Jenna Helwig : Maple Graham Animals

 Q + A

Tell me about yourself!

I’m Jenna and I have a 14 year old named Rosen. Before my baby was born, my husband was the primary cook in the family. I loved to eat and make dinner occasionally, but when Rosen started eating solid foods I went into the kitchen and never left! When Rosen was a year old I went to culinary school, became a personal chef and culinary instructor, and a few years later became food editor at Parents magazine.

I’m now food director at Real Simple magazine, and I’ve written four cookbooks including Real Baby Food and Baby-Led Feeding. I am so passionate about helping families eat well, and to me that means both healthfully and easily. I’m all about no-drama dinners!

What do you love about this recipe, and how has it helped you with feeding your toddler?

This recipe is so fun! The dough is easy to roll out, and little ones love to help with the cookie cutters. The cookies are just a touch sweet and the perfect amount of crisp. They’ll keep at room temperature for up to three days, and they freeze beautifully. The recipe calls for graham flour or whole wheat pastry flour; use whichever is easiest to find!

What is your biggest tip when it comes to feeding a toddler?

Play the long game. It’s not about whether your kid eats her vegetables tonight; it’s about raising a curious, well-rounded eater over the long term.

It’s much easier said than done (believe me, I know!), but the less you stress out about every bite your child takes—or doesn’t—the more likely she is to develop into a happy, healthy eater.

I’m a big believer in the division of responsibility: it’s a parents job to decide what to serve, where, and when. It’s the child’s job to decide what to eat of what is served and how much.

Another tip I love: be a vegetable PR person. This is feeding therapist Melanie Potock’s idea, and I think it’s so smart! Read children’s books about vegetables, hang pretty pictures of them on the walls, point out their beautiful colors at the grocery store or green market, bring them out at playtime. It’s less about eating and more about helping kids become familiar and curious about them. Fast food chains have plenty of PR people; veggies not so much. It’s our job! 

What is your current eating challenge and how are you working to overcome it/how did you overcome it?

My child is 14 and they’re still learning to like new foods! Rosen ate all of the red bell pepper in the mushroom fajitas I made the other night, and I was happily surprised! A year ago that wouldn’t have happened. Rosen still isn’t a big fan of beans or lentils, but I’m continuing to do my job by serving them regularly.

How do you keep your child entertained when prepping a meal?

When Rosen was still small enough I’d put them in their high chair in the kitchen while I made dinner and gave them fruits or vegetables to play with or taste. I’d talk to them or tell a story or we’d sing. When they were bigger, I brought a little table and chair in and they would draw while I cooked.

Follow Jenna at: @realbabyfood