Lynn Fredericks is the Founder of FamilyCook Productions and Author of Cooking Time is Family Time.

As a way to bring her young family together after her marriage ended, Lynn Fredricks started including her two sons in meal preparation. She had always enjoyed cooking, but was finding it a chore to prepare meals while juggling the responsibilities of single motherhood. One day she realized that by having her children help in the meal preparation it could become a fun family activity rather than a task that was just daily drudgery.

In the process Lynn and her sons grew closer, and they became more and more or involved in all aspects of meal preparation. When cooking with children, Lynn advises parents to think about breaking the recipe into small steps and assign different tasks to each family member.

As a result of Lynn's experience with her own family, she started FamilyCook Productions, an educational organization that develops cooking and nutrition programs for schools and community organizations around the country. FamilyCook Productions helps families come together to prepare delicious, healthy fresh food. Lynn and her staff work with organizations and families to build skills in cooking and nutrition to encourage an environment for families to make meals together. For more information on FamilyCook Productions visit their Web site, http://www.familycookproductions.com.

Q: What do you think is the most important thing for parents to remember as they are preparing meals with their children?

A: Parents need to let their children explore in the kitchen and realize it's okay if something goes wrong. You are teaching children a skill, just like riding a bike, so keep a positive attitude even if things aren't perfect. Also, a step stool in the kitchen is an important safety feature for kids.

With pre-school children, when they help stir food over the stove or do more difficult tasks like grating, hold their hand and guide them in the task five times, counting out loud with them. Afterwards, let them know that it is 'Mommy's or Daddy's turn' to do the task. This keeps the child safe in front of the stove's heat and is also less frustrating for them when you keep the tasks managable for their little hands.

Q: How can families use seasonal foods in their cooking?

A: Eating seasonal foods is a great way to keep your food costs down. Find a recipe that you can use any vegetables that are in season, like a stir-fry or stew.

Read more from Lynn Fredericks by clicking here.

Harlem Word is a series of interviews with community health experts written by HHPC and reviewed by our Health Advisory Board.