Pasta is my kids’ favorite food– from Fettuccine Alfredo to Spaghetti to Homemade Macaroni to Baked Ziti– they love it all.
But pasta can be a tricky food for kids ( and adults) to eat. (I never ordered noodles on a date because it wasn’t always pretty.)
Manner: Eat spaghetti and other long stringy pasta by putting the tines of your fork into only a few noodles and then twirling your fork until the noodles are wrapped around the fork. It is key to start with only a few noodles because if you start twirling too many noodles you will have too big a bite in the end. (This was Crew’s biggest challenge.)
Use the edge of your plate or side of your bowl to help you as you twirl. Adults should not use a spoon to help twirl their pasta. Kids can use a spoon as they are learning to twirl.
It is okay to have a few short strands of pasta hanging down from the fork when you are done twirling.
It is also acceptable to cut pasta with a knife and fork into smaller pieces if twirling is too hard.
Everyone agrees it is bad manners to slurp a mouthful of trailing pasta. It is loud and can be messy. (Unless of course you are reenacting the Lady and the Tramp spaghetti/kissing scene with one of your kids which we do on a regular basis, then it’s okay.)
Kid Idea: Either go to a store, a pasta bar at a restaurant or your pantry and show your kids all the different kinds of pasta. They will get a kick out of all the variety, the fun names and shapes.
Recipe: Here is a yummy recipe for Lemon-Herb Zucchini Fettuccine. I figured it is that time of year where if you don’t have extra zucchini lying around, your neighbor does.
Happy twirling!