http://archive.aweber.com/dtnewslettersDinner Together NewsletterTue, 15 May 2012 07:03:34 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/dtnewsletters/McW8U/h/Dinner_Together_May_2012_.htm Dinner Together Newsletter, May 2012, Family Issue News and Notes Belated Happy Mother's Day to all the moms! I hope you had a special day celebrating with your family. If, however, it was not an easy day for you, know that you are not alone. And if you're still feeling like you need to make some time to re-charge yourself, find a way to make the time for yourself. Please remember, you're always welcome to submit parenting questions for future newsletter articles. Just reply to this email with your questions. Something to think about... FAMILY DINNER AS A TOUCHSTONE by Kathleen Cuneo, Ph.D. I just finished putting away my 16-year-old daughter's clean laundry - something I haven't done for years since turning over the responsibility to her. This month she is in the midst of some heavy duty studying (AP exams, SATs, ACT, etc.), and I'm feeling moved to bend some household rules in an effort to help her. This is an unusually busy time of year for my other two daughters as well. One is balancing her softball schedule with challenging schoolwork while the other is preparing for multiple dance recitals. On the other hand, this is a relatively slow time for me in my work. I just wrapped up one project and have a few weeks before the next one starts. Slow times can be a mixed blessing for me. I enjoy a more relaxed pace and have time to do things I enjoy, but I also have too much time on my hands and start to think and question my purpose in life and career direction. Right now I'm trying to focus my energy on the acceptance of my current schedule and the opportunity that I have right now to be there to support my children. I'm also appreciating how much family dinner is part of that support. It is a touchstone in my kids' lives. Family dinner seems to be even more important to them right now as they manage stressful schedules and demands. I've been receiving texts from my 14-year-old asking, "What's for dinner?" during the day, and my 10-year-old regularly checks our weekly menu plan. Yesterday my 16-year-old was describing her plans to study with friends after school tomorrow. She asked, "Do you want me home for dinner?" I told her that I always want her home for dinner, but I understood the stress she's under right now and she should feel free to do what she needs to do. She said, "I'll take a study break around dinner and come home." They may not often directly express their appreciation for family dinner, but it clearly is a source of comfort and support for my children - and I know that my children are not unique in this regard. You may find yourself feeling unrewarded at the day in, day out routine of preparing and organizing family meals, but rest assured, your efforts are likely paying off in many, perhaps unexpected, ways. © 2012 Kathleen Cuneo, Ph.D. Conversation Starter of the Month What is your favorite comfort food meal? Discoveries... I first learned of Ingredient Magazine from my colleague, Dr. Katja Rowell. I bought a subscription for my 10-year-old daughter and she's enjoyed two issues so far. Ingredient is targeted for 6-12 year olds who are curious about food. It not only includes kid-friendly recipes but also interesting articles on the history of food and other food-related topics. My daughter particularly likes the list of Food Fun Days. Did you know that May 17th is National Cherry Cobbler Day?! Have any discoveries that you'd like to share with other readers that have made your life easier, inspired you, or brought you joy? Email me with your suggestions any time. About Dr. Kathleen Cuneo is a psychologist, parent coach, and mom of 3. Her mission is to empower parents to raise healthy families, without making themselves or their kids crazy. This newsletter is published twice per month. Food Issues provide practical content to help parents prepare and enjoy healthy family meals. Family issues provide effective solutions for parenting in today's world in a way that strengthens parent-child connections and supports child development. Family Issues will include information about how to feed children so that they grow to become successful eaters, among other parenting topics. Learn more about: Dr. Cuneo's Parent Coaching Kitchen Table Parents Dinner Together Workshops Empowered Parenting Workbook Submit parenting questions Connect with me! The information contained in this newsletter is for educational purposes only. It is intended to inform readers of issues related to child development and behavior and parenting in general. It is not intended to replace specific advice from a health care professional. The diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders requires consultation with a trained professional. Information presented in this newsletter is general in nature and does not cover all possible uses, actions, precautions, side effects, or interactions of any medicines or treatments, nor is the information intended as advice for individual problems or for making an evaluation as to the risks and benefits of a particular form of treatment. Individual parents are responsible for the use they make of any advice in this newsletter. MATERIAL CONNECTION DISCLOSURE: I promise that I will only recommend sites and products that I truly believe will help you raise a healthy family. Sometimes my recommendations are through affiliate links and I may earn a commission on any sales made. Other times there is no link to me at all and I make nothing. You should always perform due diligence before buying goods or services from anyone via the Internet or offline. Copyright (c) 2012 by Kathleen Cuneo, Ph.D. Tue, 15 May 2012 07:03:34 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/dtnewsletters/O5Ua./h/Dinner_Together_May_2012_.htm Dinner Together Newsletter, May 2012, Food Issue News and Notes Happy Mother's Day to all you moms! As a special way to celebrate both Mother's Day and my new Kitchen Table Parents Store, I'm offering a 20% discount on all purchases between now and May 13, 2012. Just enter the coupon code KTPintro at checkout. Give yourself the gift of resources to help you raise a healthy family. Also this month, be sure to check out our posts at the Blog for Family Dinner as we celebrate moms and special women in our lives who have shared their recipes and knowledge with us in the kitchen. This month's recipe comes from Debbie Koenig, author of the cookbook Parents Need to Eat Too. I'm always looking for new slow cooker recipes to add to my repertoire, and this one was delicious! I did not include any honey or agave because I didn't think it needed the added sweetness, but go for it if that suits your family's tastes! Recipe of the Month SUPER-SIMPLE SLOW COOKER CHICKEN MARSALA from Debbie Koenig Slow Cooker Chicken Marsala is one of those dump-everything-in-and-forget-it recipes (the best kind, no?). Tender chicken, meaty mushrooms, and a rich, faintly sweet sauce, all with less than 15 minutes of work. 3 tablespoons flour, divided Salt and pepper 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, each about 6 ounces 8 ounces crimini mushrooms, thickly sliced (buy pre-sliced, if you prefer) 1 large shallot, thinly sliced 1/4 cup chopped parsley 1/2 cup marsala wine (dry sherry and a splash of sweet vermouth make a good substitute--and if all you have is a bottle of regular