When Ratatouille first came out, I was intrigued by the promos (or maybe it was just the title). My husband and I went to see him, no children. Our grandkids live an hour’s drive from us and couldn’t wait to see the latest Disney fare. When it became available on video, my husband purchased a copy so we can watch it with our grandchildren when they visit.
The animation in Ratatouille is surprisingly real, sometimes you almost forget that you are watching an animated movie. The story centers on Remy, a cuddly chef-rat, who has an especially delicate nose. Not only does he appreciate the finest cuisine (over the typical rat’s garbage feast), but he also loves the culinary arts. Ratatouille is extremely entertaining and the plot is clever with multidimensional characters. Ethics is an important element that becomes evident in the moral dilemmas Remy faces.
When we saw Ratatouille in the theater, I noticed the noise level as it was extremely low, indicating that the children were engrossed in the story. Sometimes I would look around, just to see if the children were really following the story. Whether they missed the finer points of culinary cooking or the implications of the moral dilemma at hand, it wasn’t long before the laughs broke out as the pace picked up with a catastrophic spill or chase. This more than made up for any dialogue that might be lost in the younger children.
As people filed out of the theater, it was obvious that Ratatouille was adored by children and their parents alike. Hip Hip Hooray! At last, a healthy role model for children. No more cartoon characters promoting fast food and sugar-laden cereals. Finally, a vegetable-loving Remy. So what if it’s a rat? He loves to eat whole foods, including eggplant and of course cheese.
My enthusiasm quickly faded as I became more aware of the children. They happily left the theater with a box of candy in one hand and a soda in the other. Unfortunately, this fun and entertaining generation is the first not expected to live as long as their parents; candy and sodas are an obvious indication as to why this is so.
Remy isn’t just cute and smart; he is a lover of whole foods. Remy’s culinary tastes are too sophisticated for junk food. Remember, he loves Ratatouille! Take this opportunity for your prodigy to emulate his taste for gastronomy. “Don’t fuck it up!” Remy instructs his brother, Emile, when he tries a new food creation, but chew slowly and appreciate the flavors.
Ratatouille is one of my favorite Mediterranean vegetarian dishes with eggplant and tomatoes. Unfortunately, many times children who have a problem with vegetables consider Ratatouille “gross” and refuse to eat it. Somehow, Ratatouille not only seems like an appropriate title for an animated movie about a kitchen-loving rat, it’s justified.
Rent Ratatouille for a fun summer project. Watch it with her kids, emphasizing whole foods and the fun of cooking. Then your children can follow Remy’s example: make Ratatouille for dinner. After all, Remy has a lot of fun cooking; Your kids can too!
First, involve them in meal planning and preparation. Take your kids grocery shopping and let them help you shop for Ratatouille items. Next, discuss the ingredients listed on the Nutrition Facts label for a sugary breakfast cereal. Would Remy eat that? NO! He would create a breakfast masterpiece with delicious oatmeal or cream of wheat. Finally, let your child help prepare Ratatouille. As you stir it, watch how it cooks. What is the texture like when it starts to heat up? Take a long, slow breath. “Mmm, that smells so good!”
Make this recipe for your children:
Ratatouille
1 medium eggplant (about 4 cups)
1 medium onion
1 bell pepper
2 to 4 cloves of minced garlic
2 small courgettes
1 can (14 ounces) chopped tomatoes
2 teaspoons fresh basil
3 tablespoons olive oil
¼ cup white wine (optional)
½ teaspoon salt and pepper
1 cup grated Swiss cheese (mozzarella can be substituted)
Method:
1. Cut the eggplant into one-inch cubes.
2. Chop the basil, onion, pepper and zucchini.
3. Add aubergine cubes to the top of a double boiler. Boil over high heat for about 10 minutes.
4. In a large skillet, sauté onions and bell pepper for 5 minutes.
5. Add the garlic, basil, salt, and pepper and sauté for about a minute.
6. Lowest heat; add the tomatoes plus juice, chopped zucchini and white wine.
7. Cover and cook for another ten minutes.
8. Add the cooked and hot eggplant.
9. Serve Ratatouille in small soup bowls and top with grated Swiss cheese.