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Tips for Cooking with Kids

by Evelyn Turner11/30/2007 4:27:54 PM

Study after study has shown that kids are more likely to eat food that they have helped prepare.  If you have concerns about raising picky eaters, consider making dinner an activity that the whole family can help with.  Here are some tips that will make cooking with your kids fun for them, but help you keep from losing your mind.

Teach your kids useful skills during family time.

Involve the kids from start to finish. Let them help decide what to cook and bring them to the store to shop for ingredients.  If they are picky eaters, it will help them to see exactly what’s going into the meal.  In the kitchen, give them specific responsibilities for both food preparation and cleaning up.  You’ll be teaching them to useful life skills and they’ll be your willing little helpers, excited to try “their” recipe at the dinner table.

Schedule the dinner for a day and time when you won’t feel pressured.  Easier said than done, I know, but carving out a time to cook together is so beneficial for them that it’s worth the extra effort.  It’s not easy to be patient with kids in the kitchen when you’re tired and pressed for time.  Also, don’t schedule it right after you’ve mopped the floor.  You’ll only be more frustrated when the inevitable spill happens.

Give kids their own work area on the counter or table.  They can learn to how to keep it clean.  Be sure to keep their work area away from any meat preparation that you might be doing, and because of food safety issues, children should not handle raw meat.

If you’re using a recipe that calls for mixing ingredients, use larger bowls than necessary in order to minimize spills.  Also, place the bowl on a towel or rubber placemat to prevent slippage. 

Keep it fun.  Give them assignments that will let them use their hands, like washing vegetables.  Also, look for simple recipes that have hands-on directions, like kneading dough. 

Keep a sink full of soapy water and several cleanup cloths so you can clean as you go. But, once again, don’t fret the mess.  It all cleans up in the end.

Most of all, remember to have fun!  If you’re having fun, the kids will enjoy themselves even more. 

A Note About the Author: Evelyn Turner

Evelyn Turner is the owner of The Easy Entrée, where you’ll find hassle-free home cooking. In her spare time, she loves to read and go boating in the San Juan Islands. Evelyn and her husband Richard also enjoy seeing (and spoiling) their two grandchildren, Kyle and Rachel, ages 7 and 5.