ol' wine, that'll work too) 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth 1 tablespoon butter, softened 1 teaspoon honey or agave, optional Coat the insert of your slow cooker with nonstick spray. Put 2 tablespoons of flour plus a generous amount of salt and pepper into a gallon-sized zipper-lock bag. Add the chicken, seal, and toss to coat. Remove the chicken, tapping off excess coating, and place the chicken into the slow cooker. Top with the mushrooms, shallot, and parsley, and use your hands to toss the vegetables gently. Combine the marsala and broth (I just measure them both into the same cup) and pour over the top. Cook on LOW for 3-4 hours or HIGH for 2-3 hours. About 30 minutes before serving, mash together the remaining tablespoon of flour and the butter until well combined. Stir into the slow cooker, cover, and cook (or hold on WARM) until ready to serve. Taste and adjust the seasoning. If your palate tells you a little sweetness would be nice, stir in the honey or agave. Serve with noodles, rice, or Israeli couscous--something that'll sop up that sauce. Serves 4. Tip of the Month I love the title and the underlying concept of Debbie Koenig's cookbook Parents Need to Eat Too. Don't neglect your own tastes and preference when preparing food for your family. Discoveries... I encourage you to check out Debbie's cookbook and learn new ways to feed yourself! ************************************************************************ ...and P.S. Don't forget about the 20% off Kitchen Table Parents Store discount! Coupon code: KTPintro expires 5/13/12. ************************************************************************ Have any discoveries that you'd like to share with other readers that have made your life easier, inspired you, or brought you joy? Email me with your suggestions any time. About Dr. Kathleen Cuneo is a psychologist, parent coach, and mom of 3. Her mission is to empower parents to raise healthy families, without making themselves or their kids crazy. This newsletter is published twice per month. Food Issues provide practical content to help parents prepare and enjoy healthy family meals. Family issues provide effective solutions for parenting in today's world in a way that strengthens parent-child connections and supports child development. Family Issues will include information about how to feed children so that they grow to become successful eaters, among other parenting topics. Learn more about: Dr. Cuneo's Parent Coaching Kitchen Table Parents Dinner Together Workshops Empowered Parenting Workbook Submit parenting questions Connect with me! The information contained in this newsletter is for educational purposes only. It is intended to inform readers of issues related to child development and behavior and parenting in general. It is not intended to replace specific advice from a health care professional. The diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders requires consultation with a trained professional. Information presented in this newsletter is general in nature and does not cover all possible uses, actions, precautions, side effects, or interactions of any medicines or treatments, nor is the information intended as advice for individual problems or for making an evaluation as to the risks and benefits of a particular form of treatment. Individual parents are responsible for the use they make of any advice in this newsletter. Copyright (c) 2012 by Kathleen Cuneo, Ph.D. Tue, 01 May 2012 07:07:01 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/dtnewsletters/O3.RE/h/Dinner_Together_April_2012_.htm Dinner Together Newsletter, April 2012, Family Issue News and Notes The Blog for Family Dinner is accepting stories for May and June on the women and men who have influenced your family meals. We welcome your submissions. If you haven't seen the new Kitchen Table Parents store yet, please check it out. You'll find some helpful and affordable parent education materials. Please remember, you're always welcome to submit parenting questions for future newsletter articles. Just reply to this email with your questions! This week my youngest daughter starts off a flurry of academic state testing. It got me thinking about the opposite of state testing - creative play. I hope you enjoy this month's article, which originally appeared as a past Empowered Parenting post, about toys that encourage creative play. Something to think about... MUST-HAVE TOYS FOR CREATIVE PLAY by Kathleen Cuneo, Ph.D. Last year I delivered the play kitchen that my daughters had (mostly) outgrown to my friend for her young children. My friend and I were then talking about some must-have toys for toddlers and preschoolers. These ideas can be a helpful guide along with the post What Makes a Great Toy? when considering toy purchases for kids. Keep in mind that these are just suggestions and any toys you choose for your child should be selected based on your own knowledge of your child's skills, interests, and developmental abilities. I recommend these particular toys because in my experience with my own children and with children I have seen for play therapy, these toys are particularly good at eliciting creative, imaginative play with opportunities to explore many aspects of social and emotional life. Sometimes in our high pressured world parents can over-focus on providing children with toys and materials that enhance academic skills and can neglect the very important skill of learning to pretend. While there are many interesting electronic toys available for young children, in my opinion the toys listed below do a much better job of engaging children in pretend play. Further, children are often engaged in play for longer periods of time when using these types of toys. Pretend food and kitchen items: Children love to cook and serve the adults in their lives. Additionally, playing with toy food often provides an opportunity to work through some food issues for some children. Baby dolls: Dolls allow children to act out both nurturing and aggressive feelings and behaviors in a safe way. Doctor set: By playing the roles of doctor and/or patient, children can act out their experiences with medical interventions. This can be particularly useful for children who have had difficult experiences related to medical interventions. Play-doh or clay: Children can really benefit from making their own creations in a tactile way, and many children find this type of activity to be very calming. Art materials: Having art materials available inspires creative expression. Building toys (e.g., Lego, Duplo, blocks, etc.): In addition to developing fine motor skills, building toys give you a wonderful window on children's creativity when you witness the types of buildings and creations they can make on their own. Dress up clothes: Both boys and girls love to dress up and try on new roles during the preschool years. Pretend tools: Banging pretend nails with a pretend hammer is a great, safe way to express aggression. Plus these toys also offer the opportunity to role-play and to build. Pretend school materials: While there are some sets you can purchase, often playing school does not require much more than paper and pencil. Animal figures: In particular, sets that include adult and baby animals offer a great opportunity for children to enact family dynamics in a creative, non-threatening way. Cars and trucks: Granted, I've seen cars and trucks used in non-imaginative ways when they are just pushed around