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Tips for getting kids into the kitchen

Tips for getting kids into the kitchen

by DeVore Design, September 27, 2016

I teach a couple of cooking classes for kids during the week, and I must say they teach me more than they will ever realize. I grew up in the kitchen. My father was a chef and my mother is an excellent cook, and getting us involved in meal prep was second nature. I often meet kids who are nearing their teens that have yet to crack an egg. Cooking is an essential life skill, and everyone in the household should have some type of contribution to family meal time.

Levi, my 4 year old, already has cracking eggs down to a science and recently added a new recipe to his cooking portfolio. When I was younger my signature dish was lasagna, and I learned the recipe in home economics. My mother would always make sure I had everything I needed to prepare it.

I often hear parents say “Johnny is a picky eater and does not like vegetables” as they drop children off at my classes. I smile and tell them to come back a few minutes early so they can see see the wonder that is Johnny eating vegetables — oftentimes raw.

When your child has an active investment in the meal or snack, they are more likely to eat it. One of my cooking classes last week had a little girl named “Essence” who sat in front and made the funniest faces at the snack I was teaching the kids to make because the ingredients were unfamiliar her. As I was putting them together in a food processor, Essence did not think this was going to be a good idea and it showed all over her darling little face.

So how did this end? Essence ate a plate of hummus with carrot sticks, zucchini chips, grape tomatoes, bell pepper sticks and blue corn chips and said it was “actually good.” She also asked for seconds, to which I proudly said “yes” and filled her plate.

Essence was not alone in her delight, and many of the kids asked for seconds.

Below are some tips you can use at home to get picky eaters to try new foods and get more involved at meal time.


ASK YOUR KIDS TO PLAN A MEAL

Breakfast food items are a great place to start and encourage kids to literally think outside of the box. Tell kids that cereal is not an option for meal choice.


THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX

If you are planning a meal that normally involves a box and orange powder (mac and cheese), ask kids to find a simple recipe that involves food ingredients such as real cheese and pasta.


GIVE EVERYONE A TASK

I had a class with a little one this week (she was 4 years old) and I was concerned that she would not be able to cut veggies for a recipe. Well it turns out her little hands and a food saw were the fastest this side of the Mississippi. If your rowdy kid really has no interest in cooking, ask them to do other meal prepping, such as washing fruit and vegetables or setting the table. Ask your kid to create a table setting based on their interest such as a football or ballet-themed table setting.


BUY SNACKS THAT NEED PREPARED

If your kids like pizza after school, buy the ingredients for them to make their own pizza. Buy mini bagels or English muffins, top them with marinara sauce, bagged or block cheese and have them add their own toppings. Your kids will surprise you.