(Please note this is not my real family - am still negotiating the image rights)

A colleague told me on Wednesday about how she made homemade cookies with her 2 girls last weekend, which were a great success for lots of reasons; her kids loved getting involved, stirring the mixture and waiting in anticipation for them to be ready. They tasted great and the kids even started playing the role of junior food critics, giving their opinions on which were best. 

Kids and cooking?

I think I scoffed.

And as it turned out, so did they, because they ate what they made and none made it to work for me to scoff.

I guess that's how the cookie crumbles.

My 2 boys are less food critic and more like maitre d's in a plush restaurant when it comes to food - here's my order. Is it ready? Where's that order? Order up please on table 5 - two slices of toast, one glass of milk, one chopped banana.

Maybe I should try to folllow the example of food blogger Sheila Kiely over at Gimmetherecipe.com. Not only does she raise six kids (and I moan about my two!) but she also gets them involved in helping prepare and cook the food they eat. While also blogging about food on a regular basis.

Now that's parenting.

The more I looked into it, the more I'm convinced it could work for me and other parents - sure, there'll be some extra mess but that will be worth it if the kids manage to learn some more about their food. Which might also make the fussy-eating less about fuss and more about fun.

For starters, two year olds could wipe the table top; wash vegetables and tear salad leaves; break cauliflower and broccoli; and bring ingredients from one part of the kitchen to the other.

For those aged over four, they can pour liquids like milk and cold water; mix ingredients; peel fruit or mash cooked veg; set the table; spread soft spreads; put things away or in the bin; measure and mix ingredients or beat an egg.

(And remember to get them washing their hands too - another life lesson learned)

So there's a plan for my weekend - see if the boys can mash, beat and mix things up in the kitchen, instead of each other.

Order up for Table 5.

Enjoy your weekend.

Dermot