Felty friends: Mandy Milks, Line illustrations: Anthony Swaneveld, Photo: Roberto Caruso, felt material courtesy of thefeltstore.com
Aside from his wicked knife skills, Chopped Canada judge and chef Roger Mooking is just like us: Of his four girls (ages three, five, eight and nine), one of them is a pretty picky eater. Here are his tips for how to deal.
1. Buy one new food every week

?During our big weekly shop, the family picks something that?s never entered the house before,? Mooking says. ?It could be a fruit or vegetable, or a different cut of meat or pasta shape. You expand that over 18 years, with 52 new flavours every year, and you?ve done your job as a culinary parent.?
2. Riff on a theme

Your kid doesn?t like bananas?but don?t write off the flavour altogether,” Mooking says. ?Try different formulations and textures?she might love a banana chip.? 3. Let them choose

Mooking says he rarely makes the same dinner twice. While that?s not a realistic goal for most parents, he stresses that variety is key. ?I try to always put out a nice array of foods so the kids can decide what they want to eat,? he says. ?Tacos work well for this; so does pizza and rice or quinoa bowls?you lay out all the ingredients and let them build their own meals.?
4. Get kids involved

From the time she could sit up on her own, Mooking?s eldest daughter would perch on the kitchen counter and watch him cook. ?I?d explain what I was doing; I?d show her a knife and tell her it was sharp; I...