We are still certainly guilty of going for chicken nuggets and mac n' cheese from time to time, but I try not to "dumb it down" too much when cooking for my family. There is a lot to like in this article from the Miami Herald about encouraging a more diverse palate in your kids. The advice for avoiding food allergies has changed within the past year, allowing an earlier introduction of a wider variety of real foods. I am now encouraging an earlier switch from bland jar baby food to "real people food." You can use a food mill, food processor, or blender to chop up almost anything for your baby. Older kids can experiment with anything under the sun.