Kids in the Kitchen

foodsandflavors ™ ~ Courtney Tevepaugh

Courtney Tevepaugh

photo: Pixels On Paper Photography

Kids in the Kitchen

WRITER Courtney Tevepaugh

Family and Consumer Science Agent, Wilkes County North Carolina Cooperative Extension Courtney_tevepaugh@ncsu.edu Follow along on Facebook @wilkesFCS

Now that my little one is growing he is able to help a bit in the kitchen. I’ll be the first to admit when crunched for time sometimes having a little person who wants to help can add to the stress. In those moments it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. I have to remind myself that one of the best ways to encourage healthy eating in children is to allow them room to participate in cooking.

Cooking with children helps to excite them about what’s on the table and they are more likely to eat what’s prepared if they were able to have a hand in fixing it. For example, my little boy is at the stage where he wants to show his independence. I can let him participate in small ways that make him feel like he has a very important role. In addition to the positive relationship with food that cooking together brings, children also can learn reading, math, and science simply through helping in the kitchen. Next time you have children in your kitchen I encourage you to let them help. It will take more time and energy, but the memories made, relationships fostered, and knowledge gained is worth so much more.

Here are some ideas to get children involved in the kitchen by age. Remember these are suggestions, children still need adult supervision while completing these tasks. You know your child best and can decide when a task is developmentally appropriate.

Preschool (2-5 years)

Stir batter in a bowl Rinse fresh produce Use cookie or biscuit cutters Cut soft fruits and vegetables with a butter knife

Young Children (6-8 years)

Use a can opener, garlic press, or juicer Grate cheese Fry eggs and grilled cheese sandwiches Use paring knife

Preteens (9-12 years)

Trim and slice vegetables Put foods in oven and remove Bake quick breads Use chefs knife

Teenagers (13-16 years)

Efficiently chop, dice, and mince Panfry and grill foods Use all kitchen appliances Bake yeast doughs

Family-Friendly Recipe: Bread In a Bag Yields 1 loaf Cooking spray, loaf pan 3 cups all-purpose flour, divided 1/4 cup sugar 1 (.-ounce) package active dry yeast 1 cup warm water 3 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 2 teaspoons kosher salt

Preheat oven to 375ºF. Spray loaf pan with cooking spray. In a resealable plastic bag, place 1 cup flour, sugar & yeast. Add warm water. Seal bag. Squish together with your hands to mix. Let rest 10 minutes at room temperature. (Yeast should activate.) Add 1 cup flour, oil & salt to the bag. Seal bag and squish together. Add remaining cup of flour. Mix until combined. Remove from bag. Knead 5 minutes until smooth. Let rise 30 minutes. Brush top of bread with olive oil or melted butter. Bake until golden, about 30 minutes.

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