I received a copy of this eBook from netGalley for a honest review.

I like this book that shows you how to cook real food with or without your kids helping. The pictures are great and the food looks yummy.

Why is that when cookbooks are geared towards the person who may need help it's always the dad. I guess I'm not used to that as in my house growing up it was always my dad doing to majority of the cooking. But If you can get past the title it does give quite a few over 80 easy and non-fussy recipes for easy weeknight dinners. So you’re not wondering what to cook for dinner.

I liked the notation of skill level with the recipes. The pictures are beautiful but with a kids cookbook I would expect more pictures of the actual food to get them excited for cooking. It's also a bit text heavy and likely not a great fit for someone like my 5yo.

I still likely will purchase for my library as we are in a rural, more traditional area where most men are not encouraged to cook. So this will appeal to a different demographic or perhaps open up options for some people. Thank you for the ARC.

I loved the introduction; it really painted a picture of who you are. The leveling of tasks, and not age, was great. I enjoyed the stories that accompanied the recipes and the pictures showing how fun cooking can be.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this ARC.

#DadWhatsforDinnerExcerpt #NetGalley

This was a very well written cookbook with excellent pictures of the food that made me want to drool. I was really excited for this book that was focused toward feeding your kids dishes that aren't just all the vegetable blended into oblivion, so they couldn't see them. The book showed great promise at first with breaking out the recipes by time commitment and giving ideas of what aspects children could help out with based on their individual skill level. (He made it a big point to say skill level instead of age level, which I think is a great distinction). The author also had the foresight of adding extra pictures for any recipes that required a lot of assembly. (Such as, making pasta and then assembling Lasagna).

While one of the simplest the recipe that was my favorite was the "3-in-1 Tomato Sauces". It ran you through how to make a base tomato sauce and then upgrade it to an "Arrabbiata Sauce" or "Creamy Sauce". I think any parent can appreciate the ability to change a sauces flavor profile easily to fit whatever mood their kid is in that day. The other recipe that caught my eye was "Biscuits and Gravy" mostly because of a singular ingredient: banana peppers. As a born and raised Southerner this raised an eyebrow, but the next time I make a batch I'm willing to try the added ingredient.

The only reason I deduct a star is because a majority of the recipes are Italian based. I wanted a little more variety and there were only a handful that stood out as a different cuisine, such as, "Pork Carnitas" or "My So-Called Curry". Still worth a try and greatly appreciate the inclusion of children in the cooking process as I believe there is a huge benefit to kids in the kitchen early.

I received this book as an eARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Dad What’s for Dinner is a good cookbook with a good concept. Since I only received the first half of the book, my review is for the first half only not the book as a whole as I have not seen the second half. The recipes in the first half are a good selection of easy to moderately difficult recipes that would make great dinners. Most of the ingredients are easy to find, which is very helpful. Some recipes are common while others are a bit more unique. There are plenty of photos of the food are helpful and showcase the food really well. I would recommend the first half of this book.

I really liked this book and cookbook! It had lots of good recipes that i will definitely be going back to multiple times! they were good, healthy and easy to make! I liked the writing and the book overall!!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Thank you Netgalley, and Knopf for sending me this advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Unfortunately I am not able to give a full review for this book, because ARC readers were only received an excerpt containing the first half of the book.

I will only be able to review what I that I was sent.

I appreciate that the ingredients included US measurements and also metric as well. I like having that info because it makes it much easier to increase the quantity you are making

The recipes are fairly simple, and most of the ingredients are easy to source. There are some ingredients that can be harder to find if you live in a rural area like I do. I think a beginner could make most of the recipes without any problem, but I feel this would be a better fit for someone who had a solid grasp on basic cooking skills. Some of the direction were a bit on the light side, and expected you to already know techniques.

It's an okay cookbook overall from the parts I was able to read, but without being able to review the whole book, I can't tell you if it would be worth picking up or not.

I also dread the question "What's for Dinner?" Seriously, being an adult is hard when there are so many expectations.

I like that the meals are broken down into groups - Meltdown Meal, Weekend Meal and Project Cooking.

There are a lot of recipes that I will not be trying. I do not have beef shanks or some of the specialty ingredients. This wouldn't be a cookbook to use for regular meals. More of a seasoned cook book. I do look forward to trying Buttery Tomato Soup. Seems quick, easy and tasty. There are a few other ones that look amazing.

* The eGalley I read and reviewed was only the first half of the book.
Thank you Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Summary: "Dad, What's for Dinner?" by David Nayfeld is a family-focused cookbook featuring over 80 creative and approachable recipes designed to empower home cooks to confidently serve nutritious, kid-approved meals while encouraging adventurous eating.

My review: As a parent, the dreaded “What’s for dinner?” question can feel like a daily challenge—especially with picky eaters in the mix. David Nayfeld’s Dad, What’s for Dinner? offers a fresh, creative approach to solving this mealtime conundrum. This book isn’t just a collection of recipes; it’s a tool to help families embrace adventurous eating while simplifying the often daunting task of meal planning.

A fun, standout feature is the clever labeling system for recipes: “Meltdown Meal,” “Weeknight Meal,” and “Project Cooking,” paired with a “messy factor” rating from 1 (minimal mess) to 4 (substantial). This thoughtful addition makes it easy to choose meals that fit your schedule and tolerance for kitchen chaos. Nayfeld also provides tips for “adultifying” kids’ food, gently nudging young eaters toward more adventurous flavors without overwhelming them.

Favorite recipes to try: Joint Custardy French Toast, Buttery Tomato Soup (but the grilled cheese was in the 2nd part of the book I didn't review! Dratz!), Chicken Enchilada Stew, and the Best Fricking Mealloaf in the World

The book’s vibrant photography and straightforward instructions further elevate the experience, making even the more ambitious recipes approachable.

Genres/Themes: Cooking / Cooking for Kids / Cooking with Kids / Regional & Cultural - Italian

"Dad, What's for Dinner?" is scheduled for publication on May 27 2025, by Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor.

A few of the recipes were a little bit more complex than I anticipated given the general theme of the book. Still, I got some great meal ideas from this except - and I'm not even a parent, just someone looking for new ways to put good food in the table without too much fuss.