Cooking with Kids
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| Having kids help cook a meal from the garden is a good way to teach them about healthy eating. |
By Charlie Nardozzie
Fall is a great time of year to introduce the idea of cooking to your kids. Kids that learn to cook and help out in the kitchen at an early age have a better appreciation of food and healthy eating. Cooking is also a great way to spend time with your children and promote family togetherness. Even young kids can help out in the kitchen. As they grow, you can increase the number and complexity of the tasks. Using the garden as a motivator, have kids go out and collect vegetables, fruits, and herbs for that day's meal. Here are some examples of how to engage your kids in the kitchen.
Preschool
Remember that kids this age don't have a long attention span, so give them tasks that are easy to understand and quick to complete such as pouring, stirring, and counting ingredients. Have your children help decide on a food to cook and be involved in the process, but let them come and go. However, it's important that they see the end result of their work and enjoy it with you and your family, even if they only had a small hand in the cooking.
Elementary School
Kids this age can read and help out more in the kitchen. Look at cookbooks with your children and decide on meals based on what's ripe in the garden. Have your children make lists of ingredients you need to gather or buy. Have them help measure and mix ingredients and prepare the meal, focusing their attention on one dish.
High School
Kids in high school are very capable of preparing a whole meal by themselves. Have them research recipes on their own that call for in-season vegetables and fruits. Work alongside them, making suggestions and helping them prepare the dishes, but let them take the lead in the creation. Be a resource, but do not be overbearing; keep in mind that making mistakes is the best way to learn. Compliment them on their creation, regardless of how good it looks. Have them help with cleanup, too.
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