A Culinary Twofer

By Shannon Marsh

Teach Skills and Make Memories with Your Kids in the Kitchen

Teaching kids how to cook is one of the most important life skills we can give them. They get excited about food, interested in trying new things and shine with pride when they accomplish cooking a meal. Many kids today are eager food television fans, so theyve learned a lot of culinary information. Working hands-on in the kitchen allows them to dive deeper.

When I was growing up, my parents exposed me to lots of different cuisines through travel in Europe. Im fortunate for those experiences because it opened my mind and palate to a world of flavors. The more we can expose kids to different cuisines, the less likely they are to be picky eaters. Kids are curious by nature, so why not take advantage of that with food? My mom and I often baked together after school days, making cookies and brownies. I credit those memorable times in the kitchen with her to my life-long passion for baking and pastry making.

Tips and Safety Rules:

Use good, quality ingredients. When cooking from scratch, the goal is to eat more whole foods and less processed foods.

With older kids, review the differences between wet and dry measuring. For younger children, you may need to measure out ingredients ahead of time.

Know that cooking with kids can get messy. Encourage a clean-as-you-go mentality, and enlist their help to clean up.

Teach kids basic cooking techniques and how to follow recipes. After they develop a higher level of comfort in the kitchen, then they can try to wing it, and let their style lead the way.

Think about what happens at a kids eye level. Check for proper table height, and have step stools/chairs when needed.

No sharp knives for small children. Keep them out of reach.

For older kids, knife safety is key. Model for kids how to properly hold a knife. Curl fingertips under during cutting, and safely walk a knife with the tip down to the sink for cleaning. I often suggest to adults to sharpen their own skills by enrolling in a knife skills cooking class.

Hand washing is crucial. Avoid touching hair, face, floor, etc. after hands are clean. Always clean items that were in contact with raw meat and eggs immediately after use.

Make sure all pot and skillet handles are turned inward during use on the stove, so they arent sticking out and get bumped.

Make sure all ingredients are measured and equipment is at your fingertips.

Praise them! Let kids know they did a great job!

Benefits of Getting Into the Kitchen with Your Kids:

 It exposes your family to new recipes, flavors and cuisines. Change up your routine by testing recipes with your kids, and discover new family favorites.

You make healthier choices. Its a common fact that when we cook at home, we are empowered to make more healthy eating decisions. We know exactly where our ingredients come from, and we can control the fat, sugar and salt content.

You have the opportunity to be creative and build self-confidence. Allowing your kids to follow their inspiration in the kitchen builds imagination. Maybe not every dish is a winner, but trying new recipes is a great way to instill confidence and encourage flexible thinking.

You learn to plan and stick to a food budget.

You enjoy quality time connecting with family in a way that fosters teamwork.

Kids are more likely to eat what they make. Along the way, they enhance science, math, problem-solving, sharing, communication, reading and fine motor skills.

Whats Age Appropriate?

Toddlers: putting ingredients away, setting the table, washing produce, washing hands, wipe up countertops, mix ingredients for batters, cut cookies with cookie cutters or using a pastry brush to paint oil or melted butter onto bread.

Ages 6-9: cracking eggs, using a peeler on fruits and vegetables, measuring out ingredients, loading the dishwasher, cutting herbs with scissors, mixing dough and batters together, beating eggs, juicing citrus, shaping burgers and pounding out chicken.

Ages 10-12: reading and prepping recipes, pulling equipment out, measuring ingredients accurately, sauting and simmering on the stove, boiling pasta, beginning knife skills, slicing or chopping vegetables (with supervision) or baking items in the oven.