Cook With Your Kids!

It might not be first on your list of things to do with your children.  It definitely takes some serious patience and a willingness to not have things go the way you planned.  But, cooking with your kids is a great way to teach them about nutrition, about where food comes from and about being grateful.  And there are many ways to incorporate kids of all ages into the cooking process.  I’ve learned a lot by watching my mother-in-law in the kitchen with her grandkids. 

Here are some tips:

1.       Give them a specific project.  My daughter is three and thinks using a knife is the coolest thing on earth.  I give her a butter knife to cut onions.   She’s actually helping me, but she won’t cut herself. 

2.       Prepare ahead.  I try to do the TV-Chef prep method and have everything laid out before my daughter gets involved.  That way, she has a lot to do and immediate pay-off. 

3.       Crack some eggs.  You might lose one or two in the process, and you might eat a few egg-shells.  However, kids love to crack eggs and lots of them! 

4.       Make pizza.  Kids can do everything.  They can help make the dough, spread the sauce, sprinkle the ingredients and eat it up!  It’s also a great way to get more veggies into them. 

5.       Take a deep breath.  I have to tell myself this all through the process.  It helps you not lose your cool when your 3 year old rubs raw chicken all over the cupboards.  Trust me, I have been there!

6.       Have fun.  Really, you can! They’ll remember your enthusiasm far more than they’ll remember what you made!