how to include kids in the kitchen | cook smarts 'how to raise healthy eaters' series

Kids of every age can play a role in the kitchen! The more they’re exposed to food and cooking, the more likely they are to build a curiosity and appreciation for food and health. Here are some great ways to include kids of any age in the cooking process.

SHARING COOKING KNOWLEDGE A curiosity for food and cooking can be shared at an early age. Share your knowledge and include kids in the decision making process - younger kids especially love it when you give them responsibility that they don’t expect.

Introduce them to the names of different ingredients

SHARING COOKING KNOWLEDGE

Discuss the meal – tastes and textures and what they enjoyed

SHARING COOKING KNOWLEDGE

Brainstorm meal ideas together

SHARING COOKING KNOWLEDGE

Taste things

SHARING COOKING KNOWLEDGE

Grow a garden

SHARING COOKING KNOWLEDGE

IMPROVING THEIR ARITHMETIC It's never too early to teach kids fractions. Let kids use a scale to weigh ingredients or measuring spoons and cups for sauces, vinaigrettes, and spice mixes. Challenge older kids by asking them to scale and adjust measurements.

Add pre-measured ingredients

IMPROVING THEIR ARITHMETIC

Measure and weigh ingredients

IMPROVING THEIR ARITHMETIC

Scale and adjust ingredients

IMPROVING THEIR ARITHMETIC

OPERATING TOOLS & APPLIANCES Getting children comfortable with kitchen tools and appliances will give them increased confidence in the kitchen.

Hold down buttons (on salad spinners, food processors, blenders) with supervision

OPERATING TOOLS AND APPLIANCES

Operate tools and appliances on their own

OPERATING TOOLS AND APPLIANCES

CREATING A GREAT SOUS CHEF Younger kids can do lots with a pair of scissors, their hands, or even a special kid's knife. You can slowly graduate them to using an adult knife when they're ready. The earlier they start helping with the chopping, the sooner they'll become your awesome sous chef.

Tear greens by hand, like lettuce, kale, and chard

PREPPING AND CHOPPING

Use scissors to trim green beans, slice bell peppers

PREPPING AND CHOPPING

Prep easy-to-chop ingredients with a kid’s knife

PREPPING AND CHOPPING

Prep easy-to-chop ingredients with a regular knife

PREPPING AND CHOPPING

Prep ingredients with a chef’s knife

PREPPING AND CHOPPING

CREATING CONFIDENT LITTLE COOKS Younger kids can participate in the cooking process with safe and easy tasks like assembling, stirring, and seasoning. As kids get older, consider delegating a part of dinner to them. It'll give them ownership and also build life skills they'll get to use forever!

Assemble pizzas and casseroles

CREATING CONFIDENT COOKS

Stirring and shaking (soups and breading)

COOKING

Seasoning and tenderizing proteins with a fork

COOKING

Put them in charge of making salad dressings

COOKING

Be responsible for a part of dinner

COOKING

Live happier, simpler, smarter in the kitchen Click here to learn more on how to create healthy eaters