Frequently Asked Questions (Printable version)
Q: What is a Meal Makeover Mom Cooking Party?
A: It’s a social gathering where anyone who wants to learn how to prepare fast and healthy meals gets to sample delicious, family-friendly recipes from The Moms’ Guide to Meal Makeovers. Up until now, we (Janice and Liz) have hosted the parties. Now, with the new Do-It-Yourself Meal Makeover Mom Cooking Party, anyone can host a party. At the party, guests have a chance to mingle and socialize before the host launches into his/her cooking demonstration. Everyone gets to taste the recipes too and talk about dinnertime challenges and strategies for feeding kids and families a healthier diet. The recipes that we’ve selected come with kitchen notes and fun facts to spark conversation.
Q: Why did you decide to put a Do-It-Yourself Meal Makeover Mom Cooking Party feature on your website?
A: As dietitians and busy moms, we know how tough it can be to feed a family and to do it in a delicious and nutritious way. That’s why we wrote The Moms’ Guide to Meal Makeovers and created the Meal Makeover Mom Cooking Party. Since we can’t host cooking parties for everyone, we decided to bring the party to you. If it’s your goal to improve your family’s diet, we hope you will host a party and spread the word that good nutrition is indeed possible. You’ll be amazed how much fun these community gatherings can be.
Q: Which recipes do you recommend we prepare at the cooking party?
A: We chose six of our favorite recipes: Confetti Chicken Wraps, Have-It-Your-Way Tacos, Corny Salmon Cakes, B.L.T. in a Bowl, Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins, and Chocolaty Pumpkin Bars. Each recipe comes with a list of ingredients, cooking directions, a nutrient profile, kitchen notes, and a nutrition factoid. You’ll also find a photo of the finished dish on each recipe page. At the party, we suggest you prepare two entrees and one dessert. If you find other recipes in our book or on our website that you prefer, feel free to prepare those instead. We suggest you make copies of the recipes so your guests can take them home.
Q: Whom should I invite to my Meal Makeover Mom Cooking Party?
A: Anyone (in particular parents and caregivers) interested in improving his/her own diet or the diet of their family is perfect for your Meal Makeover Mom Cooking Party. Consider hosting a party for your friends, neighbors, mom's group, PTA, preschool, or any other community group.
Q: How many people should I invite to my Meal Makeover Mom Cooking Party?
A: That’s entirely up to you. Depending on the size of your kitchen or meeting room, a party can have 10 to 50 guests. You can also host a smaller, more intimate, party with fewer than 10 people.
Q: Should I double the recipes or are single recipes enough to feed all of my party guests?
A: If you plan on having less than 30 guests, single recipes should be enough for everybody to get a taste. For larger parties, we suggest you double your recipes. For doubling, it is best if you use two of everything (i.e. two skillets, two saucepans, two muffin trays, two baking dishes). It also helps to have a second person that can cook alongside you.
Q: What if I want to invite just two or three friends?
A: A gathering of just a few friends allows everyone to prepare one or two of our recipes to bring home for dinner that night or the next night. We suggest that the hostess shops for all the ingredients while the guests bring their own cooking utensils and equipment. Check out our book and website for additional recipes that would be perfect for guests to take home: Mexican Lasagna, The Whole Enchilada Bake, Jolly Green Bean Casserole, Mini Meatballs with Whole Wheat Spaghetti, and Tuna Twist Casserole.
Q: What’s the best kind of kitchen to throw a party in?
A: The ideal kitchen for a Do-It-Yourself party has an adjoining room where guests can sit and watch the action. If the cook-top faces into the room, that's even better. You can also have your party in a comfortable meeting room such as a school cafeteria or church/synagogue kitchen. You may need to bring an electric skillet or burner to some locations. As far as we’re concerned, anything goes.
Q: Do I have to be a gourmet cook or a dietitian to host a party?
A: Absolutely not. Our recipes are simple, easy to prepare, and perfect for families looking for delicious and healthy meals everyone will love. We rely on everyday ingredients – nothing weird or out of the ordinary – and we keep an eye on cost too. For example, if you prepare our Confetti Chicken Wraps, a serving will cost about $1.30 while a chicken burrito from a popular fast food restaurant costs about $3.00 a serving. Also, our wraps have more vitamins A, C, and fiber, and less saturated fat and sodium than the fast-food version.
Q: How much time should I budget for the actual party?
A: The party should take about two hours. Set aside about 30 minutes for appetizers and social time and 30 minutes for each recipe.
Q: How should I charge my guests for coming to the Meal Makeover Mom Cooking Party?
A: That’s entirely up to you. If you plan to offer a copy of The Moms' Guide to Meal Makeovers we suggest you charge each guest $15.00 to $20.00. This should cover the cost of your groceries (recipe ingredients, appetizers and beverages) as well as the cost of one book per guest. You can purchase the book at www.MealMakeoverMoms.com, at a 30% discount, and shipping is free when you order three or more.
Q: Should everyone at the party get a copy of The Moms’ Guide to Meal Makeovers?
A: Thousands of people across the country have our book and the positive feedback we’ve received since it was published has been absolutely amazing. The recipes and tips in The Moms’ Guide to Meal Makeovers have truly made a difference in people’s lives. If the cost of your party includes a copy of our book, we think your guests will be delighted. That said, however, a book for each guest is certainly not a requirement for a successful party.
Q: Is it possible to have our copies of The Moms’ Guide to Meal Makeovers personally autographed?
A: If you send a self-addressed-stamped envelope to The Moms at 40 Glen Street, Melrose, MA 02176 along with a list of names, we’ll send you personally autographed bookplates.
Q: When is the best time of day to host a party?
A: It depends. Some groups prefer the morning, right after the kids are dropped off at school. Others prefer evenings, between 7pm – 9pm, for more of a “adults' night out” event. Janice prefers evening events because it allows her to sip on a little wine while she cooks!
Q: How can I make this a more hands-on experience?
A: We encourage you to ask your guests to help with the cooking. Asking for volunteers – someone to mash the bananas for the muffins, dice the bell pepper for the Confetti Chicken Wraps, or whisk the dry ingredients for the Chocolaty Pumpkin Bars – is a great way to make the party more interactive.
Q: What’s your nutrition philosophy on feeding children?
A: Right now, the typical American diet is in need of a makeover. Most people today don’t eat enough fiber-rich/nutrient-rich fruits, vegetables, or whole grains. What they do often eat are highly refined, artificially flavored and colored foods loaded with sugar, saturated fat, trans fats (from hydrogenated oils), and sodium. Our goal is to show families how to make small changes (like adding black beans to taco filling or baking with heart-healthy canola oil instead of shortening or margarine) that bring a big boost of good nutrition to the table.