or raced, but I have also seen great creativity and pretend play using these materials. Having materials and toys available that enhance creative play is an important first step. The next steps involve your interactions with your child and these materials. Young children may need direct parental involvement in their play at first. Parents can provide guidance and modeling for creative play. Over time, as children develop play skills, their play is more likely to take place with siblings and/or peers. Parents can best positively influence the quality of their child's play by following the child's lead. I recommend that parents observe, let the children lead, and don't over-direct the play. If parents feel comfortable taking on pretend roles themselves, children love it. Some examples that offer kids a great opportunity for growth and learning are: pretending to cry when getting a shot, refusing pretend food when offered, and getting in trouble at school. What has been your experience with pretend play with your kids? Are there other toys that you'd add to the list? © 2012 Kathleen Cuneo, Ph.D. Conversation Starter of the Month Kids: What's your favorite toy? Why? Parents: What was your favorite toy when you were a kid? What did you like about it? Discoveries... I've been thinking a lot lately about creative play. My oldest daughter is in the process of deciding which colleges to apply to now. She's pretty creative and is looking for a place where she can study engineering but also have access to music and the arts. One of her favorite toys when she was younger was Klikko. It's a building toy that allows for creative construction without predetermined sets. She loved the open-ended nature of the toy as well as the audible feedback of the pieces clicking together. It's one of those toys that she still holds onto in her room. We'll see if it heads off to college with her! Have any discoveries that you'd like to share with other readers that have made your life easier, inspired you, or brought you joy? Email me with your suggestions any time. About Dr. Kathleen Cuneo is a psychologist, parent coach, and mom of 3. Her mission is to empower parents to raise healthy families, without making themselves or their kids crazy. This newsletter is published twice per month. Food Issues provide practical content to help parents prepare and enjoy healthy family meals. Family issues provide effective solutions for parenting in today's world in a way that strengthens parent-child connections and supports child development. Family Issues will include information about how to feed children so that they grow to become successful eaters, among other parenting topics. Learn more about: Dr. Cuneo's Parent Coaching Kitchen Table Parents Dinner Together Workshops Empowered Parenting Workbook Submit parenting questions Connect with me! The information contained in this newsletter is for educational purposes only. It is intended to inform readers of issues related to child development and behavior and parenting in general. It is not intended to replace specific advice from a health care professional. The diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders requires consultation with a trained professional. Information presented in this newsletter is general in nature and does not cover all possible uses, actions, precautions, side effects, or interactions of any medicines or treatments, nor is the information intended as advice for individual problems or for making an evaluation as to the risks and benefits of a particular form of treatment. Individual parents are responsible for the use they make of any advice in this newsletter. MATERIAL CONNECTION DISCLOSURE: I promise that I will only recommend sites and products that I truly believe will help you raise a healthy family. Sometimes my recommendations are through affiliate links and I may earn a commission on any sales made. Other times there is no link to me at all and I make nothing. You should always perform due diligence before buying goods or services from anyone via the Internet or offline. Copyright (c) 2012 by Kathleen Cuneo, Ph.D. Tue, 17 Apr 2012 07:03:30 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/dtnewsletters/612gA/h/Dinner_Together_April_2012_.htm Dinner Together Newsletter, April 2012, Food Issue News and Notes I am so excited to announce that my Kitchen Table Parents Store is up and running. I've packaged together some of the most popular audio programs from Kitchen Table Parents teleseminars from the past year. Plus my Empowered Parenting Workbook is also available. Be sure to check out these very reasonably priced items if you're looking for some educational parenting resources. I recently got together with an old friend for lunch and she and I were talking about re-joining our local CSA's - despite a bit of an overload of kale last year. Looking for new ways to incorporate kale into my family's meals in addition to the Roasted Kale that my husband and kids usually love, I remembered that my intern from last summer, Natalia Stasenko, had given me a recipe that included kale. I made this last week. Can't say that the kids loved it, but my husband and I did. I will definitely be making it again and give the kids some more exposure to it. This has got to be one of the fastest, easiest meals I've made in a while. And only one pot to clean up! You can't beat that. We're still accepting your stories at the Blog for Family Dinner for our special themes for May and June. We're celebrating Moms in May and Dads in June. I'm sure there are some Dinner Together readers out there who also have a good story or family recipe to share. Please consider submitting to B4FD. And finally, my best wishes to you and your families for a very Happy Easter or Passover season! Recipe of the Month BEAN AND SAUSAGE STEW from Natalia Stasenko 1 T olive oil 1 13-ounce package of chicken sausage links, sliced 1/4 thick ( for example, Applegate Farms Chicken Apple sausage which is delicious!) 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced 1 19-ounce can white beans, drained 1 14.5-ounce can low-sodium chicken broth 1 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained 1 bunch kale 1/4 tsp kosher salt 1/4 tsp black pepper Heat the oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook, without stirring, until browned, about 3 minutes. Turn, add the garlic, and cook for 2 minutes more. Add the beans, broth and tomatoes and their juice. