Easy Meals for Kids to Cook
Getting kids involved in the kitchen is a great way to foster healthy eating habits at an early age. Encourage them to explore new foods and try different ways of preparing and enjoying them. Cooking is an essential skill that can be refined and built upon throughout life. For many kids today, the extent of their cooking skills is limited to cutting a slit in plastic film and popping a frozen dinner in the microwave. You can expand your child's horizons by getting him involved in cooking, beginning with some easy meals.
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Set Up a Food Bar
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For children who are still too young to work with the oven or sharp knives, you can begin the cooking lessons with the simple act of putting together a meal from a variety of prepared ingredients. Set out prepared pizza crusts, marinara, and a variety of cheeses, vegetables, and meat products for a make-your-own pizza assembly line. "The Family Nutrition Book" suggests a breakfast idea that could be set up as a food bar as well. Make breakfast banana splits with a sliced banana topped with cooled oatmeal. The kids can then add fruit jam, yogurt, granola, and fresh berries as desired. This setup can be used with anything from tacos to salads to give kids a small hand in putting together their own meal.
Baked Goods
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With parental supervision for the last step, involving the oven, most simple baked goods are fairly kid-friendly. Baking is an excellent place for teaching children how to use measuring cups, stir, pour and crack an egg. You can make everything from cupcakes and brownies to breads and muffins. Topping the finished product with sprinkles and frosting is often a favorite. For a healthier alternative to sugary sweets, make whole-grain muffins and top them with cream cheese.
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Get Everyone Involved
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In a family with multiple children, cooking with the kids is a perfect activity for getting everyone involved while still providing age-appropriate tasks for each member of the family. Older children may be in charge of cooking pasta and chopping vegetables. Meanwhile, the younger siblings can assemble salads and add pasta sauce to the finished plates of noodles. Even the youngest children can have a hand in the process, placing bread into a serving basket.
Kids Working Alone
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Young children should always be supervised when they're working in the kitchen. However, older children can safely prepare their own meals when needed. If basic cooking skills are taught from an early age, simple pasta dishes like spaghetti and macaroni and cheese can be prepared by children old enough to safely boil water. For younger children, sandwich fixings, including sliced tomatoes and washed lettuce, can be provided for a quick sandwich or wrap. Keeping cut and washed fruits and vegetables on hand can provide for a quick and easy snack or side. A kitchen stocked with healthy options is essential to keeping kids on a good diet with minimal salty, sugary snack foods.
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