Little chefs in the making

How to cook with your children?

Cooking with your children may sound fun…and also challenging!! Yet, encouraging kids to cook is a great way to build their confidence, teach them valuable life skills, and promote healthy eating habits.

How can we get children interested in cooking, especially if they are picky eaters or easily distracted? If you’re struggling to get your little ones in the kitchen, don’t worry – it’s never too late to start!

In this blog post, I will share four tips and tricks to make cooking with kids fun, easy, and educational. Whether you’re a seasoned home cook or a novice in the kitchen, these tips will help you get your children excited about cooking and make mealtime a fun and interactive experience for the whole family.

In addition, I will introduce you to one of our new favorite ingredients, Lion’s Mane mushroom. Check out the video of my daughter!

Tips to get kids cooking in the kitchen

1. Make Cooking with Children Fun

The key to getting kids interested in cooking is to make it fun and engaging.

• • Start by choosing recipes that are colorful, flavorful, and visually appealing, such as fruit smoothies, rainbow salads, or homemade pizzas.
  • Let your kids help choose the ingredients and involve them in the cooking process as much as possible.
  • Give them small tasks like washing vegetables, measuring ingredients, or stirring the mixture, and praise their efforts along the way.
  • You can also play some fun music or sing silly songs while cooking to make the experience

2. Give your children ownership when you cook

Giving your kids ownership over certain aspects of the cooking process can help build their confidence and sense of responsibility. Encourage them to take charge of tasks like seasoning the dish, plating it up, or choosing the garnish.

This ownership will not only make them feel like an important part of the meal preparation, but it will also help them develop their culinary skills and creativity.

Additionally, they will be more likely to eat what they cook, and it will increase their appreciation for the process.

You can also let your kids plan and prepare a meal on their own, with your supervision and guidance. Give them a budget and a list of ingredients, and challenge them to come up with a healthy and tasty meal within the constraints. This will help them develop their organizational and planning skills, as well as their cooking skills. 

3. Keep cooking with children simple

When it comes to cooking with kids, it’s important to start with simple recipes that are easy to follow and require minimal equipment. There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to follow a complicated recipe with a fussy child in the kitchen, so keep it simple and stress-free. Stick to recipes with only a few ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions, like homemade granola bars, scrambled eggs, or fruit kebabs.

You can also involve your kids in meal planning and grocery shopping, which will help them learn about nutrition, food preparation, and budgeting. Take them to the farmers’ market or grocery store and let them choose the ingredients for the week’s meals. This will not only give them a sense of ownership over the meal planning process, but it will also expose them to new foods and flavors.

4. Introduce new ingredients when you cook with children

Introducing new ingredients and flavors is a great way to expand your kids’ culinary horizons and get them excited about cooking. Instead of relying on the same old recipes and ingredients, try incorporating new and unusual ingredients like Lion’s Mane mushrooms, quinoa, or tofu. Not only will this expose your kids to new and exciting flavors, but it will also help them develop a more adventurous palate.

Lion’s Mane mushrooms, in particular, are a great ingredient to introduce to your kids. These meaty, flavorful mushrooms are not only delicious, but they also support immune system function and promote brain power. They have a mild, nutty flavor and a texture that resembles cooked lobster or crab.

Enjoy cooking with your children 

Looking for a way to get your kids interested in cooking? Look no further! With these tips, you can make cooking fun, give your kids ownership in the kitchen, and keep things simple.

Let your kids help choose ingredients and get creative with recipes. Encourage them to take charge of certain aspects of the cooking process to build their confidence and make them feel like an important part of meal prep. And don’t forget to start with easy recipes that require minimal equipment.

Plus, check out the delicious and nutritious addition of Lion’s Mane mushrooms! So, get ready to cook up a storm with your little ones and make some memories in the kitchen.