Kids Dish

Maxine McArthur is an award-winning science fiction novelist, based in Canberra, Australia. Her latest book is Less Than Human, a mystery about near-future robotics in Japan.

KidsDish: Hi, Maxine! How many kids do you have, and what ages?

Maxine: Two sons, aged 17 and nearly 15.

KidsDish: How much influence do you have over the food they eat?

Maxine: Quite a bit, as i do the shopping. Actually, their father does the shopping!

KidsDish: What are their favourite foods?

Maxine: James (17) likes italian, curry, and sweet things. Ray (15) likes egg dishes and eats huge quantities of cereal. They both like ice cream.

KidsDish: Do you have trouble getting them to eat healthy food, like fruit and vegetables? What methods have you developed to encourage them towards healthy food?

Maxine: Their father does not eat a huge variety of fruit and veges, and because he does the shopping, we all tend to eat the same kinds of things. We have always eaten the same meals, from when the kids were very small. So there were never ‘adult meals’ and ‘kids’ meals’. If somebody, either kid or adult, does not like what is served for dinner, they can eat a smaller portion. But there is no alternative dinner. The other thing we do is make it a rule that unless you eat the main dinner, you can’t have sweets or dessert.

We always have fruit available for snacks, and I always served fruit for breakfast and put it in the kids’ lunches when they were little. Now they eat what they like for breakfast and make their own lunches, but I notice that they do eat fruit regularly.

KidsDish: Do you enjoy cooking for your family? What are some of your favourite things to prepare?

Maxine: I enjoy cooking but don’t have much time to do it. I love making baked desserts, like lemon upside-down pudding and custards. Jewish potato pancakes are another great favourite.

KidsDish: What’s your breakfast routine?

Maxine: Never miss breakfast! I usually get up at 5:30-ish, have a cup of coffee and think about my writing, then get my lunch ready while eating a slice of toast with vegemite and drink a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. James gets up and has a glass of milo. Then after I’ve walked and fed the dog and the chooks and had a shower, I have a bowl of cereal. Ray gets up and has his cereal. James has some fruit. Then I go to work, via the horse paddock where I feed the horse. I spend more time on animal breakfasts than I do on my own!

KidsDish: Do any of your kids cook, or prepare food? If so, what sort of food can they prepare?

Maxine: For the past two years, both my sons have one day a week when it’s their turn to cook. Of course, i give them a hand when they need it. They can cook stir fries, noodles, various pasta dishes, curry, bacon and eggs, sushi, junket, jelly, and make toasted sandwiches.

They also have one day a week each when it’s their turn to wash up.

KidsDish: Do you ever feel guilty about what you feed your kids?

Maxine: Sometimes. But I also feel guilty about what i’m eating myself a lot–I think we should eat more vegetables. I don’t feel as bad these days because what they eat is now largely their responsibility. If they want their father to buy a different kind of healthy food at the supermarket, they tell him. Of course, if they want lollies and coke, they have to use their own pocket money.

KidsDish: What’s your favourite vegetable?

Maxine: Fresh corn on the cob

KidsDish: Tell us a little about yourself…

Maxine: I’m a writer of science fiction and fantasy, although I also have a nine-to-five day job. I live in Canberra with my husband, two sons, dog, and six chooks. I have a really messy garden that i’m always promising to tidy up, and I keep a horse in a different suburb and ride it nearly every day. My ideal life would be to live on a small property in the country and grow lots of vegetables to be self-sufficient. At the moment, all I can manage is a few tomatoes, but it’s a good start!

KidsDish: Thanks for taking part in this interview!