Tasty. Easy. Healthy.

By Chef Domenica Catelli

Here is my big, dirty, secret: I am a mom. I am a chef. My job as a mom is to educate, clothe, nourish and foster health in my child.

As a chef, my goal is to make food that tastes fantastic but is good for you as well. And while chocolate molten cake may not sustain you, at least I’m going to make it with a quality chocolate rich in antioxidants and sweeten it with natural sweeteners. To bring my two worlds together (mom and chef) you would think that I have a child who is eating great all the time: WRONG!

She’s a teen and the food choices she makes at times make me feel like a complete failure. This is a child who was raised on kale, chard, Brussels sprouts, quinoa, kefir, salads, etc. and yes, she still LOVES them. I have taught her to make things for herself, and I shop and prep foods, leaving them ready to construct into simple snacks. So, in my mind, I could not make things any easier for her.

Then I roll into the house around 5:00 and hear (in that low blood sugar voice): “When’s dinner? I’m so hungry; there’s NOTHING to eat.” This sentence sends me over the edge. In a matter of seconds I can whip together one of 10 healthy snacks that would have fueled her during homework vs. the crash-and-burn tortilla chip bender she just went on.

She has named the various sprouted grain tortillas and bagels, etc. that I keep stocked “mill’s weed.” So, of all the healthy options I have provided, she fixates on that. “We only have mill’s weed, what can I do with that?!” If I’m not too tired and stressed, I laugh, which is what I should do. The bumbling toddler in the teen’s body is hungry, clueless, and needs to get her blood sugar up. I pop a “mill’s weed” sprouted bagel in the toaster oven and spread some avocado sprinkled with nutritional yeast and sliced cucumber on it. I peel a couple of Clementine tangerines, put everything on a plate and have her wash it back with some organic kefir in one of her favorite flavors. Suddenly she is content, filled with fiber, protein, vitamins and even a smile.

I am not complaining, I also hear from her: “I just want some veggies,” usually after school. I have to remind myself that many parents would love to hear their child say this. My daughter is at least aware of what her body needs and will gladly eat it if I put it in front of her (many levels ahead of most toddlers). I just worry that she will go off to college in a few years and inadvertently pass out because she was too spaced out to eat or decides to live on Ramen noodles because they are cheap and easy. “Chiara, what in the world are you going to do when you go off to college and I’m not there to swoop in with the ‘save you’ snack?” I ask her.  Without skipping a beat, she says: “I’m just going to have a copy of Mom-a-licious and make everything from there. It worked for you.”

Until next time, stay fresh and delicious!