Cooking Ideas for Dads: Have a Taco Party Night

Being the father of younger children you are well aware that at times your child can be a picky eater. Not only can he or she be picky, but often times they are yearning to gain some independence and having a Taco Party night a couple of times a month will help your child feel like he or she is involved in the cooking process. Allowing them to make their own choices gives them a sense of independence and the process can be a great bonding experience for you and your child.

So, what is Taco Party Night and how is it any different from plain old Taco Night? Well, Taco Party implies a party and what kid doesn't like a party? The difference also lies in the fact that you will be allowing your child to select from a variety of toppings and actually allowing them to make their own tacos.

Step 1
You cook up the meat to be used in the tacos. You can choose from chicken, steak, pork, etc. You can even cook up two different types of taco meat for your child to choose from to give them more of a variety and allow them that extra pat on the back of encouragement towards their independence.

Step 2
Gather the toppings you for the tacos. Some ideas for toppings include: chopped cilantro, fresh salsa, shredded cheese, guacamole, sour cream, tomatoes, red onions, refried beans, and any other favorite topping your family likes.

Step 3
Place each topping in its own personal bowl or plate with a serving utensil for each taco topping. You can use paper plates or bowls so you won't have as many dishes to wash after the Taco Party. Be sure the lettuce and tomatoes are cut up properly and that each topping has its own serving utensil. For some taco toppings you can allow your children to use their hands. This will depend on the age of the child as well as how clean their hands are!

Step 4
This step is actually just an advisory step to Step 3. Your child may not have the skills necessary to prepare their own taco. That's okay, even children as young as 2 or 3 still want to show off their independence. Let them. Just point to each topping and ask your child if he or she would like that on their taco. Let them decide. Be sure to ask for each available option. This will really boost your child's self esteem and help them to become more independent.

Step 5
Eat and enjoy! During Taco Party Night mealtime, ask the children why they chose particular toppings. This will help open dialogue between you and your children and will allow your child to feel grown up because they are having a culinary discussions with a grown up.

More than likely you will have leftovers from this "make-your-own" meal. One idea is to cover each topping with cling wrap and refrigerate to be used for taco salad within the next couple of days