Yesterday I received my first issue of ChopChop magazine, and I must say that I am quite impressed with it after trying only one issue. ChopChop is a cooking magazine for families with kids, and it is full of useful information to cook better, eat better, and get kids involved in cooking. The magazine has a great combination of cooking instruction, safety tips, games, articles, gardening ideas, and recipes. There is also a focus on children’s health throughout the magazine, though it achieves this message in a very subtle way. There is no talk of calories or diet; it simply focuses on making healthy food in a fun way.
The founder and president, Sally Sampson, is a prolific cookbook author (20+ cookbooks), and most of the recipes in the magazine are by her. The recipes are appropriately simple and healthy, and branch out into other food cultures. For instance, in this issue there is a Mediterranean-influenced white bean dip, an Italian minestrone soup, and an Asian stir fry. There is even a page dedicated to squash along with a squash chili recipe. Pushing squash onto kids is a very bold move.
ChopChop is not your normal cooking magazine though. It’s a non-profit publication and has virtually no advertising. It is still a good cooking magazine with an excellent niche, but more importantly it is part of a larger food movement responding to childhood obesity.
Sampson became more involved in health causes when her daughter was born with a rare disease, and ChopChop is just one way in which she has tried to ‘give back’. And it really seems like a perfect fit: she’s an accomplished food writer and is also acutely aware of health challenges with children. Making the connection to childhood nutrition wasn’t that far off.
What really makes this magazine unique though is how it deals with food. There is no preaching about processed food, problem eating, or special ‘light’ food products. Those subjects are skipped, and they instead focus on how to have fun cooking and eating as a family. I like that positive message because the last thing we need is a Cooking Light magazine for kids.
On the inside of the magazine cover, the ChopChop philosophy is laid out: “We believe in the simple values of cooking together as family and sharing healthy meals. We believe Americans would be healthier (and happier) if we all spent more together-time in the kitchen and around the dinner table….” It goes on to say that they don’t count calories or demonize foods; they simply believe in consuming healthy, wholesome meals.
That’s a great philosophy, and what’s better is that the magazine puts children front and center. There is a 5-person Kids’ Advisory Board, and the young advisors test out all of the recipes, games, and activities in the publication.
With that said, one thing the magazine doesn’t do very much is cover cooking equipment for kids. This is understandable considering the limitations on advertising and sponsors, and direct product promotion just wouldn’t feel right in ChopChop. Since I love cookware, however, I had to bring it up. Sampson has contributed to Cook’s Illustrated in the past, so maybe an equipment corner for kids will eventually become part of the magazine. I’ll cross my fingers because I still believe it would be useful to highlight kitchen tools that are good for kids.
Despite that one point, I must reiterate how impressed I am with my first issue. It is not a thick magazine (because there is no advertising), but it is full of useful recipes, tips, and information. The cost of a subscription is $14.95 for four issues, and you can subscribe by going to their website at chopchopmag.com. You can also donate a subscription if you want to spread the message to a babysitter or childcare provider.
Below I have added some links to articles that informed this post. Feel free to read more about Sally Sampson and ChopChop.
