Tips
Cooking and Snacking with Children
Children can have fun taking part in simple cooking activities. Helping in the kitchen can help their reading and math too. The wow of "I made it myself" may improve the acceptance of new foods by a fussy eater.
What Children Can Do:
Help pick the menu.
Set the table.
Cut soft foods, like bananas, with a butter knife.
Measure ingredients, like flour, and add to bowl.
Stir and mix.
Rip lettuce or spinach into bite-size pieces.
Knead and shape dough for breads, biscuits, or rolls.
Help clean off the table.
What You Can Do:
Don't worry about messes.
Share a special moment with your child.
Be a role model. Eat nutritious meals and snacks with your child.
Why Cook with Kids?
Preparing food with young children has many benefits. They have fun and learn too.
- They measure and count.
- They see, feel, smell, touch, and hear like a scientist.
- Trying foods from many cultures helps children learn about others and themselves.
- Reading is developed as children point out pictures and words on recipe pages.
- Children begin to link nutrition and health as you talk with them during food activities and meals.
- "I made it myself" can motivate children to try a new food.
Get Ready for Food Activities
What Adults Can Do:
Be organized. Have food items arranged and ready to make the recipe.
Be specific. Explain what is going to happen before the activity begins.
Be patient. Children are likely to spill and make messes.
Choose recipes. Pick simple recipes that children can make. Each booklet has a recipe along with other food ideas. These sequences are easy for children to follow and tasty too!
Involve parents. The more hands helping out the better.
What Children Can Do:
Start by washing hands. Make sure children use warm soapy water and wash for 20-30 seconds before rinsing.
Help prepare food. Children can wash, sort, and cut foods with a butter knife.
Keep it simple. Children can do simple tasks like:
> Mixing
> Kneading dough
> Measuring
> Opening packages
Set the table.
Clean up. Even young children can bring cups and dishes to the sink, wipe the table, or bring garbage to the can.
There are so many different tasks with food activities that every child, no matter what her age or skill level, can feel successful.
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