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Quite honestly, I cook with my daughter because when she cooks it, she'll eat it, no problem. I've taught cooking classes with 5 years who looked at the ingredients and said before we started cooking that no way would they eat that. Then, once we are done, they gobble it up - delicious healthful food that many had never eaten before like salad! They are always fully engaged and feel a sense of accomplishment because they can see and eat their results. Kudos for you for taking the time to do this with your daughter. It will not only give her a life long skill, a special time with her Dad that she'll always remember but a healthful appetite.

I love reducing cheap balsamic down to delicious syrup and putting a little on top of brussel sprouts that have been roasted with a little olive oil, salt and pepper.

Roasted asparagus with freshly grated Parmesean is great.

Seedless Celementine oranges - could devour a whole case!

Whole wheat toast, dijon mustard, red leaf lettuce and hard boiled egg

Vegetable soup made up of whatever is fresh at the market and little brown rice to fill you up

Steamed broccoli with soy sauce, lemon juice and pinch of sugar and red pepper flakes

Banana smoothie with low or no-fat Greek yogurt, banana, dash of vanilla, and a sprinkle of cinnamon

Ginger/lemon tea - just put one lemon halved or quartered, couple cubes of ginger peeled and pour hot water. If you want a little sweet, add a little honey.

Salad of sliced fennel, apples, celery, red onion and a couple toasted walnuts with a sprinkle of fresh oj and salt and pepper.

Roasted beets with orange slices, red onion and feta with reduced balsamic or just oj.

Rick's Pick's pickeld okra.

I cook with my son for so many reasons. I began cooking with him in his bouncy seat, as a way to involve him in my daily activities. He graduated from sniffing and touching to so much more. It has been the best way to get him interested in eating a variety of things. I know, just as Minsey said, that children are more inclined to eat what they cook. Aside from the wonderful sensory experience cooking provides, I am also able to share my sense of excitement about food with him. And although teaching him to cook may not be the key to "making him a better person" I think it will be fundamental in shaping his views about food and healthy eating, which I hope will serve him well throughout his life.

annien---Thank you for sharing your perspective. Your daughter is very fortunate to have your guidance, support & love...but I'm probably guessing that she provides all of those same things for you!

I agree--I don't think people need to learn how to cook well to become good people, but I also don't think they should ignore the values of eating well and knowing what they're eating. I'm being idealistic, though. And I'd also like to join in with defending Ramsay. A lot of my cooking school classmates think the guy's an ass based on the first season of Hell's Kitchen, but there was the time he sent a contestant who he felt was dedicated and passionate about the profession to cooking school on his dime two seconds after he eliminated her. I can only base what I know on what I've seen on TV, but it hasn't all been yelling rages--there's mostly an earnest and open love for the profession, quality food, and A-1 and dependable performance in the kitchen.

Every week I roast 4 pounds of carrots at 400 degrees for 90 minutes. They sit in the refrigerator and make a delicious and filling snack with a generous sprinkling of salt.

It's cubed potatoes with sour cream with ranch dressing and cheddar cheese baked.