cooking with kids

When kids help make healthy food, they are more likely to try it. Show kids how to:

❁ measure grains and liquids.

❁ package cooked grains for the freezer.

Depending on their skills, show kids how to:

❁ Measure flours and other dry ingredients

❁ Mash bananas

❁ Crack and beat eggs

❁ Use a ¼ cup measuring cup to dip and pour batter

When kids help prepare snacks, they are more likely to try them. Show kids how to:

❁ wash fruits or vegetables.

❁ prepare snack bags/cups.

❁ measure and mix ingredients.

❁ pour water to serve with the snacks.

When kids help make healthy food, they are more likely to try it. Show kids how to:

❁ rinse berries under cool running water.

❁ mash berries with a fork or potato masher.

❁ measure and mix ingredients.

When kids help make healthy food, they are more likely to try it. Show kids how to:

❁ gently wipe or rinse mushrooms.

❁ use a cutting board to slice or chop vegetables.

❁ measure dry or liquid ingredients.

❁ use a long handled spoon or spatula to sauté safely.

When kids help make healthy food, they are more likely to try it. Show kids how to:

❁ safely handle the sharp lids when opening cans.

❁ measure ingredients.

❁ use a spatula to break up ground beef as it browns.

When kids help make healthy food, they are more likely to try it. Show kids how to:

❁ rinse vegetables under running water.

❁ keep track of blanching time.

❁ put vegetables on a flat pan for freezing.

When kids help make healthy food, they are more likely to try it. Show kids how to:

❁ tear bread

❁ beat eggs

❁ measure ingredients

❁ mash soft bones with a fork

When kids help make healthy food, they are more likely to try it. Show kids how to:

❁ rinse the peel of whole oranges under running water just before using.

❁ peel and separate orange segments.

❁ measure and mix ingredients.

When kids help make healthy food, they are more likely to try it. Show kids how to:

❁ scrub cucumbers under running water.

❁ safely peel cucumbers using a vegetable peeler.

❁ measure and mix ingredients.

❁ arrange a plate of colorful vegetables.

When kids help make healthy food, they are more likely to try it. Show kids how to:

❁ measure and mix ingredients.

❁ press cauliflower mixture into balls or logs.

❁ wash hands after touching raw eggs (after cracking eggs and after pressing the balls or logs)

When kids help make healthy food, they are more likely to try it. Show kids how to:

❁ scrub parsnips with a clean vegetable brush under running water.

❁ measure and mix ingredients.

❁ spread parsnips on a pan for roasting.

When kids help make healthy food, they are more likely to try it. Show kids how to:

❁ gather ingredients and tools for cooking.

❁ measure and mix ingredients.

❁ drop cookies on greased baking sheet and flatten before baking.

When kids help make healthy food, they are more likely to try it. Show kids how to:

❁ scrub potatoes under running water.

❁ choose their own potato toppings for a quick meal.

When kids help make healthy food, they are more likely to try it. Show kids how to:

❁ wash produce under cool running water.

❁ measure ingredients and stir them together.

❁ grate summer squash with a box

When kids help make healthy food, they are more likely to try it. Show kids how to:

❁ wash and clean peppers.

❁ measure and mix ingredients.

❁ assemble bell pepper nachos.

When kids help make healthy food, they are more likely to try it. Show kids how to:

❁ safely handle sharp lids when opening cans.

❁ fill a blender part way and be sure the lid is on tight.

When kids help make healthy food, they are more likely to try it. Show kids how to:

❁ wash vegetables under cool running water.

❁ sprinkle ingredients on a tortilla for a quesadilla.

❁ measure spices and other ingredients.

When kids help make healthy food, they are more likely to try it. Show kids how to:

❁ pour milk into glasses to drink with a meal.

❁ shake or blend a smoothie.

❁ stir milk into pudding mix and add fruit.

When kids help make healthy food, they are more likely to try it. Show kids how to:

❁ swish greens in a bowl of water to remove dirt.

❁ peel or cut fruit or veggies.

❁ measure and stir ingredients for salad dressings.

When kids help make healthy food, they are more likely to try it.

Show kids how to:

❁ measure and mix ingredients together.

❁ wash and cut up fruits and vegetables for dipping.

Kids Can!

When kids help make healthy food, they are more likely to try it. Show kids how to:

❁ snip green onions or chives with kitchen scissors.

❁ put onions in the refrigerator before cutting.

When kids help make healthy food, they are more likely to try it.

Show kids how to:

❁ wash pears under cool running water.

❁ safely use a can opener.

❁ use a spoon to remove the seed core and cut a long ‘v’ to remove the fibers from the core to the stem.

When kids help make healthy food, they are more likely to try it.

Show kids how to:

❁ wipe off can lids before opening.

❁ use a can opener and safely handle sharp edges.

❁ mix ingredients together.

When kids help make healthy food, they are more likely to try it.

Show kids how to:

❁ wash Brussels sprouts under cool running water and pull off outer leaves.

❁ spread Brussels sprouts on a pan for roasting.

When kids help make healthy food, they are more likely to try it.

Show kids how to:

❁ adjust the temperature on the stove.

❁ measure ingredients and stir things together.

❁ wash and chop veggies or cooked meat.

When kids help make healthy food, they are more likely to try it.

Show kids how to:

❁ measure and mix ingredients.

❁ crumble tofu or cut it into slices, cubes or sticks.

When kids help make healthy food, they are more likely to try it.

Show kids how to:

❁ peel hard-cooked eggs.

❁ cut or tear bread into cubes.

❁ mix ingredients together.

When kids help make healthy food, they are more likely to try it.

Show kids how to:

❁ roll or pat dough into shapes with a rolling pin or clean hands.

❁ grate cheese or slice veggies and fruit.

❁ spread the sauce with the back of a spoon.

When kids help make healthy food, they are more likely to try it.

Show kids how to:

❁ find and remove small rocks or other seeds and plant parts from dried lentils.

❁ use a colander to rinse lentils under cool running water.