Christmas In South London, Friday, November 18, 2011 41


Put fun on the menu B


food? Our parenting expertLisa Salmon looks at what theycan eat, which recipes go down well and howcan youget them involved. Parents everywhere will be slaving over a


hot stove to makethat traditional Christmas dinner for all the family. But will everybodyappreciate their


efforts? The chances are that in manyhouse- holds the younger diners will deign to eat onlyturkey,roast potatoes and gravy–if you’re lucky. The stark truth is that you’ve got about as


much chance of bumping into Santa on Christmas Eveasyou have of persuading kids that all traditional festive fare –includ- ing sprouts –isworth eating. And there’snopoint even trying to change


their minds, says children’scookeryexpert Annabel Karmel. Forget about sprouts and other Christmas


food that doesn’tappeal to the juvenile palate, she says, and just makeyour Christmas menu children-friendly. “The vegetable partisthe bit you’ve got to


look at,”she said. “Children don’toften like sprouts –partlybecause when theybite into them if they’re not cooked properly, water squelches out of them and that puts them off for life. “If those kinds of vegetables aren’tpopular


with your kids, Ijust wouldn’tbother with them.”


Instead,makethe food appetising and fun and makeitwith the children’shelp.


RUSSEL sprouts are on the menu and the kids look mutinous. So howdowe get the kids to smile about Christmas


Annabel, author of ahost of children’s recipe books, said the best vegetables to serve to children are broccoli, carrots and peas, plus stir-fried vegetables in ateriyaki sauce. She said that as well as sprouts, children


often hate mushrooms (“because they’re slimy”) and aubergines. So keep them offthe Christmas menu. “I think it’satexture thing –theyoften


don’tlikeavocado as well, because it’s mushy,”she added. Annabel said the wayfood is cooked is


also important –steamed broccoli, for exam- ple, is more appealing to achild than the boiled version. Another partofthe traditional Christmas dinner that children often don’tlikeis Christmas pudding, added Karmel, because it’stoo rich for them. Instead,she suggests aberry jelly, which


can be made well in advance. Also, fruits on askewerorafruit salad with ingredients like lychees and clementines will be popular with kids, and healthy. “Makethem something youknowtheylike


to eat, so they’re happy–and just don’tget stressed about what theyhave–it’s Christmas!” Annabel doesn’trecommend getting the


kids to help cook Christmas dinner,pointing out that parents will be stressed enough without having the kids’ culinaryskills to negotiate. The best time to get them cooking is before Christmas, she suggests, when theycan makeedible gifts, likeher Stained Glass WindowCookies. Anita Cormac, director of the Focus on


Food campaign, which aims to raise the pro- file of food education, agrees that making edible Christmas gifts is agreat wayofget- ting the kids cooking. “Made just at the right time, whowould-


n’twelcome abasket of biscuits hand- decorated by their grandchildren?” she said. “It’scheap, aunique gift and one that will delight everyone and be a real


Christmas dinner.” talking point over Kitchen fun: Annabel Karmel


cooking with kids PA Photo/Ebury


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60