cover image Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Foods

Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Foods

Jessica Seinfeld, . . Collins, $24.95 (204pp) ISBN 978-0-06-125134-4

Seinfeld, mother of three and wife of comedian Jerry, devised an elegant plan: puree fruits and vegetables and incorporate them into kid friendly dishes like Mac & Cheese (cauliflower or beans); Chicken Nuggets (broccoli); Chocolate Cake (beets). The recipes blend nutrition into a meal and harmony into mealtime. Seinfeld writes that mealtime should be about “happiness and conversation” not about “power struggles and strife,” and her plan diminishes nagging. Although her program is easy, Seinfeld is honest about the need for shortcuts and offers some good ones. The nutritional breakdown of each vegetable/fruit featured in the recipes is valuable. While some parts smack of self-promotion (she encourages parents to share her recipes with other parents), Seinfeld does supplement her recipes with sound tips for learning to say no to junk when kids ask, encouraging conversation, getting children to participate in prep and cleaning, and developing age-appropriate eating habits. (Oct.)