Healthy Baby Beans

Let’s get back to the basics and move into the kitchen for some family fun!  Stop the drive thru craze and prepare healthy meals with your kids.  Cooking has become a lost art for most families because of busy schedules.  Including your children in family meal planning and preparation has great benefits.  However, it may feel harder than it is really worth.  If your child is little, you might worry he or she could hurt themselves or make a big mess.  If your child is older, they might push back with attitude or not want to spend time with mom or dad.   

There is good news!  If you teach your children culinary skills while they are young, they will be more willing to help in the kitchen when they are older.  Children are also more likely to eat the foods they prepare which helps build a strong foundation for a healthy lifestyle.  Turning off the TV and spending time in the kitchen opens the door for communication and learning.  Have fun and get back into the kitchen!

You will be surprised what your children will do, even a 2-year-old!  Set them up for success with age appropriate tasks and look out!  Kitchen fun is a great way to help your children develop healthy eating habits, motor skills, and social skills.  Working next to your child also gives you the time to talk about healthy foods.  What can they do??

Age-appropriate cooking activities with supervision:

Ages 2-4 years of age

5-10 years of age

11 years and above

This is the age that most kids can start cooking simple meals with appropriate supervision. Some easy meal ideas include:

Let’s teach our children to be culinary enthusiasts and empower them to be confident in the kitchen.  Passing up the drive thru mania and going back to the basics will help your family grow strong!