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer. Fold each kale leaf in half lengthwise and remove the stem by ripping or cutting it. Tear each leaf into large pieces. Add the kale to the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until wilted, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Season with the salt and pepper and spoon into individual bowls. Serves 4 Nutritional information: Total calories - 350 (17%) Carbohydrates - 40g (13%) Protein - 31g (62%) Fat - 9g (14%) Fiber - 9g (36%) Comments: Calculations are based on 4 servings per recipe. Percent Daily Values are based on 2000 kcal diet for healthy adults. Tip of the Month It's great to have a few super-quick recipes in your repertoire for those really busy nights when you have less than 20 minutes to pull something together. I'd love to hear what some of your quick fallback meals are when time is tight. Do share... Discoveries... This month's recipe was supplied by Natalia Stasenko of Tribeca Nutrition. Natalia interned with me last summer and I'm so happy to see her launching her own website and practice. Natalia offers programs and services for moms-to-be, families with children, and individuals looking to achieve weight and wellness goals through nutrition. And you'll want to be sure to check out this recipe on her blog for healthified chocolate chip cookies. Yum! Have any discoveries that you'd like to share with other readers that have made your life easier, inspired you, or brought you joy? Email me with your suggestions any time. About Dr. Kathleen Cuneo is a psychologist, parent coach, and mom of 3. Her mission is to empower parents to raise healthy families, without making themselves or their kids crazy. This newsletter is published twice per month. Food Issues provide practical content to help parents prepare and enjoy healthy family meals. Family issues provide effective solutions for parenting in today's world in a way that strengthens parent-child connections and supports child development. Family Issues will include information about how to feed children so that they grow to become successful eaters, among other parenting topics. Learn more about: Dr. Cuneo's Parent Coaching Kitchen Table Parents Dinner Together Workshops Empowered Parenting Workbook Submit parenting questions Connect with me! The information contained in this newsletter is for educational purposes only. It is intended to inform readers of issues related to child development and behavior and parenting in general. It is not intended to replace specific advice from a health care professional. The diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders requires consultation with a trained professional. Information presented in this newsletter is general in nature and does not cover all possible uses, actions, precautions, side effects, or interactions of any medicines or treatments, nor is the information intended as advice for individual problems or for making an evaluation as to the risks and benefits of a particular form of treatment. Individual parents are responsible for the use they make of any advice in this newsletter. Copyright (c) 2012 by Kathleen Cuneo, Ph.D. Tue, 03 Apr 2012 07:03:26 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/dtnewsletters/7GtcQ/h/Dinner_Together_March_2012_.htm Dinner Together Newsletter, March 2012, Family Issue News and Notes This month the theme at the Blog for Family Dinner is All Kinds of Families and Family Dinner. I have one of my own posts up today. Check it out! We have also chosen themes for April, May, and June. I bet some of you might have great stories to share. We welcome your submissions. Also, just reminder that if you are struggling with any parenting issues, I am available for consultation to see if my parent coaching services are a good fit for you. Something to think about... DO PARENTS REALLY NEED TO INVOLVE KIDS IN THE KITCHEN? by Kathleen Cuneo, Ph.D. Recently my fellow co-founder at Blog for Family Dinner, Grace Freedman, called in to a WNYC radio segment on kids cooking. Grace did a great job speaking about the importance of involving kids in the kitchen and some strategies for including children with cooking. Yea Grace! You can listen to the segment here. After listening to the segment, though, I was struck by the radio host's concern that she was not able to convey her enthusiasm for cooking to her own non-cooking children. I'm not sure if her concern reflected disappointment that she could not share an activity that she enjoys with her children, or if there was a deeper disappointment or fear that she had somehow failed her children by not motivating them to cook. It got me thinking... I am a big believer of involving kids in the kitchen. In addition to championing our "Kids Month" at Blog for Family Dinner, I've written previously on strategies for involving children in the kitchen based on their developmental abilities. And I've chronicled my own attempts at teaching my girls how to cook The benefit of involving kids in the kitchen makes intuitive sense to me. Children who grow up in a kitchen will have more confidence as cooks when they are older. They will have skills to prepare healthy food for themselves and save money that might be spent on dining out. I also believe that children gain the opportunity to become familiar with and explore food on more levels when they learn how to grow or prepare it than when they are just served it. But what if kids don't enjoy cooking? There is no guarantee that involving a child in the kitchen will magically transform a picky eater into an adventurous eater. I don't want to be promoting guilt for those parents whose children do not enjoy spending time helping in the kitchen. A few years ago a journalist interviewed me for a piece she was writing on the importance of cooking with kids. At that time, I found very little research demonstrating that cooking with kids leads to better eating habits in children. In preparation for the interview, I also reached out to some other experts in the field to ask them to direct me to any studies that they knew of on the topic. I was able to find one study supporting the relationship between cooking and healthy eating in teen girls, but nothing beyond that. When the interviewer asked me what was more important: eating with or cooking with kids, I said eating with ~ because we do have a substantial body of research findings indicating that this is so. Her story was never published. My reaction to the radio host's underlying concern about her own non-cooking children made me wonder: Do we feel we've failed our kids if they don't share other interests, activities, and passions with us or is this experience unique to cooking? Perhaps cooking seems to have more importance than other activities because we see it as a life skill with lasting implications for health. Perhaps our connections between food, family, and culture color the value we place on cooking. I don't have the answers, but I'd love to hear your thoughts. © 2012 Kathleen Cuneo, Ph.D. Conversation Starter of the Month If you could meet anyone from the past who would it be and why? Discoveries... If you are interested in cooking with your kids, check out the resources we've compiled at the Blog for Family Dinner. And please add some of your own in the comments if we haven't already listed them. Have any discoveries that you'd like to share with other readers that have made your life easier, inspired you, or brought you joy? Email me with your suggestions any time. About Dr. Kathleen Cuneo is a psychologist, parent coach, and mom of 3. Her mission is to empower parents to raise healthy families, without making themselves or their kids crazy. This newsletter is published twice per month. Food Issues provide practical content to help parents prepare and enjoy healthy family meals. Family issues provide effective solutions for parenting in today's world in a way that strengthens parent-child connections and supports child development. Family Issues will include information about how to feed children so that they grow to become successful eaters, among other parenting topics. Learn more about: Dr. Cuneo's Parent Coaching Kitchen Table Parents Dinner Together Workshops Empowered Parenting Workbook Submit parenting questions Connect with me! The information contained in this newsletter is for educational purposes only. It is intended to inform readers of issues related to child development and behavior and parenting in general. It is not intended