How to Involve Your Kids in Food Preparation and Choices
- Bridgette Matthewson
- Jun 19
- 2 min read
Why It Matters
Getting your kids excited about food and make healthy choices lays the foundation for a lifetime of nutritious eating.
Involving children in the kitchen and with the food selection process not only raises a confident cook but also empowers them with a sense of ownership and curiosity which ultimately can reduce picky eating.
How To Involve Children
The key is to make tasks age-appropriate, remembering to always supervise young helpers. Here’s a breakdown that can be used as a guide - each stage offering an opportunity for kids to feel capable and contribute in a meaningful way:
Toddlers (2-4): Washing veggies, tearing lettuce, stirring and or pouring pre-measured ingredients.
Early school-age (5-7): Measuring ingredients and assembling simple recipes (e.g. assembling sandwiches or arranging toppings on a pizza).
Older kids (8-12): Reading recipes, using more tools (graters, peelers, knives) and basic cooking under supervision.
Teens: Full recipe responsibility, meal planning and even managing a grocery budget.
Making It Fun
Children are naturally curious, so turn food preparation into a fun and engaging experience:
Grocery games: Ask them to find a new fruit or vegetable to try or challenge them to pick a cereal with less than 6g of sugar per serving.
Invent a dish: Let them come up with their own recipe - bonus points for giving it a fun name like “Lucy’s Superpower Stir-Fry.” Perhaps you could even challenge them to prepare a meal that includes vegetables from every colour of the rainbow or to even add an ingredient from each food group.
Grow your own: Whether it’s some fresh basil or cherry tomatoes from the garden, children love harvesting ingredients they’ve grown themselves.
Navigating Common Challenges
Let’s face it - cooking with kids isn’t always picture-perfect. Here are a few common hurdles and how to handle them:
Messy kitchens: Cleanup as you go along or assign rotating “clean-up crew” duties. Alternatively, make cleanup part of the routine - turning it into a race game with music.
Reluctant kids: Give them choices (“would you rather help with the salad or packing your lunchbox?”). Starting with small decisions leads to bigger involvement over time.
Short attention spans: Keep tasks short and hands-on (e.g., grating cheese or arranging toppings). You could even set a timer: “let’s see how many strawberries we can slice in 2 minutes”.
Fear of trying new foods: Make it a game: “Let’s rate this on crunchiness!”
These shared kitchen moments aren’t just about the food - they’re about connection, growth and building lasting memories. Remember to focus on creativity over perfection - spills are part of learning!
Call us today or book online to take the first step toward making food a fun, positive part of your family life.
We have branches in Lonehill, at Concourse Medical Centre, and in Broadacres, at The Paddock Medical Centre.
コメント