Teach Your Kids to Cook!
By Sara Butler
You have spent countless hours preparing delicious and nutritious food for your kids. After all, supporting their good health and growth is one of the most important things a parent can do. But there comes a time when you have to pass the reins over and teach your child how to cook a nutritious meal for themselves. Don't let your children be among those college freshmen who can't boil an egg. Instead, use these simple and easy tips to help your child learn how to cook. It's a skill they'll use their whole lives.
Small Changes
You can make small changes to your cooking routine help incorporate your kids. Try working on kid-friendly recipes and start off with:
- Hand washing - Teach your kids that this is the first thing you do when you enter the kitchen
- Turn the pot handles - Make sure all the pot handles for the stove top pots and pans are facing away from you and your child so you don't risk spilling hot liquids
- Wear the right gear - Aprons on, sleeves up, and hair back
- Use plastic - Teach your kids the proper way to cut by starting with plastic knives as you teach them to cut and chop away from their bodies
- Use a sturdy stool - Some kids need help reaching the counter, so have a stool or chair to help
- Walk through safety - Don't assume your child knows how to use a kitchen appliance or utensil, so be sure to walk them through how to safely use things
The Perfect Task
Of course, what your child can do in the kitchen depends largely on their age, but you can get even your toddler involved in washing vegetables and fruits, helping you to measure ingredients, and mixing ingredients together in a bowl.
For older children, around 4 or 5 years old, give them a few more challenges. They may be able to crack some eggs (a favorite!), squeezing citrus fruits, or cut soft foods such as cheese or mushrooms with a plastic knife. Consider letting them mash soft foods such as avocados or bananas with a fork and show them how to use a whisk.
You can also enlist your child in cleaning up. After all, sanitizing the kitchen is just as important as cooking, so show them how to wipe counters, throw away food waste, put ingredients away, and put dishes in the dishwasher after your tasks are complete.
Part of teaching your children proper nutrition is teaching them how to prepare it too, so have fun together in the kitchen and teach them skills to last them a lifetime!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Temple, Tex.