It’s time to put your kids to work – in the kitchen! When kids have a hand in cooking, it makes trying new foods more fun and interesting (and less intimidating).
Make cooking a regular activity and you’ll get to spend more time together too! Check out these simple recipes and suggested kid-friendly tasks.
Tomato & Cucumber Salad
(serves: 4)
Ingredients:
- 4 medium ripe tomatoes
- 1 medium cucumber
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon rice or red wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
- Dash of salt and pepper
Directions:
Dice tomatoes and cucumber and place in large bowl. Add olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper; toss to combine. Sprinkle with chopped basil.
Kid-friendly Tasks:
- Gathering ingredients
- Washing the tomatoes and cucumber
- Placing each ingredient into the bowl
- Stirring
- Sprinkling basil
Yogurt Berry Parfait
(serves: 2)
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups plain fat-free yogurt
- ½ cup blueberries
- ½ cup sliced strawberries
- ½ cup crunchy whole grain cereal (suggested: Kashi Good Friends or Post Grape-Nuts)
Directions:
In two tall glasses, alternate layers of yogurt, berries, and cereal.
Kid-friendly Tasks:
- Gathering ingredients
- Washing berries
- Measuring berries and cereal
- Layering the ingredients
Veggie Pizza
(serves 4)
Ingredients:
- 1 (12-inch) 100% whole wheat pizza crust or dough rolled out to 12-inch circle
- ¾ cup tomato sauce
- 1 ¼ cup shredded low-fat mozzarella cheese
- Toppings of your choice: chopped bell pepper, broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, mushrooms, shredded carrots
- Cooking spray
Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Place pizza crust on a baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray. Spread tomato sauce onto crust, top with cheese and veggies. Bake for approximately 12-14 minutes, until cheese, is melted and crust is golden.
Kid-friendly Tasks:
- Gathering ingredients
- Washing vegetables
- Slicing veggies (for older kids)
- Sprinkling cheese and toppings on the pizza.
Fruit Salsa
(serves: 8)
Ingredients:
- 1 medium pear, diced
- 1 mango, diced
- 1-pint strawberries, diced
- 2 plums, diced
- 1 teaspoon honey
Directions:
Place fruit in a large bowl. Drizzle with honey and toss to combine. Serve with 100% whole wheat pita chips. Alternatively, use as a topping for a green salad, chicken breast or fish.
Kid-friendly Tasks:
- Gathering ingredients
- Dicing fruit (for older kids)
- Placing chopped fruit into a bowl
- Drizzling honey
- Mixing
- Placing pita chips and salsa on a serving platter
Baked Sweet Potato Chips
(serves: 4)
Ingredients:
- 2 – 3 sweet potatoes or yams
- Cooking spray
- Dash of salt and pepper, if desired
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Thinly slice sweet potatoes into rounds and place on a baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray. Sprinkle with a dash of salt and pepper, if desired. Bake for 20 minutes, turn over and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes or until crispy.
Kid-friendly Tasks:
- Gathering ingredients
- Washing the sweet potatoes
- Placing potato slices on the baking sheet
Now put these new skills into action, by having your kids help pack their lunch!
