TASTY TALK: MELISSA JOAN HART

We know that you come from a big family (one of seven kids!) ...is having a big family important to you? 
I have always made my family come first and now I have my own little family to care for and I believe helping them become incredible adults is my biggest job now.

Having been raised on the east coast, do you find yourself parenting with the same morals and values that you grew up with? 
Absolutely! I am trying my best to do everything my parents did for us while also using the past as a learning device. Things have changed a lot since I was a kid and I am applying that with my morals and traditions that I was raised with. For example, I allow Mason to have juice now and then but I water it down or try to avoid it completely since it has been proven now to cause health problems if given in excess.

What is your favorite family tradition that you and your family have made?
We go to Disneyland on a birthday. If we move back east, that one may be tough to keep up, but maybe we can do a birthday trip in Feb between their birthdays.
 
As the oldest of all of your siblings, do you feel that you were a role model to them? 
I tried my hardest to be a good role model. Most of the decisions in my life I made, I gauged on my siblings and the effect it would have on them. After I did the cover of Maxim magazine, I decided not to do Playboy because of how upset my baby brother was over it.
 
Do you consider yourself a green girl? (For instance, what is your favorite cause for helping the planet?)
I really try to be green but it is soo difficult with kids. I think about it all the time, but with kids you want everything easy and clean and sometimes disposable stuff is the way to go. But other times, you can sacrifice a little time or effort  to make the planet a better place for them.

If you could describe your style in one word what would it be?
Casual!

Having three males around must be pretty active!  What are your favorite family activities to keep everyone happy and healthy?
We change it up everyday. SOme days me and Mason take classes like Art or Music together, almost everyday we go for a family walk, or to the park. We play a lot in the back yard with the dogs but we are always moving.

What is the number one thing you wish to teach your children?   
I want them to try a little of everything and pick what they like when they are older. I always wanted my kids to have every opportunity to get really good at something that could stick as a hobby or career. I have been looking for a hobby my whole life but havent been able to find one.

We were so moved by your recent request to donate food to Katherine Wolf’s family... How are Katherine, her husband and  baby James doing?
I am so glad you asked, Katherine has come off life support and is now in serious physical therapy. She has a lot of obstacles to overcome if she wants to get home to her baby boy so we pray for her everyday. But she has made incredible progress and the doctors don't like this word but they have been calling her a miracle.

What is the tastiest meal you make for your family? 
I love stuffing chicken with goat cheese or making squash mac and cheese. Im still not great at cooking but I am trying.

And finally... what makes you "tasty?!"
I think being a cool mom who knows how to chill is what makes me tasty!