Healthy Cooking: How to Get Kids Involved

Most kids are impatient and hyper. They tend to move and run around a lot and find it difficult to concentrate or even pay attention to what others are saying to them. Involving them in the cooking process is yet another task. It is a daunting thought but not entirely impossible. When kids take part in cooking, they are more likely to eat better. They see what is going inside their food which makes it all the more appealing. Cooking meals together gives more time to parents and kids to bond with each other. They communicate, acknowledge, and understand each other’s likes and dislikes very closely.

There is no shying away from the fact that cooking with young kids can be a tedious task. It will take up a little more time and a lot of cleaning to get the whole work done but the time that you will get to spend with your child will definitely be memorable and meaningful. It is also important to pay attention to your child when they are working in the kitchen. You have to be careful and vigilant at all times.

To make your cooking process easy and fun with your kids, here are some feasible ways in which you and your child can make the most of the time you spend together in the kitchen:

• Start with small and basic steps. If your child is too young, ask them to mix and stir the ingredients in a bowl. You can give them vegetables and fruits to mash or squeeze. Give them a lemon and teach them how to squeeze it.
• While making eggs or baking a cake, give the bowl to your child to whisk the batter. This way you get the required help and the child will also feel like a valued member.
• Teach them how to wash fruits and vegetables. Make them understand why cleanliness and hygiene are important and why one should wash the foods before eating or storing them.
• Take them grocery shopping with you. Most parents don’t drive to grocery stores with their kids leaving them at home. Avoid this practice. Carry your kid along with you and let them pick healthy food items at the store. Ask them to manage the grocery list which will make them feel confident.
• Plan meals with them. Kids are always up for anything that is new and exciting. When you involve them in planning meals, they learn better. They understand the importance of choosing healthy foods.
• Small children are capable of wiping the food counter and the dinner table. School going children can easily wash the dished. Ask your child to clean their own utensils after their meals. This teaches them how to maintain hygiene and reduces your workload too.

Footnote
While cooking with your young ones, parents need to be extra patient. Kitchens are messy and that can easily be cleaned up. Encourage your child in every step so that they know you are paying attention to what they are doing. Establish kitchen safety rules and be vigilant when the child is inside the kitchen.