Not Too Young to Cook (Guest)

(Today’s post is brought to you buy a guest writer who believes young kids belong in the kitchen having fun, too!)

When it comes to kids cooking in the kitchen, the key to keep in mind is ‘quick and easy.’ Children’s attention span is usually on a short leash, and if you try to engage them in a recipe that has a long list of ingredients, they tend to lose interest. The main thing to remember is to make cooking a fun time of bonding between child and parent.

You also want to ensure that they are interested in eating what they’re making, so you might want to consider things like macaroni and cheese or chocolate chip cookies to start. Of course you want your kids to eat healthy foods, so whenever possible, use gluten-free pastas and sugar-free baking ingredients. Just make sure to let them pick out the recipe, so they will have a greater interest in the outcome.

For the younger kids, something simple like ants on a log is fun and easy. No hot stove or kitchen timer is required, and in this way you can start with something fun that will turn out great no matter what freak accident happens in the kitchen. With celery, peanut butter and raisins – what could possibly go wrong?
Besides a mess, but come on! They’re kids!

After a successful first run in the kitchen, you can then progress to something a little more challenging. Recommended recipes at the beginning of your cooking adventure should have easy-to-read ingredients so your little one can take part in reading the recipe for themselves. The more hands-on interaction they have, the better.

Letting your kids make their own lunches is a fun way to begin their cooking adventure. They can make cut-out peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, or even something as simple as a tuna or turkey wrap. Shredded carrots and lettuce are a healthy way for little ones to enjoy their lunch. Keep it easy and colorful and they will be happy. They don’t even need to know that the ingredients are healthy and good for them. In fact sometimes the less they know about the nutrition values, the better.

Another fun and easy recipe for the kids is ‘taco in a bag.’ You simply use a rolling pin to gently roll over an unopened bag of corn chips. Then open the bag on the side, and stuff taco-seasoned hamburger meat, lettuce, diced tomatoes, shredded cheese, salsa and sour cream into the bag. Now all you need is a fork. Let the fun begin!

With so many kid-friendly recipes to choose from, such as mini pizzas, stuffed french toast, breakfast burritos, calzones, meatballs and macaroni and cheese, the ideas are limitless and the fun is guaranteed!

Just remember to keep it simple, and make sure your child has a say in what you make. It’s also prudent to be prepared if you do anything involving a stove or a hot surface. Have a First-Aid kit handy and make sure the smoke detectors have fresh batteries. Alternatively, if you happen to be one of those homeowners with a security system through http://www.totalalarmsystems.com/, then you shouldn’t need to worry since these systems can monitor for heat levels and fires, as well. After all, you want to make memories for a life time, and working together in the kitchen is the easiest and best way to make those memories – just make sure you remember it all for the right reasons.

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