to replace specific advice from a health care professional. The diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders requires consultation with a trained professional. Information presented in this newsletter is general in nature and does not cover all possible uses, actions, precautions, side effects, or interactions of any medicines or treatments, nor is the information intended as advice for individual problems or for making an evaluation as to the risks and benefits of a particular form of treatment. Individual parents are responsible for the use they make of any advice in this newsletter. MATERIAL CONNECTION DISCLOSURE: I promise that I will only recommend sites and products that I truly believe will help you raise a healthy family. Sometimes my recommendations are through affiliate links and I may earn a commission on any sales made. Other times there is no link to me at all and I make nothing. You should always perform due diligence before buying goods or services from anyone via the Internet or offline. Copyright (c) 2012 by Kathleen Cuneo, Ph.D. Tue, 20 Mar 2012 07:03:32 -0400http://archive.aweber.com/dtnewsletters/AeLww/h/Dinner_Together_March_2012_.htm Dinner Together Newsletter, March 2012, Food Issue News and Notes I've been dragging my feet for months but I'm happy to say that I finally updated the Dinner Together website to more accurately reflect the work that I'm doing now and to have a more flexible site. Please check it out and let me know what you think. It's not 100% complete yet, but if I waited for it to be perfect, I'd still be waiting. :) Sometimes good enough is good enough - with websites and with parenting! On another note, for those of you who observe Lent, I thought that this month would be a good one to share a fish recipe. I know lots of people are a little stymied when it comes to cooking fish. This month's recipe is a big hit in my family. In fact, the last time I made it, we had no leftovers - quite unusual in my house! I had shared this recipe a couple of years ago on my friend Michelle Stern's blog, What's Cooking WIth Kids, but I realized I had never shared it here. You can see a couple of old photos of my kids helping to prepare this dish over on her site. Recipe of the Month FISH TACOS (adapted from www.allrecipes.com) ½ cup sour cream ½ cup light mayonnaise ¼ cup chopped cilantro* 1 package reduced sodium taco seasoning mix, divided 1 pound tilapia loins, or other white fish fillets, cut into 1-inch pieces 2 Tbs canola oil 2 Tbs lemon juice 12 taco shells toppings of your choice (lettuce, cabbage, coleslaw mix, tomato, olives, salsa) Combine sour cream, mayo, cilantro, and 2T taco seasoning. Combine fish, canola oil, lemon juice, and remaining taco seasoning in a bowl. Pour fish mixture into a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring constantly for about 4-5 minutes, or until fish flakes easily with a fork and is opaque white all the way through. Fill taco shells with fish mixture. Top with sour cream mixture and other toppings. Serves 4-6. The kids can help mix sour cream mixture and prepare bowls of toppings. Tip of the Month Do not fear the fish! There are lots of great recipes out there, and fish can be relatively easy and quick to prepare. Don't be afraid to experiment. Discoveries... A Dinner Together newsletter reader, Rebecca Horsman, recently started her own blog: Tots to Teens Nutrition. Rebecca is a registered dietitian and a mom to two young children. I encourage you to check out her site and learn from her wisdom. Have any discoveries that you'd like to share with other readers that have made your life easier, inspired you, or brought you joy? Email me with your suggestions any time. About Dr. Kathleen Cuneo is a psychologist, parent coach, and mom of 3. Her mission is to empower parents to raise healthy families, without making themselves or their kids crazy. This newsletter is published twice per month. Food Issues provide practical content to help parents prepare and enjoy healthy family meals. Family issues provide effective solutions for parenting in today's world in a way that strengthens parent-child connections and supports child development. Family Issues will include information about how to feed children so that they grow to become successful eaters, among other parenting topics. Learn more about: Dr. Cuneo's Parent Coaching Kitchen Table Parents Dinner Together Workshops Empowered Parenting Workbook Submit parenting questions Connect with me! The information contained in this newsletter is for educational purposes only. It is intended to inform readers of issues related to child development and behavior and parenting in general. It is not intended to replace specific advice from a health care professional. The diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders requires consultation with a trained professional. Information presented in this newsletter is general in nature and does not cover all possible uses, actions, precautions, side effects, or interactions of any medicines or treatments, nor is the information intended as advice for individual problems or for making an evaluation as to the risks and benefits of a particular form of treatment. Individual parents are responsible for the use they make of any advice in this newsletter. Copyright (c) 2012 by Kathleen Cuneo, Ph.D. Tue, 06 Mar 2012 07:05:38 -0500http://archive.aweber.com/dtnewsletters/9xGoQ/h/Dinner_Together_February.htm Dinner Together Newsletter, February 2012, Family Issue News and Notes This month the theme at the Blog for Family Dinner is Involving Kids in Family Dinner. Check out the great posts we've had so far and be sure to enter our giveaway. We have also chosen themes for March, April, May, and June. I bet some of you might have great stories to share. We welcome your submissions. Also, just reminder that if you are struggling with any parenting issues, I am available for consultation to see if my parent coaching services are a good fit for you. Something to think about... CHOOSING THE RIGHT SCHOOL FOR YOUR CHILD by Kathleen Cuneo, Ph.D. This weekend we have begun in earnest the college search process for my oldest daughter. As we tour college campuses, I am hoping that she will find a place that offers the academic and social environment that is right for her and that will enhance her growth and development. I am hoping that somewhere along our tours, she will have the feeling that leads her to say, this is where I'm meant to be for the next four years. Isn't that we all want for our kids no matter what age or what level of schooling they are at? Maybe at some point I'll write about the college search process, but I think most of this newsletter's readers are not quite at that point yet! Where I live, this is the time of year when registration for preschool starts. For some, it can be a daunting process to select the best placement. I have seen many, many of preschools in my adult life. My three children attended five preschools among them and in my work I have provided therapy to children at over a dozen preschools. I can't really describe any of the preschools that I've seen firsthand as terrible. All have something to offer, but each has its own unique strengths and weaknesses. And if you're seeking the perfect preschool, stop the search right now! Nothing is perfect. With my own children, my goal has always been to find the best match for the individual child I'm considering enrolling. For the children I've worked