Kids can make a meal and eat it too!

The mere fact that Food Network channel counts 15 million kid viewers and about half of this little population routinely puts their recipes online should be a sign of how cooking is more than just a good hobby for kids. Shows like Top Chef and Chopped have elevated cooking into a fun competition that appeals to both kids and adults. While older kids can make more sophisticated recipes, I had preschoolers in mind while writing this article. So can kids cook and how do you make it fun?

When to start?

You can start some basic cooking with your toddler helping you in the kitchen. Preschoolers will be more adept at recognizing numbers (and there is a lot of math involved in cooking), colors (helpful in distinguishing foods too) and following directions. Young Chefs Academy, which has been teaching cooking classes to children since 2003, accepts children as young as 3 years old, but they also offer parent and me classes for the 2-year olds. According to Jennifer Fox, Owner of the Young Chefs Academy in Sandy Springs, GA, preschoolers (3-5) learn the basics of cutting (using safety scissors), mixing and learning about ingredients. Chefs over 5 learn the actual recipes and participate in food preparation as a group.

Any skills required?

Obviously, being able to pay attention for the amount of time it takes to prep the dish is very helpful. Attention building skills usually transpire closer to 4 years old.

Chef Asheesh of the Young Chefs Academy in Simi Valley, CA believes no skills are necessary, just passion and the desire to learn. "Most kids that come to us have an open mind and prepared to try everything", he says, "that’s the one rule we have - you must taste everything once, and they do, then they are surprised that they like it. This encourages them to eat right". What better way to teach kids to eat and eat right?

How do you get kids interested in cooking?

How do you make kids interested in anything? You have to make it fun. Mixing, cutting, blending different colors and textures sounds like a fun start. Don't forget all the kitchen tools they get to play with - spatulas, whisks, pots and pans.

What can they learn

Cooking is a life skill - whether they are making pasta in their first apartment or cooking for the family years down the road. Learning how to make dishes teaches them what goes into each dish and helps them understand foods better. This is a helpful diet tool, since they will be able to eat right if they know what their dish is made of, understand the portions, as well as, perhaps, select more whole foods better for their budding systems.

In addition to these life skills, kids learn math and science (fractions, weight, effect of acids, etc.), history (origins of foods), reading comprehension as they go through the recipes. "With the younger children, says Chef Asheesh, we teach fine motor skills, following direction."

"Kids will frequently eat, or at least TRY to eat, something that they have prepared themselves, even if they otherwise would not eat or try it at home", points out Jennifer Fox. Even the pickiest eaters may change their minds once they see their own concoctions.

Learning table manners and etiquette will be helpful in the future.

Older kids will enjoy and learn from the teamwork while making their meals.

Examples of recipes to make with kids

Chef Asheesh suggests this recipe for kindercooks (ages 3 to 6):

Code One Bread

Read the recipe together all the way through before you begin!

Get all the ingredients ready:

• 1/4 cup hot water
• 1 cup raisins
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 tbsp margarine
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 2.5 cups flour and 1 tbsp for pans

Get the equipment ready:

• measuring cups and spoons
• mixing bowl
• mixer
• 3 mini loaf pans
• cooking spray

Create it:

1. Pour water over raisins and set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 350F. Coat mini loaf pans with spray and dust with flour.
3. Cream sugars, margarine and eggs. Add remaining ingredients and raisin mixture (water and all). The dough will be very still. Place 1 cup of dough in each mini loaf pan.
4. Place in prepared mini loaf pans and bake for 35-40 minutes. Makes 3 mini loaves.

Jennifer Fox also suggests such recipes as Baked Ravioli, Texas White Chili, Baked Potato Soup, Pizza Pasta Salad, Chicken Lo Mein and Chocolate Chip Biscotti among others.

Written by Mommy Mom

Photo by Nutrition Education. http://www.flickr.com/photos/nutritioneducation/ / CC BY-ND 2.0