These 4 tips Changed the Way I Cook for My Family

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We have a special episode today on Pro Home Cooks. Building meals for the whole family can be an impossible mission. There’s always a picky eater, maybe a little one who’s just starting to eat solids, and of course the dreaded meal burnout (you know, where you start to hate that old reliable recipe). So today Mike has whipped up 4 tips that can help you rejuvenate dinners at home for both kids and adults alike. Don’t just depend on the same old recipes when you can learn techniques that will brighten dinner for everyone!

00:00 - Intro
00:48 - Simple and Refined
06:23 - Deconstruction
10:26 - Sneaky Veggies
15:48 - Take Risks

More Meals for the Family Here -

The complete breakdown and recipes for this video:

Follow me on instagram @lifebymikeg for behind the scenes action!

All music provided royalty free by Epidemic Sound

-Video Credits-
Creator and Host - Mike G
Producer - McGraw W @McGraw_Wolfman
Co-Editor - Christopher Pressler
Blog Writer - Alex C @threhungrybellies

[zeynepnursozer]

Even though I am a 22 year that doesn’t plan to have kids in the near future, watching your video taught me new things by making me think of the way I cook. You simplified adult foods for you daughter, yet I was focused on how you elevated simple key ingredients into full on meals. I will definitely incorporate this approach into my cooking, thank you as always 🤍

[eileenie]

Best advise-take a risk. My daughter got a take of spicy grilled shrimp at age 2 and loved it! I restricted her to just a few bc I was concerned for her tummy but it taught me a lot about my daughter’s 2 yr old palate. I gave her a taste of everything we made from then on. I never assumed again that my two yr old didn’t have a palate for seasoning!

[DougvonSohsten]

My wife is 7 months pregnant with our first child and I'm the home cook, so this video gave me both loads of inspiration and a tiny bit of concern... LOL... Thanks for the amazing content man!

[libbypetersen]

These techniques worked well for us, too--and, as our kids got older, the "assemble your own" meals were also big hits (tacos, mezze platters, nachos, salad bars, build your own pizzas, etc.). Seemed like they were willing to take more risks when they got to make their own choices & combos. Everybody got to participate & customize their own dinner--win/win.

[ruby-qvbd]

I'm a grandma and I love watching your videos and seeing your sweet precious daughter enjoy her meal. She is adorable! Thanks so much for the quick tips and great meal ideas. I enjoy!

[kiracummins]

At your daughters age, few kids eat everything, feel good that she knowingly eats so many veg already! When my kid hit less than 10 accepted foods, we instituted the one bite rule (he was around 3). He's a tween now, and he will literally try anything. His little sister is a little more picky, but also very competitive, so if he eats it, so will she. The important things to keep in mind - consider nutrition over a week rather than a day, and kids have to try a food something like a dozen times before they can definitively say whether or not they like it. You're doing a great job, dad! Keep it up!

[chinmaybhabad]

i am 19, learning from now;so when i became dad hopefully i am ready to pull these things out of sleeve.

[avidhossanmansur]

Cooking for one's family is a privilege not granted to many and I am grateful to have that.

[atherj]

For me, when my son was little but able to "help", I pulled a stool up to the counter and had him taste the spices and components of a recipe. I allowed him to add the ingredients. He had a groundwork for cooking and it expanded his pallet. Touching raw meat was the big hurdle.

[RevolutionaryLiger]

I love that you covered flavour and texture, because that was my biggest issue as a kid. I had a lot of texture issues and could never communicate why it was wrong, and even as an adult my parents still like to insult things like me only liking firm pickles. Your kid is very lucky to get so spoiled with all this awesome food and love.

[rebeccasperring]

I do this now. Last night My daughter had an egg, plain rice and cucumbers (all separate on the plate), and I turned all of the same ingredients for myself into a rice bowl by adding more vegetables, tuna and kimchi…..using the basic elements for my daughter and then Going a bit extra for myself helps me enjoy “grown up” food without feeling like I’m making 2 meals all the time.

[ronalddevine]

Where were you 37 years ago? My daughter loved and still loves broccoli. I couldn't get my son to put any veggies in his mouth. Today, he eats everything. BTW, your daughter is adorable. Treasure every phase of growing up. The best photos are those in your heart and mind.

[alanathebespectacled]

Great ideas. I was a very picky child and being allowed to eat deconstructed meals reduced a lot of mealtime stress. Burgers are one example I can think of, I would eat each component separately. Then one day I thought hey, if I like all this stuff separately why not try them together? And this is the story of how I came to eat burgers like a normal person. Giving kids some control and “safe” foods I think makes them more open to trying the “scary” things on occasion

[Josephus_da_Killer]

You're right about taking risk. I figured out my daughter likes Japanese style curry and raw or steamed broccoli very early on. My family likes a lot of flavor and she is no different she will often eat salsa with me even through she is only 2 haha.

[Zeekmeister]

These crossover ingredients when you're explaining two recipes might be an awesome way to impart some value to home chefs who want to develop some variety at home without making things difficult

[steelshade]

That "mmmMmm" from Marley says it all! Great tips. Using the same ingredients in different ways is the easiest way to diversify a meal for multiple palettes. Also, items that don't need much attention, like baked potatoes, helps the chef focus on other things and still be productive.

[adaml]

Such a cool video that I didn't know I needed! I've had really good luck with fried rice for my 2 year-old! He won't eat chicken/pork, or some vegetables separately but throw them all together in a friend rice with whatever is lying around and he will eat it all.

Note: Rice is super messy but at least he is eating!

[hookak]

I love you meeting your kiddo where she’s at and appreciating the fact that she’s not ready for certain flavors and textures (but someday she will!). What a great dad ❤️❤️❤️

[ashlynevans]

I love this video! As a mom of 4 who has been cooking consistently for both toddlers and adults for about 10 years, these are absolutely the most realistic tips I've ever seen for cooking for a family with young kids!

[angelabyker]

My kids are all adults now but I've had to de-construct again over the years for a daughter diagnosed with Celiac at age 15 and other family members with various food allergies/intolerances. Its definitely a great skill set to have! BTW I love your videos, especially your airfryer ones!