For the Parents

Jess understands that parents today are extremely busy, whether or not they are working in a job that takes them away from the home during the day. That's why, in addition to teaching kids how much fun it can be to get in the kichten, Jess wants to encourage the whole family to get involved, making family dinners a little more organized, nutritional and a lot of fun!

This website aims to provide parents and childcare providers with information that addresses common problems with kids and food, like picky eaters, meals that are unappetizing or "boring," and certain vitamins and minerals that many diets lack, etc.. The goal is to provide information for kids to develop strong minds and bodies and ultimately make healthy food decisions that they can carry with them into adulthood.

Family Friendly Food of the Week

Every week, Jess picks one item that she thinks will "knock your socks off!" The criteria? It’s got to be tasty and healthy… and of course, kid approved! Have a recommendation?

Submit Here!

This week:

Annie's Homegrown Bunny Fruit Snacks

If you aren't familiar with Annie's Homegrown, then you're in for a treat. They specialize in amazingly delicious, organic snacks and meals that your whole family will love ranging from organic mac' & cheese to organic canned pastas to cookies to cheddar crackers - this brand truly has it all! Their newest addition to the product line doesn't disappoint either! Annie's is now offering Organic Fruit Snacks that are available in flavors ranging from Berry to Sunny Citrus to Strawberry to even Tropical. Emma and Reed's (and my) personal favorite is the Summer Strawberry flavor.

The fruitsnacks, or as Annie's refers to them as, "Bunny Fruit" (fruit snacks come in Annie's signature bunny shape)are certified organic, made with real fruit juice, packed with 100% Daily Value of Vitamin C and most importantly, are free of any artificial coloring. These guys are a great snack option for the kids (and parents, babysitters, etc.) to enjoy in between meal times. You can find these snacks at your local Whole Foods or purchase online at www.Annies.com

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Frequently Asked Questions

Have a question for Aunt Jess? Let us know! Submit HERE!

Q: Are there dangers in food dyes I should be aware of for my child?: A:
Artificial food coloring ingredients (food dye) contain plenty of chemicals. Many are derived from highly toxic sources and can cause many different diseases, disorders and mutations in humans. Although it seems unlikely that a trivial amount of food coloring in a piece of a candy (like liquorice) would have any harmful effect on you, you would be wrong, because it does.
Q: What ingredients should I avoid when selecting packaged food for my child?: A:
A Chips Ahoy cookie here, a Coke with lunch. There's nothing wrong with this in moderation. The thing is, though, these snacks contain some harmful ingredients that when consumed on a daily basis can really affect your mood and your health. Check the labels and be on the lookout for the following ingredients because they are in everything. The top five are Hydrogenated oil, Enriched flour, High-fructose corn syrup, Refined sugar, and Saturated fats.

For Kids: Breakfast for Dinner

Omelets and vegetables – tonight we are making "breakfast for dinner" here at Cooking with Aunt Jess, or as my niece and nephew like to call it, "mixed up dinner." For my recipe here, we are using tomatoes, broccoli and American cheese. You can use whatever you like, perhaps spinach, mushrooms or peppers.

The eggs and cheese provide your bodies with protein you need to grow big and strong. Without protein our bodies cannot perform the sports we love to play or help our bones grow big and strong. The cheese not only has protein in it, but it is a great source of Calcium, which is good for your bones. Broccoli, which is a pretty color green, is a vegetable that has Calcium and important vitamins in it. Tomatoes have calcium and important vitamins too.

Kids, pick your favorite vegetables and cheese and let’s get started.