Ten Tips to encourage your kids to cook
We all want our children to have a better relationship with food. Involving your children with the preparation and cooking of meals is a great way of improving relationships with food and increasing your child’s food intake and variety.
In this blog post I will provide some simple tricks and tips that have worked for me at home to encourage my children to take part in the preparation and cooking of simple meals.
Top Tips to encourage children to start cooking.
Let them choose a recipe: Allow your child to pick a recipe they want to try. This gives them a sense of ownership and excitement about the cooking process. Our Fussy Food Plates are a great companion to this as they create an association between food and fun.
Measure and pour ingredients: Have your child help measure and pour ingredients into bowls or measuring cups. This helps them practice their math skills and learn about different measurements.
Stirring and mixing: Let your child take turns stirring and mixing ingredients. This is a simple task that they can easily handle and it helps them feel involved in the cooking process.
Decorating and garnishing: Allow your child to decorate and garnish dishes with toppings like sprinkles, herbs, or grated cheese. This adds a fun and creative touch to the final presentation. Our ‘Press & Pops’ are a great tool that allow children to have fun while exposing them to cutting, prepping and decorating their food.
Washing and peeling: Teach your child how to wash fruits and vegetables properly. They can also help peel certain fruits or vegetables with a child-safe peeler.
Top tips continued…
6. Setting the table: Have your child set the table with plates, utensils, and napkins. This teaches them about table manners and the importance of a well-set table.
7. Tasting and seasoning: Encourage your child to taste and season dishes. Let them add a pinch of salt or a sprinkle of herbs to adjust the flavors to their liking.
8. Baking and decorating cookies: Baking cookies is a fun activity that kids love. Let them help roll out the dough, cut out shapes, and decorate the cookies with icing and sprinkles.
9. Washing dishes: After the cooking is done, involve your child in the clean-up process. They can help wash dishes, dry them, or put them away. This teaches them responsibility and the importance of cleaning up after themselves.
10. Start a mini herb garden: Help your child plant and care for a small herb garden. They can learn about different herbs, how to water and care for plants, and they can use the fresh herbs in their cooking.
“Cooking is at once child’s play and adult joy. And cooking done with care is an act of love.”
