‘Happy eater? Reacting indifferently works best’
Image: Alina Krasieva and private property
Author, presenter and content creator Denise Kortlever (35, @denisekortlever) is married to Pieter and mother of James (4) Kate (2) and baby Josie.
“I grew up in a Burgundian Brabant family. Birthdays were celebrated extensively with good food and everyone could join. I already took a cooking class for children when I was six. When I started living on my own, I started experimenting with dishes. I took two Nigella Lawson cookbooks from my parents’ house and cooked them from front to back.
I studied communication sciences and had part-time jobs in the hospitality industry and at a catering company. I also started writing for a restaurant guide. After graduating, I took a food photography course in Italy, and then the penny dropped that you can make it your profession. I started my own blog, and that immediately went very fast in terms of followers. In 2015 I published my first book All-day breakfast.
Also read – Nina from Chickslovefood: ‘Cooking with kids? Just accept that it’s going to be a mess in the kitchen’ >
Become pregnant
In the meantime I tried to get pregnant, but I couldn’t without medical help. I eventually became pregnant with James thanks to hormone injections and with Kate we had to go into IVF. I also shared this openly on Instagram, just like the miscarriage I had.
“Many women don’t talk about this, while one in six women has trouble conceiving”
Many women don’t talk about this, while one in six women have trouble conceiving. I thought it was important to share my experiences, so that others could find support and recognition in it. I know it can be a lonely process and I find it a small effort to help someone with that.
picky eaters
Kate enjoys food immensely, such as spaghetti with lots of cheese. Then she takes a bite and shouts loudly: ‘Hmmmm!’ And James is already baking and cooking. When he sees something delicious like banana bread in the store, he immediately wants to imitate it.
“I use the rule that the plate does not have to be empty, but the children should always taste it”
He had a period as a toddler when he ate little, very frustrating when you’ve tried your best in the kitchen. But I’ve found that the more indifferent you react to it, the better it works. I use the rule that the plate does not have to be empty, but the children should always taste it. Saying you don’t like something without trying it doesn’t make any sense.
Another tip: roast vegetables, drizzled with olive oil, in the oven. Broccoli, green beans – I call them green bean fries – and cauliflower, strangely enough, my children suddenly like it when it comes out of the oven.”
This article appears in Kek Mama 09-2022.
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