Step 1: Boil the pasta: Bring water to a boil and cook the pasta 1 minute less than the package says, to keep it toothy. Get the rest of the ingredients ready at the same time so nothing waits. Switch pasta shapes to your child's liking — letter or little-car shapes spark interest and get them to the table.

Step 2: Soften the veggies: Grate the carrot and microwave the peas 1 minute until soft. Cut fine and steam soft so they vanish into the sauce.

Step 3: Make the cheese sauce: In a small pot, melt butter, add milk and garlic powder, and bring to a bare simmer. Off the heat, stir in the cheddar until smooth. Keep the heat low so it does not clump.

Step 4: Combine: Drain the pasta and toss with the cheese sauce, then fold in the vegetables. The sauce coats every strand, golden and tempting. Stir off the heat so the residual warmth melts the sauce — the pasta will not clump and the sauce will not turn greasy from high heat.

Step 5: Plate: Spoon into bowls with a pinch of black pepper, and you can plate it as a smiley face. Serve warm, not hot, so kids dig in right away. Reserve the black pepper for the adult bowls; keep the kids' portion plain. Use a few corn kernels or peas for the smiley face, turning the meal into a little game.