with, my goal has been to try to rig the environment to be the best match possible for that particular child. Choosing a preschool is a personal decision made with consideration of a number of factors, including price, availability, location, and program hours. In my own personal experience, the decision of where to send my individual children for preschool has also been heavily influenced by the particular needs of each child at that time. With my children, I found that their needs at age 3 were different from their needs at age 4. My recommendation for choosing the best preschool for your child would be to first reflect on who your child is and what her current needs are. Does she need a warm and nurturing environment that will support her in becoming more independent and separating from you? Does she need a highly structured environment to help her master routines and transitions? Does she need an environment with lots of opportunities for physical play and movement? Does she need the security of having friends that she already knows in her class? Let your knowledge of your child's needs guide your search. Often parents choose a preschool based on the school's reputation gleaned from conversations with other parents. While I think it's important to learn from other parents about their experiences with a particular school, understand that your own experience may not be the same. I would recommend that you visit any preschools you are considering, and look for and ask about the following: The basics: Things like licensing, safety, and cleanliness should be in place. Assuming that the basics are in place, don't be over-impressed by shiny new toys, gleaming floors, or organic snacks. Other things are more important. The teachers: Inquire about their educational background as well as ongoing training and development. Observe their interactions with the children in their class. Are they warm and nurturing? Do they seem to have good control of the classroom? How do they speak to the children? How do they discipline children? The kids: Do the students currently enrolled seem to feel comfortable and happy in their surroundings? Do you see a lot of child-directed play? The materials: Are there a lot of child-friendly materials available? Are materials changed throughout the school year? Do children have access to lots of hands on arts materials? Do the materials encourage imaginative play? Is the classroom set up in different sections (i.e., quiet book area, block area, dress-up area, etc.)? The mode of instruction: There are many effective ways for preschool children to learn. I would, however, caution parents to avoid preschools with a heavy emphasis on worksheets and academic learning. Most children do best in a learning environment with routines and structure, but also with lots of opportunity for play and hands-on experiences. Other factors: Consider other aspects of education that are important to your family. Do you want a program that includes religious and/or cultural education? Is a cooperative program where you have an opportunity to meet other families and become more engaged in a community important to you? Is a music program something you highly value? Choosing a preschool for your child is an important decision that requires a lot of research and thought on your part. Whatever you decide, however, know that your child's experiences with you as their parent have much more impact on their development than which school they attend. © 2012 Kathleen Cuneo, Ph.D. Conversation Starter of the Month Sometimes the most basic of conversation starters can be the best. How about asking, What was the best/worst/funniest part of your school today? It's more likely to generate interesting answers than, How was school today? Discoveries... If you are always seeking more information to help you on your quest to become the best parent that you can be, I encourage you to check out AhaParenting.com and Dr. Laura Markham. She offers a free daily e-newsletter loaded with valuable information. Have any discoveries that you'd like to share with other readers that have made your life easier, inspired you, or brought you joy? Email me with your suggestions any time. About Dr. Kathleen Cuneo is a psychologist, parent coach, and mom of 3. Her mission is to empower parents to raise healthy families, without making themselves or their kids crazy. This newsletter is published twice per month. Food Issues provide practical content to help parents prepare and enjoy healthy family meals. Family issues provide effective solutions for parenting in today's world in a way that strengthens parent-child connections and supports child development. Family Issues will include information about how to feed children so that they grow to become successful eaters, among other parenting topics. Learn more about: Dr. Cuneo's Parent Coaching Kitchen Table Parents Dinner Together Workshops Empowered Parenting Workbook Submit parenting questions Connect with me! The information contained in this newsletter is for educational purposes only. It is intended to inform readers of issues related to child development and behavior and parenting in general. It is not intended to replace specific advice from a health care professional. The diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders requires consultation with a trained professional. Information presented in this newsletter is general in nature and does not cover all possible uses, actions, precautions, side effects, or interactions of any medicines or treatments, nor is the information intended as advice for individual problems or for making an evaluation as to the risks and benefits of a particular form of treatment. Individual parents are responsible for the use they make of any advice in this newsletter. MATERIAL CONNECTION DISCLOSURE: I promise that I will only recommend sites and products that I truly believe will help you raise a healthy family. Sometimes my recommendations are through affiliate links and I may earn a commission on any sales made. Other times there is no link to me at all and I make nothing. You should always perform due diligence before buying goods or services from anyone via the Internet or offline. Copyright (c) 2012 by Kathleen Cuneo, Ph.D. Tue, 21 Feb 2012 07:06:43 -0500http://archive.aweber.com/dtnewsletters/IoT8A/h/Dinner_Together_February.htm Dinner Together Newsletter, February 2012, Food Issue News and Notes Wishing you and your loved ones a very Happy Valentine's Day! Why not celebrate with a classic comfort food made in your slow cooker? This month at the Blog for Family Dinner we are celebrating Involving Kids in Family Meals: In the Kitchen, At the Table, Anytime! Please join us for posts throughout the month and learn more about our giveaway. We are also compiling a list of free online resources related to kids and nutrition and family meals. If you have a favorite resource, please let us know by either replying to this email or sharing on our Facebook page. Next month the Blog for Family Dinner theme will be, All Kinds of Families and Family Dinner. You can learn more and submit your post here. Thank you to all who have already taken the short survey for helping me design future teleseminars for the Kitchen Table Parents program. If you haven't had a chance to take it, it's not too late. You can access the survey here. And if you have any specific recommendations for teleseminar guests, please let me know! Recipe of the Month SLOW COOKER BEEF STEW 2 T olive oil 2 onions, chopped 2 garlic cloves, minced 1/4 cup flour 1 pound beef stew meat, cubed 3 large potatoes, peeled and chunked 15 baby carrots 1/2 pound mushrooms, chunked 1/2 cup water 1 can (14.5 oz) beef broth 3/4 t dried thyme salt and pepper to taste Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook onions and garlic until softened. Put flour in a plastic bag. Add beef cubes and toss to coat. Add beef to onion mixture, cooking until meat is browned.