There are so many recipes made for kids who are interested in learning how to prepare or cook simple meals. Depending on the age of the child, all children can lend a hand in the kitchen. It is a great way to build self-esteem and get your child to try new foods. When he or she has helped prepare a meal, tasting the food is part of that job.
Some simple kitchen and meal prep tasks are: chopping or dicing vegetables, spreading butter or other condiments onto bread, grating cheese, mixing sauces, beating eggs, tearing lettuce for salads, measuring ingredients for baking, rolling out dough, sifting flour, stirring, coating chicken in breadcrumbs. I’m sure you can think of many more. Will the kitchen be messier when kids participate in cooking? Sure, but clean up is part of the job.
Being competent in the kitchen is not only a necessary life skill, it increases awareness of what goes into a meal and where food comes from. It also can lead to our children making better, healthier food choices. And, it’s a way for busy families to connect and have some time together. Everyone has to eat. Involve the kids and make meal time a family affair. Here are two web sites for inspiration: http://www.cookinggames.com and bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/kids-baking
