Betty Crocker Better Look Out
It is not just that my son Charlie likes to eat; he has long been interested in watching me cook, whether I am simply slicing him cubes of watermelon, making him a hamburger, or assembling spring rolls. He takes note of what equipment (pots, spatulas) are involved, as well as what ingredients and what one does with the ingredients, soaking or patting or stirring: The process intrigues him. Plus cooking involves getting his hands on items of many colors, textures, shapes, tastes—-a deeply sensory experience.
At the moment, Charlie has been watching me cooking. I have also been looking at recipes rendered as “recipics,” in simple pictures, with or without words. Visual Recipes was written specifically for persons with autism and with other developmental disabilities and its “recipics” contain photos and words. A new website, cookz, uses images by Australian graphic designer Lauren Bugeja. The cookz website is just being launched and I am curious what other recipes will be added.
Both the book Visual Recipes and the images used on cookz seem something more helpful than the contents of the Betty Crocker Recipe Card Library which, come to think of it, more than recall some receptive language flashcards that Charlie (my kitchen confidence man) used to use.
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POSTED IN: Books, Food and Diet, Sensory
11 opinions for Betty Crocker Better Look Out
Ruth
May 7, 2007 at 8:45 am
My daughter received a kids cookbook by Mollie Katzen (Moosewood) which has both words and pictures. She loves to cook from it, and it helps with her reading. If she will not eat what I make, she will make her own dinner. I’ll check out the visual recipes site.
Lolasmom
May 7, 2007 at 9:20 am
Lola’s big brother’s preschool just took a field trip to a pizza joint, where everyone learned how to make pizza. It was a sensory extravaganza - patting and tossing the dough, sprinkling the cheese and toppings, and of course eating the pizza - all with no written instruction (since no one can read yet)! Big bro’s autistic classmate has some tactile sensitivity and didn’t care for it, but I couldn’t help thinking Lola would’ve loved it. I’m thinking of making some homemade pizza myself just to give her the experience. Right now, her cooking has been limited to whisking eggs and watching me cook them. Well, she can crack the eggs, too - they just never wind up in the bowl! :)
mcewen
May 7, 2007 at 9:31 am
Nice style / layout.
Cheers
Picky Picky
Oct 10, 2007 at 5:43 pm
[…] we keep on working on—Charlie trying new foods (fortunately for us, Charlies is a good eater and will try “just one bite” so he can get on with the rest of what he’d rather […]
Bonnie Sayers
Jul 7, 2008 at 2:44 pm
I am going to get that book for visual recipes and like that other website with the photo layout. Have to share that with my yahoo pecs group. ~ Today is cooking day in Matt’s class at camp.
Regan
Jul 7, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Google books gives a little longer preview of the Visual Recipes book
http://tinyurl.com/5bwzyv
We’ve been working on cooking and I notice that Eleanor’s skills have not only been improving, but she is being much more interested in eating the food since being actively involved in the preparation (and receiving tons of sincere appreciation for being a great sous chef).
Bonnie Sayers
Jul 7, 2008 at 3:49 pm
Thanks for that link. I am waiting for an amazon cert from Capitol One rewards and will buy this book. I just got in mail today courtesy of AAPC:
Improving speech and eating skills in hildren with autism spectrum disorders.
This is exactly what is needed in my home at this point in time.
Kristina Chew, PhD
Jul 7, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Charlie’s class will be cooking something everyday in the fall. He’s been using a picture schedule that tells him how long (how many seconds) to heat up items in the microwave), too—–favored programs.
Bonnie Sayers
Jul 20, 2008 at 8:01 pm
I just did a review of the book.
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art57841.asp
Regan
Jul 20, 2008 at 8:45 pm
Thanks for the review Bonnie.
I hope your son enjoys learning how to cook.
I very much like the idea of the visual aid and the examples of such construction from this book, but on looking at the specific recipes offered, in the Table of Contents
one thing that I am somewhat leery of is the somewhat heavy emphasis on the hot dog, bologna, box mix, instant packet aspect of what is taught. Our experience, and my belief is that those with developmental disabilities can appreciate and even learn to prepare some wholesome balanced food or microwave/heat up some healthier options.
But the book offers some “food” (bad joke) for thought and ideas for DIY.
Bonnie Sayers
Jul 20, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Very true on the wholesome aspect of the food. Only a handful like the oatmeal, sliced apple, banana muffins, broccoli and carrots.
It would be nice to take it to another level for an entire meal - start to finish. Maybe that is my cue…
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