With our kids potentially home for the summer and possibly into the fall, what better way to engage them than to get them involved in the kitchen. I know this might sound like the last thing you want to do as it may seem… dare I say it… more work for you. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Remember the countless number of skills we have taught our children always begin with small ‘baby’ steps and progress according to your child’s interest and capabilities. Working with your child in the kitchen is no different.
Meal prepping is a skill that is learned and gets better with practice. However, when we cook with our kids, we often prep everything for them. Here are some ideas for how to include your children in meal planning and meal preparation, which are not only fun but simple too!
Planning:
• Talk about individual preferences with your child and also the importance of being open to trying new ingredients. Ask if they would be open to tasting a new dish that has some familiar ingredients and some that are different. If they end up liking the new ingredients, your family will have more options for future meals.
• If age-appropriate, encourage your child to be the Director of the Shopping List. You can also dictate your shopping list to your child and have them write out your weekly shopping list. Spelling isn’t an essential part of this task, and phonetic spelling is genuinely okay. However, you could ask your child to try to find the item in the kitchen and copy the spelling down… then it will become like a game for them.
Prepping:
• Observe what sparks interest for your child in the kitchen, as this will be useful as to what prep task your child is more likely to enjoy. If your child likes to press buttons and see how things work, have them toss in fruits, veggies, nuts, and nut milk into the blender to see how the items transform into a smoothie.
• Even in the summer, sometimes your week could be too busy. If this is the case, try to set a routine by committing to 1-2 hours every weekend to get your children involved with one of your meals. Doing this will not only increase their proficiency in the kitchen but will also make for some quality time.
Easy Summer Recipe
Orange Dreamsicle Power Pops
by Chef Maja Liotta
Ingredients
1 can of full fat coconut milk
1 small can of coconut cream (you can buy this at Mana)
2 oranges, cuties, tangelos or whatever fresh orangy citrus you have, peeled and seeds removed
¼ teaspoon Himalayan salt
Agave nectar (to taste)
3 table spoon Chia seeds
Directions
Blend all ingredients
Pour into molds, freeze and enjoy!
Join Swell Mom (Me-Shell Mijangos) and Lilikoi Creations (Chef Maja Liotta) for free ZOOM weekly cooking classes appropriately named, “Thyme to Cook with your Kids.” To register go to https://www.swellnesscoaching.com/pl/165455
Image Credit: Thyme to Cook with your Kids
