A lot of parents ask us how to get their kids more interested in good food, and less interested in packaged foods and sugar-sweetened beverages. One of the best ways to do this is to involve your child in meal preparation from an early age.
I came across a fantastic post this week on cooking with kids from @weeklybite, who writes a really beautiful blog called, not surprisingly, Weekly Bite! Here are some of Estela’s tips for integrating your little ones into the kitchen:
Here are some tips I use when it comes to kids’ cooking:
- Make sure all hair is pulled back
- Always have them wash their hand before, during (if needed), and after cooking.
- Keep all sharp objects out of reach.
- When cooking with your child, choose a time in the day where you won’t be rushed. Mid-morning or early afternoon works well for us.
- Keep kid friendly utensils handy such as wooden spoons, non-breakable bowls, measuring cups, cookie cutters, and a wire whisk.
Here are 10 easy ways to include kids in the kitchen (via superkidsnutrition.com)
- Set the table
- Wash fruits and vegetables
- Take foods out of the refrigerator or pantry
- Set the timer and give updates on how much time is left
- Measure ingredients
- Stir ingredients in a bowl
- Read the recipe
- Spread or layer ingredients in a pan before baking
- Cut out items using a plastic cookie cutter
- Help clean up and wash dishes
And… did you spot it?! Many of those activities to involve kids more in their food preparation ALSO involve physical activity! It’s a great opportunity to build your relationship with your children, help them take responsibility for food preparation and choices, and build lasting skills in healthy food preparation that will serve them throughout their lives. Go right now and read the rest of the post!
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