Cooking with Kids

Children will be more likely to try new foods and enjoy more variety if they are involved in preparing them. Teaching kids how to cook provides them rewarding skills they will use throughout their lives. Cooking allows kids to develop skills in math and reading but also an interest in how things grow and how to nourish our bodies. Here are a few things to consider when sharing the kitchen with your kids:

Plan

To keep stress low, be sure to plan out the time that you are going to cook with your kids. Break things up into individual tasks that can be done over a few days.

• Pick the recipe
• Make the grocery list
• Go to the store
• Cook!

Snacks

It is easier to cook when you aren’t “hangry” so be sure to have a quick healthy snack before jumping into your recipe. A few whole-grain crackers with peanut butter or carrot sticks and cottage cheese are great options.

Safety

Are the countertops high? Is it easier to work on the kitchen table? Are there steps in the recipe that need an adult? What part of the recipe involves cooking on the stovetop? These are all great questions to ask yourself before you start cooking.

Wash

It is so important to remember to have kids wash their hands and for you to wash your own hands. Model good behavior by washing your hands throughout the time when you are cooking. When you see your child touch their hair or scratch their nose, gently remind them of the germs that live on our skin and that we don’t want those to get into our food. To keep foods safe and avoid illness, be sure to wash all food preparation surfaces with hot, soapy water before beginning to cook.

Read & Talk

Have your child read the recipe aloud more than one time. Talk through the steps and the ingredients so everyone knows their roles. Read it once as you collect the ingredients as you collect them, once to read through the steps, then again to go through the steps one-by-one as you work through the recipe together.

New Foods

Cooking together is a great way to introduce new foods to your children. Children are more likely to try something if they helped make it. Give your kids the opportunity to touch and taste things throughout the cooking process (with foods that are safe to eat raw).

Time

Take your time when cooking with your kids. Be prepared for steps to take longer. Pick a time when you are not pressured by other events.

Cleaning

By now you have already realized things are messier with kids. Make cleaning part of the routine. Remind kids that it is important to start with a clean kitchen, therefore it is important to clean up after you finish in the kitchen.

Enjoy!

The first few times you cook with your kids may not go according to plan, but keep your chin up. Don’t get discouraged if your kids don’t eat a whole serving or they get distracted halfway through. Keep the invitation to join you in the kitchen always open.