What's Cooking and the Junior League of Oakland-East Bay, Inc. 
Serve Up A Nutrition Lesson at 
Hoover Elementary School in West Oakland

Michelle Stern is the Founder of What's Cooking and believes that the act of preparing nutritious meals brings families together and builds the foundation of a healthy lifestyle.

Tips for Healthy Eating

• Try to keep healthy food choices in the house. Your children learn by example, and are watching what you choose to eat.

• When looking for snacks, try to avoid processed foods whenever possible.  For example, instead of buying chips or goldfish crackers, try whole grain wheat crackers instead.

• Offer at least one fruit or vegetable at every meal.

• Juice is not an alternative to fruit.  Fruit contains valuable fiber and vitamins, while most juices are full of sugar and void of nutrition.

• Instead of only serving traditional pasta or white rice with dinner, try some alternatives such as: whole wheat couscous, quinoa, barley, brown rice, and whole wheat pasta.

• Purchase organic produce whenever possible.  It is not completely understood how pesticides affect our growing children, and it is best to avoid them if you can.

Tips for Cooking with Kids

• Make sure that you are in a good mood before trying to cook with your children!  If you are feeling impatient, none of you will have fun.

• Be sure that you have all of the ingredients necessary for your recipe ahead of time.   If possible, take all necessary tools and ingredients out and have them ready to use in advance.

• Take a deep breath and try to relax your expectations of how the recipe will turn out.  That way, you won't be disappointed if it is full of egg shells or falls on the floor!  

• The true value of cooking with your kids is the FUN and enthusiasm of sharing the experience together.

• You are not a short-order cook.  As a busy parent, you do not have time to prepare your own meal and then something special to suit each picky child's appetite.  If you prepare special meals for your children at their every request, they are not learning to taste new and healthy foods.  Instead, give them a smaller portion of what you are eating.

• Don't give up!  Many children will enjoy a new food after experiencing it  8-10 times.

• Overwhelmed?  Give us a call and we can set up a hands-on cooking workshop for some of your friends and their children.  We can show you how to have fun cooking with your kids!

A Healthy Recipe

In our What's Cooking business (and at home), we enjoy recipes that allow the children to use a variety of tools, be creative and have some control over the ingredients that they use. 

Mini Tostadas
Created by Michelle Stern and daughter, Amelia

24 small round wonton wrappers
Canola oil spray
Sour cream, low fat or fat free
Refried Beans
Guacamole (already prepared, or you can make your own)*
Cheddar Cheese
Olives
Tomatoes or Salsa
Lettuce or Spinach leaves

1. Preheat oven to 350º.
2. Press each wonton wrapper into the cups of a Mini-Muffin Pan.
3. Spray each wrapper lightly with oil.
4. Bake 6-7 minutes until the edges are golden brown.  Remove wonton shells from pan, and place on a cooking rack.
5. Heat refried beans on the stove or in the microwave (with adult supervision) .
6. Grate Cheese with a rotary cheese grater (these keep your knuckles safe).
7. Slice lettuce or spinach leaves into strips.
8. Slice olives with an egg slicer.
9. Layer fillings of your choice into the wonton shells and garnish the top with a slice of olive.

Cooks’ tips: 

• Wonton wrappers can be found in the produce section of most grocery stores.  The round ones work best, since there are no sharp corners to poke the roof of your mouth!
• Unfilled wontons can be made up to a week ahead and stored in an airtight container at room temperature. 
• Be creative with the filling you use. Let your children help you come up with ideas to try. Consider a fruit and yogurt wonton cup...or one with your favorite pizza toppings!
• To make your own guacamole, simply peel and seed an avocado.  Smash the fruit (yes, it is a fruit!) with a fork, add a pinch of salt and the juice from ½ a lemon.  Add a spoonful of salsa, if desired.  

For more information about our Kids In The Kitchen event with the Junior League of the East Bay, please click here.