Did you know that if you start your meal with rice, you end up with a meal that’s better for you (and your family)? People tend to add colorful veggies, lean meats and spices to their rice which makes it a healthier meal. And, did you know that when you cook together, you are building a stronger family by creating bonding time?
I love cooking with my kids! It’s so much fun to watch them learn about cooking (and all the scientific things that come with it) and to spend quality time with them! For me, baking with my kids was so much easier than COOKING … until I implemented these tips:
1. Be prepared – Have everything you will need out and ready to go! If it’s possible, have everything pre-measured and in little bowls so your kids can just dump what they need when it’s time!
2. Let them have a say – If you give your kids healthy choices as to what to make for dinner they are more likely to eat it. They will have more fun helping to create it because they picked it! Additionally, if you can take your kids grocery shopping with you, let them have a say in what fruits and veggies to buy there.
3. Make moments teachable – Your kids will have questions, be prepared to answer them (or look them up together). And, make sure you talk about why your ingredients are healthy and what they can do for you/your body.
4. Cleanliness – Make sure your kids know (and understand) the importance of hand-washing before you start meal preparations! (I don’t want dirt and germs in MY food! 😉 )
5. Give them jobs – Allow your kids to help cut veggies and herbs! Just be sure you are giving them a safe knife. (When we cook with garlic, my kids use a rolling chopper and LOVE it!)
6. Boost ’em up – Bring in a stool so that the kids can reach! If they can’t reach, coking is not going to be an enjoyable task.
7. Give them the proper gear – Buy or make an apron they LOVE! We bought white aprons from a craft store, and the boys decorated them with puffy paint. The aprons are awesome, and they boys enjoy wearing them because they made them. My kids know that they need to have their aprons on before we can start cooking.
8. Dedicated space – Give each kid a section of your counter top to use as their work space. It’s just like having space to color or draw. Let them get creative with their choices of what to chop in their space.
9. Don’t force it – If you kid is done helping, make sure they wash their hands and return their apron, and let them be done. Learning to cook won’t be fun if it’s forced! The kitchen should be a place where fun, laughter, happiness and deliciousness is created.
My kids and I love cooking with one another and we no longer step on each other’s toes (so to speak) when we are working together. I hope you’ll implement some of my tips and let me know how they work for you!
Do you cook with your kids? What are some of your best tips?
What are some of their favorite things to cook with you?
Now, challenge your kid(s) and their cooking abilities by entering the Ben’s Beginner’s Contest!
To empower and encourage parents to connect with their kids, one meal at a time, Uncle Ben’s has launched an exciting national contest called Ben’s Beginners! By entering the contest, you could win $20,000, along with a $50,000 grant towards a cafeteria makeover for your child’s school. In addition, you will have a chance to appear onThe Rachael Ray show! Uncle Ben’s is calling for parents with children ages 5-12 to submit a 2-3 minute video of you cooking a rice-based dish with your children. For more info on the contest, please check out Ben’s Beginners on Facebook!
**Full Disclosure: I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Uncle Ben’s blogging program, for 6,000 My SocialMoms Rewards Points. For more information on how you can participate, click here. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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