A: Hello, everyone. Welcome to VOV 24/7’s Food Delight. We’re A and B. We’re excited to be sharing with you some cooking tips on today’s program.
B: Hello, you guys. Hello, A. “Sigh”
A: Oh, come on, B. You look so tired and stressed. What happened?
B: Well, you know, the weather these days is terrible and it can change a lot in a day. It can start out hot and humid in the morning and then get cold after a sudden rain. My little boy can’t adjust to these sudden temperature changes. He seems tired and listless all day long and refuses almost all food, which makes me worried. 
A: Well, it’s not easy being a mom, is it?
B: It’s not. I’m dreaming of the day my baby grabs his spoon and eats all the food on the table. That seems like an impossible dream.
A: Believe me, everything is going to be ok. Children may refuse food for many reasons. They may be teething, have a wet diaper, not be ready yet for solid foods, or just don't need as much food as you're feeding them. So, don’t try to force your child. It could turn feeding time into fighting time.
B: So, what should I do? I’m not really a good cook who can make dishes so yummy my boy will be eager to try them. I’m thinking about buying some packaged baby foods for my son’s meals.
A: That might be convenient, but commercial baby foods often lose vitamins and nutrients during processing and may be full of preservatives. Besides, you don’t have to be a master chef to make your own baby food.
B: Really? Do you have any suggestions?
A: Well, I’m thinking of fish porridge, which is a good option for young children, since it’s easy to prepare and you can pack a good deal of nutrition into a single dish.

Fish Porridge is a good option for young children, since it’s easy to prepare and you can pack a good deal of nutrition into a single dish (Source: toinayangi.vn)

B: Fish porridge? I tried making it once or twice, but the dish ended up with a fishy smell and inedible flavor. Do you think I should try it again?
A: Sure. Fish porridge cooked the right way is light, low-fat, easy to make, and, most importantly, delicious. Today I invited a guest, Mrs. Thuy Van, who has lots of experience cooking fish porridge. She’ll give us some tips and tricks to wow the kids. Let’s listen “Fish porridge is a dish which is preferred by kids from 2 to 4. Fish porridge is different from meat porridge, which is thicker and harder to digest. Noted that the rice should be soaked for at least 4 to 5 hours before cooking, so the grains can “bloom” easily when cooked. The fish which best suits the dish is Lăng fish, a species of catfish that doesn’t have too many bones. The fish is simmered at low temperature until you can pull the meat apart easily. Afterward, stir fry the fish quickly and set aside. The porridge is easy to make, but, the most important thing is to get rid of the fishy smell and enhance the flavor, which is not so easy.”

This fish porridge is a highly nutritious meal, no matter how old you are, and it can easily be made into a smooth puree for a baby. (Source: phunu.net)

A: We all know that fish is a great source of protein with high nutritional value. But dishes that have fish as the main ingredient are difficult to make without a fishy odor. And getting rid of those smells is especially important when cooking for children, right?
B: True. There are several useful tips for removing the fishy smell. You can use turmeric, vinegar, lemon, white wine, or milk. 
A: How about in fish porridge? Let’s hear Thuy Van’s tips for enhancing the flavor: “When making fish porridge, I use ginger to remove the fishy smell. You can crush the ginger and rub it over the fish and leave it for about 30 minutes before cooking. Or you can just simply add some drops of ginger extract to the porridge pot while cooking. Some people use the water left after simmering the fish to cook the rice. But that can increase the fishy smell. You should freshen that water before putting the rice in.”
A: After hours of simmering, the porridge is finally ready. All you need to do is serve it topped with the prepared stir-fried fish meat.
B: This fish porridge is a highly nutritious meal, no matter how old you are, and it can easily be made into a smooth puree for a baby.  I think you should roll your sleeves up and head into the kitchen right now and prepare some fish porridge, a great dish for your kids. And now, good bye. Catch us next week on VOV24/7’s Food Delight.