* Place potatoes, carrots, and mushrooms in bottom of slow cooker. Add beef mixture. Add beef broth, water, thyme, salt and pepper. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or until meat is tender. Serves 6. *You can prepare up to this step the night before. Tip of the Month Learn how to use your slow cooker! It can be a little bit of an intimidating appliance until you get used to it. Check the Kitchen Table Parents site for a few of my favorite slow cooker recipes. Discoveries... I recently discovered the $5 dinner website, and have been getting a daily email with recipe ideas. While not all of them suit my tastes, there are many that do. It's worth checking out this free resource. Have any discoveries that you'd like to share with other readers that have made your life easier, inspired you, or brought you joy? Email me with your suggestions any time. About Dr. Kathleen Cuneo is a psychologist, parent coach, and mom of 3. Her mission is to empower parents to raise healthy families, without making themselves or their kids crazy. This newsletter is published twice per month. Food Issues provide practical content to help parents prepare and enjoy healthy family meals. Family issues provide effective solutions for parenting in today's world in a way that strengthens parent-child connections and supports child development. Family Issues will include information about how to feed children so that they grow to become successful eaters, among other parenting topics. Learn more about: Dr. Cuneo's Parent Coaching Kitchen Table Parents Dinner Together Workshops Empowered Parenting Workbook Submit parenting questions Connect with me! The information contained in this newsletter is for educational purposes only. It is intended to inform readers of issues related to child development and behavior and parenting in general. It is not intended to replace specific advice from a health care professional. The diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders requires consultation with a trained professional. Information presented in this newsletter is general in nature and does not cover all possible uses, actions, precautions, side effects, or interactions of any medicines or treatments, nor is the information intended as advice for individual problems or for making an evaluation as to the risks and benefits of a particular form of treatment. Individual parents are responsible for the use they make of any advice in this newsletter. Copyright (c) 2012 by Kathleen Cuneo, Ph.D. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:03:30 -0500http://archive.aweber.com/dtnewsletters/CDXVQ/h/Dinner_Together_January_2012_.htm Dinner Together Newsletter, January 2012, Family Issue News and Notes Have you made any personal health or family development goals this year? If you're having any trouble keeping to them, this month's article might be of some help. The Blog for Family Dinner continues this month with a series of posts on renewing your commitment to family dinner. Next month's theme is Involving Kids in Family Meals: In the Kitchen, At the Table, Anytime. We are accepting submissions until 1/20/12. If you have a goal of preparing more home-cooked meals this year, this special offer from the menu planning service, The Six O'Clock Scramble, may be of interest to you. Something to think about... 5 Tips for Making a Successful Change by Kathleen Cuneo, Ph.D. We're in mid-January and some of you may have already abandoned your efforts at resolution you set for yourself at the start of the new year. If so, you're not alone. Making effective and lasting behavior changes can be very difficult. Yet despite the difficulty, I'm a big believer in setting goals for personal and family development. For me, I'm mostly likely to set new goals in September at the start of the school year or in January at the beginning of a new year, but new goals can be set at any time. If you want to make a change towards greater health and happiness this year, it can be helpful to keep the following tips in mind. 1. Adopt a change mindset. Pay attention to your motivation for change and express your intention to make a change. When you speak about your goals out loud to a trusted friend or family member and/or write them down for yourself, you are making your goals more tangible. As time goes on and you naturally find yourself drifting away from your goal, it can be very helpful to look back on your original motivation for making a change. Further, if you're having a hard time defining your motivation for a goal (other than you think that you "should" in some general way), you may want to re-think if this is the change you truly want to take on. 2. Be specific and realistic when setting your goal. People who set goals that are clear and concrete are much more successful in achieving them than people who set a general goal. For example, you have a better chance of achieving a goal like, "I will make at least one meatless meal each week for family dinner," than a goal like "I will try to be healthier." Also, don't overwhelm yourself with too many goals. Further, consider how you will track and measure your progress on your goal. It's easier to note whether you've achieved a goal such as "I will prepare 3 home-cooked meals each week" than "I will try to have less take-out." 3. Identify your optimal change style and plan accordingly. I tend to recommend that people approach behavior change in small and steady steps. Like most people, it's easier for me to make changes that are not so different from where I'm starting out and then gradually build upon small successes. Some people, however, are more successful when they make a more radical change. They may get frustrated with the pace of small changes and feel more successful when they immerse themselves in a new habit. Examine your own patterns and history of success. Acknowledge what has worked for you in the past as you develop your plan for change now. Whichever approach you take, the key is to have a plan. 4. Find support. Identify the people already in your life who can help you stay on track with your goals. For example, if your goal is to prepare more home-cooked meals, perhaps you have a friend or family member whom you can enlist to join you in the same goal by taking a cooking class together or by sharing recipes. If your goal is to gather the family together to sit down for family meals more frequently, then bring your family members on board so that you can all support each other in making the effort to schedule times when you're all available to eat together. Change is easier when approached with a sense of fun and socialization. You may need to expand your existing social circle to get the support and help you need. It's also important to be aware that changes that you're making to benefit yourself or your family may have an impact on others - that isn't necessarily perceived as positive by them. Open communication will be key in navigating these sometimes tricky waters. 