In 1994, Mollie Katzen, author of the Moosewood Cookbook, wrote and illustrated a beautiful cookbook for children three and up called Pretend Soup. It quickly became a favorite in many a vegetarian kitchen, both for the fun it created and the great recipes. One of the best things about the book was that the recipes were tested--made and eaten--by real kids. Now she brings us Honest Pretzels, just as wonderfully executed, written for the older kids in your family. Gotta have it though junior is only two? Go right ahead! The recipes are great.
When is a good age to start cooking with your children?
At 2 ˝ they can butter their bread and wash vegetables. So, early!
The format of Pretend Soup is very user-friendly with terrific illustrations. How does Honest Pretzels compare?
It's a similar idea, with the instructions for setting up preceding a child-addressed pictorial recipe. The kids' reading level, interest level, and motor skills are age-specific (younger for Pretend Soup, older for Honest Pretzels), and Pretzels is a bigger book with far more text, written for readers. Pretend Soup is for pre-readers. But I see Pretzels as a sequel in the most literal sense of the word.
Everyone seems to agree that the kid quotes are an adorable plus. Where did you find these kids, and how did they come to be taste testers for you?
For Pretend Soup I conducted tests in a preschool classroom and recorded the kids' comments there. For Honest Pretzels I had small groups of kids over to my house and also recorded their comments. In addition, I interviewed them, not just for quotes, but to get suggested "kid language" to explain technical steps. So I asked kids, "How would you tell another kid how to do what you just did?" They gave me the "dialect". It was incredibly helpful.
Is the book marketed as a vegetarian cookbook
The books contain only vegetarian recipes, but no vegetarianism or philosophy or dogma (similar to my adult books). The vegetarian aspect is very subtle and largely seen as a way to attract children to healthy eating, not a lifestyle message in a bigger sense. I don't subscribe to vegetarianism myself, either. I just like to eat low on the food chain most of the time, and have a diet based on vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and legumes myself.
What food challenges have you faced as a parent?
I'm more concerned about a balanced diet and getting clean food, enough protein, and a healthy dose of fruit and vegetables. So for me, it's not about what we don't eat, it's about what we do eat. And I want to see everyone eating a lot more vegetables!
What advice can you share on helping kids to deal with teasing from other children about being veg?
I think the message to kids about handling teasing is the same no matter what they are being teased for. Teasing is not acceptable, and kids need to be able to fend it off with dignity. My daughter used to be teased because she is short and unusually good at math. My son was teased because he played with girls. Being teased for being veg (or catholic or poor or nearsighted or for having gay parents) is just not acceptable. It helps to find a positive message to fling gently back at the perpetrator, like "My lunch is delicious! Would you like a taste?" Adults should be pro-active in helping kids stand up to bullies of any kind, psychological or physical.
When do you think parents ought to start teaching their children about vegetarianism?
If what you're teaching is a healthy, balanced diet and the virtues and pleasures of eating fresh, good food low on the food chain, I would say "Right away!" It's never too early for that.
Are there lunchbox tips included or recipes that are good for school lunches?
Yes, in both books. Everyone needs lunch 911! I could use some myself sometimes.
