Chef Mark's Tips of the Week Activities to try with your kids this week

"It Needs More Salt" -Chef Mark

Salt makes everything taste better.

This is one of the core lessons I teach my students in Kids Cooking Club. (If you haven't already checked out KCC, DO IT.)

Salt is the easiest way to get your kids to eat vegetables.

If you’re not already salting your food generously, you’ll likely be shocked at the amount of salt I’m recommending.

I remember getting my first job in a restaurant and watching the chef grab salt by the handful.

I was shocked too.

Here are a few things to ease your worries:

1. Remember that you’re salting many servings. If you're cooking a batch of food, the salt needs to season a lot of food. Whatever amount you add will be ultimately divided by some number of portions—maybe 4-8.
2. Sodium is an essential mineral for our bodies. If you’re getting sodium from a salt product that has no additives, you’re on the right track. That’s one of the many reasons I recommend Diamond Crystal kosher salt. See the other reasons here.
3. Home-cooked food is NOT the source of sodium overconsumption in the U.S. While teaching plant-based cooking classes to Kaiser doctors, I spoke to kidney specialists who affirmed that fast food and processed foods are the main culprits. One doctor said,

Processed food manufacturers aim for something called the "bliss point"—an intersection of salt, sugar, and fat that triggers maximum dopamine levels. The presence of sugar greatly decreases our perception of salt, so they get away with adding way more salt than you and I would ever dare to put in our homemade soup.

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Adding plenty of salt to a healthy dish is the quickest way to get your kid to enjoy it.

Try making my “kids salsa” recipe with your child. It's an excellent example of how adding an adequate amount of salt really makes the dish.

​Download Fresh Tomato Salsa Recipe (PDF)​

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Chef Mark's product highlight

​Diamond Crystal kosher salt is the only salt I use. Buy it.

Buy Diamond Crystal kosher salt

Action Steps

1. Make my kids salsa recipe (wait to add the salt) and taste it with your child
2. Add the salt and taste again—taste the huge difference!
3. Look for one place you can give your kid more initiative with food this week
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Salt is just one of the 5 flavors we're exploring in Kids Cooking Club. Understanding how flavors work together is what transforms kids from "picky" eaters into adventurous, healthy eaters. Join Kids Cooking Club today!​

Much love,
Chef Mark