5. Be gentle with yourself. Change is a process and you will likely experience some setbacks. Avoid beating yourself up when this happens. Pick yourself up and start again. © 2012 Kathleen Cuneo, Ph.D. Conversation Starter of the Month What, if any, are your goals for 2012? Discoveries... The Six O'Clock Scramble is not a new discovery for me. I've had the chance to try it out myself and can enthusiastically and honestly say that it is a fantastic menu planning service. Since I am no longer offering menu plans myself through the Kitchen Table Parents program, I have made an arrangement for members to receive a discount at The Scramble. You can read more about that offer and details about the service here. Have any discoveries that you'd like to share with other readers that have made your life easier, inspired you, or brought you joy? Email me with your suggestions any time. About Dr. Kathleen Cuneo is a psychologist, parent coach, and mom of 3. Her mission is to empower parents to raise healthy families, without making themselves or their kids crazy. This newsletter is published twice per month. Food Issues provide practical content to help parents prepare and enjoy healthy family meals. Family issues provide effective solutions for parenting in today's world in a way that strengthens parent-child connections and supports child development. Family Issues will include information about how to feed children so that they grow to become successful eaters, among other parenting topics. Learn more about: Dr. Cuneo's Parent Coaching Kitchen Table Parents Dinner Together Workshops Empowered Parenting Workbook Submit parenting questions Connect with me! The information contained in this newsletter is for educational purposes only. It is intended to inform readers of issues related to child development and behavior and parenting in general. It is not intended to replace specific advice from a health care professional. The diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders requires consultation with a trained professional. Information presented in this newsletter is general in nature and does not cover all possible uses, actions, precautions, side effects, or interactions of any medicines or treatments, nor is the information intended as advice for individual problems or for making an evaluation as to the risks and benefits of a particular form of treatment. Individual parents are responsible for the use they make of any advice in this newsletter. MATERIAL CONNECTION DISCLOSURE: I promise that I will only recommend sites and products that I truly believe will help you raise a healthy family. Sometimes my recommendations are through affiliate links and I may earn a commission on any sales made. Other times there is no link to me at all and I make nothing. You should always perform due diligence before buying goods or services from anyone via the Internet or offline. Copyright (c) 2012 by Kathleen Cuneo, Ph.D. Tue, 17 Jan 2012 07:03:23 -0500http://archive.aweber.com/dtnewsletters/EZh6c/h/Dinner_Together_January_2012_.htm Dinner Together Newsletter, January 2012, Food Issue News and Notes Happy New Year! I hope 2012 brings you and your family much happiness and good health. The new year is a good time for making new goals. Last year I made a goal of incorporating more meatless meals into my family dinners. I can happily say I was successful with that goal, and we typically had at least one meatless meal per week. This year I want to try to increase that to two meatless meals each week. I'd love to hear from you if you have any favorite meatless recipes that your family enjoys. One of mine is included below. I also wanted to let you know that I'm making some changes to the Kitchen Table Parents program for 2012. In brief, the program will now be free for all members, but some of the offerings have changed. You can read more about the updated program here. The teleseminars have been one of the most popular features of Kitchen Table Parents, and I'd love your help in selecting future topics and guest speakers. Please take this very short survey to express your preferences. Recipe of the Month BLACK BEAN AND SWEET POTATO QUESADILLAS 1 sweet potato, cooked (boiled or baked) and mashed 1 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained ½ cup onion, diced 2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced 2 Tbsp. olive or canola oil, divided 2 tsp. cumin 1 avocado, peeled and mashed ¼ cup sour cream ½ cup shredded cheddar or Monterey jack cheese 1 cup baby spinach leaves 4 flour tortillas, taco size Salsa In a medium-sized non-stick skillet, heat 1T oil and sauté onion and garlic until soft. Add black beans and heat through. Stir in avocado, sour cream, cumin, and cheddar cheese. Cook until cheese melts. Spread mashed sweet potato over one tortilla. Top with baby spinach, then black bean mixture. Smooth mixture over tortilla (should only be about ½ inch or so thick). Top with a second tortilla. Heat ½ T oil on high heat in a skillet. Brown quesadilla about one minute on each side. Repeat for second quesadilla. Cut quesadillas into wedges and serve with salsa, if desired. Serves 4. Tip of the Month If you are making any resolutions or goals for the new year, I encourage you to make your goals manageable, clearly defined, and achievable. More in the Family Issue of this newsletter in a couple of weeks about how to make an effective change. Discoveries... I was fortunate to meet folks from Kids Cook Monday through my work with the Blog for Family Dinner. They are associated with the Meatless Monday campaign, whose website offers some great ideas for eating more meatless meals. Check it out here. Have any discoveries that you'd like to share with other readers that have made your life easier, inspired you, or brought you joy? Email me with your suggestions any time. About Dr. Kathleen Cuneo is a psychologist, parent coach, and mom of 3. Her mission is to empower parents to raise healthy families, without making themselves or their kids crazy. This newsletter is published twice per month. Food Issues provide practical content to help parents prepare and enjoy healthy family meals. Family issues provide effective solutions for parenting in today's world in a way that strengthens parent-child connections and supports child development. Family Issues will include information about how to feed children so that they grow to become successful eaters, among other parenting topics. Learn more about: Dr. Cuneo's Parent Coaching Kitchen Table Parents Dinner Together Workshops Empowered Parenting Workbook Submit parenting questions Connect with me! The information contained in this newsletter is for educational purposes only. It is intended to inform readers of issues related to child development and behavior and parenting in general. It is not intended to replace specific advice from a health care professional. The diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders requires consultation with a trained professional. Information presented in this newsletter is general in nature and does not cover all possible uses, actions, precautions, side effects, or interactions of any medicines or treatments, nor is the information intended as advice for individual problems or for making an evaluation as to the risks and benefits of a particular form of treatment. Individual parents are responsible for the use they make of any advice in this newsletter. Copyright (c) 2012 by Kathleen Cuneo, Ph.D. Tue, 03 Jan 2012 07:10:08 -0500