317. Picky Eaters, Kitchen Helpers: Simple Strategies for Family Mealtime | Madison Wetherill of Cook at Home Mom

Nov 25, 2025

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Getting your kids involved in preparing dinner doesn’t have to feel chaotic or complicated. Madison shares how simple, flexible meals transformed her family’s evenings and helped her kids become more adventurous eaters. We talk about handling toddler pickiness, the family rule that ends short-order cooking, and what kitchen help looks like at every age. Madison also walks us through her weekly meal-planning rhythm, her must-have tools, and the everyday ways children can join you in the kitchen. If you’ve been wanting to bring more connection and joy to family mealtime, Madison has strategies for you!

In this episode, we cover:

Madison’s shift from diet-specific recipes to flexible family-friendly meals and why simplicity matters for busy home cooks
How she builds variety into her meal rotation without overwhelming herself or her kids
A peek into raising adventurous eaters—plus how she handles the one child with strong preferences
The family rule that has eliminated short-order cooking and empowered her kids around food choices
Why “safe foods” and low-pressure exposure can be game changers for picky toddlers
A fresh perspective on toddler pickiness and the biology behind why ages 18 months–3 years are notoriously tricky
Practical ways to keep toddlers busy in the kitchen while giving older kids meaningful cooking responsibilities
What real kitchen help looks like at different ages— from stirring and slicing to reading recipes and starting the rice
Madison’s weekly meal-planning rhythm and the favorite meals she relies on during busy seasons
Her must-have kitchen tools (and why she uses the Instant Pot as a crock pot) to keep dinner fast, flavorful, and low-stress
Everyday ways kids can join in beyond cooking: setting the table, putting away groceries, learning about food sourcing, and more

View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube.

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