ones you say you don’t like.”  I could tell he was thinking it over but didn’t say anything else on the subject.

Speaking of foods he claimed to not like.  One root vegetable that I have never understood his disgust for is the potato.  I love potatoes!  Mashed, parsley, baked, home fries, french fries, scalloped, you name it, I eat potatoes.  For the longest time Kyle would never eat the tuberous crop.  Really?  Yep, except french fries, naturally.  He wouldn’t even eat mashed potatoes.  Who turns their nose down to a bowl of mashed up starch with butter, milk, salt and pepper?  Especially at Thanksgiving!  Let’s not forget the potato cakes made from the left over mashed potatoes.  YUM!  It wasn’t until a year or two ago that he started eating mom’s potato cakes.  In fact, every now and again he’ll say, “Gigi can you make some potato cakes?”  They are really good!  I love them really, really crispy!

Since the discovery of the potato cake, Kyle all of a sudden started eating mashed potatoes.  What?  After all these years, he’s acquired a taste for mashed potatoes?  To be honest I think it was the mashed potatoes he initially tried that made him turn away from the side dish.  I don’t ever remember Kyle eating mom’s mashed potatoes until he was asked to by mom.  Then like magic, he was a big advocate of mashed potatoes!

I know tastes change but everyone should follow Kyle’s example.  Give everything a little try and don’t be turned off by something, even if at first it’s not to your liking.  Give it another go.  Maybe it was made differently or your pallet has matured.  I don’t expect Kyle to eat everything and it’s really not that important to me, but it is important for Kyle to give it go.  That’s with everything.  If he has an opportunity to try something I don’t want him to assume he doesn’t like it or worse, afraid to go out of his comfort zone.  I also don’t expect Kyle to be like that alone, everyone in my family lives by the “try it” rule, well within moral reason.

For the record, I eat oysters and muscles.  I especially love muscles!  I don’t care how they are prepared, whichever way desired by the chef.  In fact, I love seafood!  Just like my dad most everyone in the family.  There are very few foods I will not eat.  My pallet is a lot like my dad’s.  Although sometimes I wish I was disgusted by sweets and pastries.

Companies have to wake up to the fact that they are more than a product on a shelf. They’re behavior as well.  ~Robert Haas

I still crack up over Kyle and his perception of advertised brands.  I mean, I think I’ve mentioned his Fiber One obsession a time or two.  He recognizes that brand so well, he understands General Mills makes Fiber One cereal, as well as other products under the Fiber One name.  In his mind, before trying the other products, they are good because it’s Fiber One.  I believe I mentioned the time I grabbed what I thought was a Fiber One box?  As it turned out, it was Kellogg’s Fiber Plus bars.  Kyle went into this dissertation saying, “It’s not bad, just not as good as Fiber One.  I love Fiber One bars!”  This was in the back of the car on our way to swim lessons.

Being in marketing myself, I understand the importance of brand recognition and top-of-the-mind awareness.  There are a lot of companies, whether they realize it or not, have a strong hold on children and have positioned themselves perfectly for the next generation of consumers.  I mean, ever since the sample lady gave Kyle his first taste of Fiber One, I have found myself buying it in large quantities at Sam’s Club.  My sister even stocked up for him when he visits her for the summer.

Fiber bars are not Kyle’s only obsession.  You see, I try to avoid fast food, for myself and for Kyle’s health. We, meaning my family and myself, do not eat out a lot.  It’s an expense that includes processed and unknown food preparation.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I do eat out, and in a pinch of running around with hunger, you just need substance, I’m not a Steve Jobs food habit extremist.  Not eating out is not a choice to be trendy, but because that’s not how I was raised.  My family always made home cooked meals and gardened, canned, and froze food for the winter.  They also hunted and prepared the meat for later consumption.  Over the years, we raised pigs, cows, turkeys and chickens.  Not in large quantities, but enough for our usage.  When my cousins are butchering their chickens, they always give a few.  I wish I could say I don’t buy processed foods from the grocery store and I eat healthy all the time, but that’s simply not true.  I could kill a box of Little Debbies in one sitting like no other.  Sometimes my eating habits make Ellie Krieger’s list of how NOT to eat.  As I mentioned, sometimes you need quick food and usually our compromise is Subway.

Subway has branded themselves as the healthy fast food.  I’m not disputing it, but how healthy is eating salty lunch meat on a lot of bread?  Well, in Kyle’s eyes, he’s eating healthy when eating Subway.  Not to mention they have done a great job with their tagline, Subway… Eat Fresh!  Every time Kyle sees a Subway or sees the commercials, he’ll say, “Umm Subway… Eat Fresh!”  Every time!  Another tagline that catches his attention is Red Robin.  We don’t frequent there at all. In fact, I don’t think I ever took Kyle to a Red Robin but, without thought, when Kyle hears the Red Robin commercial he sings, “Red Robin.. Yummm.”

Now, it’s not just food that has captured the attention of this little boy over the years.  There was this commercial for Geico Insurance.  Every single time it came on, he would recite it word for word.  It was hilarious, especially when he would say, “Ya jack wagon.”  I always tried to get him on tape but he would never let me record him reciting the commercial.

Kyle’s most recent brand obsession is with the KIA Soul. Because KIA chose to have gangsta hamsters drive around in their cars it became surprisingly eye catching and funny.  The one commercial with the hamsters driving around in toasters still cracks me up!  The phrase they sang, “You can get with this or you can get with that”, was used by Kyle in spontaneous moments.  But what really stole the show was their newest commercial with the robots in the futuristic scene.  I showed Kyle the commercial for the first time, knowing he was going to get a kick out it.  At first he asked me, “Aunt Heather, what is this?”  But then, at that moment, Kyle spotted the top of the KIA Soul driving into the scene.  What’s really amazing, Kyle recognized the car just at that brief moment when the top of the car was exposed through all the rubbish.  Then, when the tennis shoe lowered from the car door and hit the ground decked out in 80’s colors and the music started to kick up, Kyle was jumping out of his seat.  We were both laughing at the dancing hamsters.

Ever since that commercial struck Kyle’s fancy, he really started loving the Party Rock Anthem.  One time I busted Kyle listening to the song over and over on the computer.  I did manage to get that one on video without his prior knowledge.  Yep, these brands have a fan in the next generation.