Sharing moments of distraction as a family is essential, and cooking with our children is one of them. We have prepared interesting and attractive recipes for children, especially the little ones, to get them used to eating everything and forming good eating habits.
Cooking with young children is a great way to encourage them to eat everything. We have decided to offer two types of recipes: those that we can prepare to make children want to eat everything, with striking and attractive dishes, and other recipes that you can cook with children, such as homemade bread, cookie snacks, recipes without cooking, and other surprises.
Sometimes, presenting a food in a fun way can encourage kids to try things they might be skeptical about. We invite you to prepare spaghetti with meatballs, presenting the dish in an attractive way, with the meatballs inside as if they were little birds in a nest. Simply cut carrot triangles for the beak and some slices of cheese and zucchini (or olives) for the eyes.
The same goes for rice with tomato or risotto, quite ordinary: we make a circle on the plate and decorate it with olives to turn it into a ladybug!
All children love bread, and we can use it to make a delicious stuffed bread. Isn’t this hippo funny?
With any bread recipe, you can shape them into rolls and fill them with both sweet and savory fillings. Another option are these stuffed pigs, which can be prepared sweet or savory. In this case, due to the way they are prepared, they can be filled like dumplings.
Many children have difficulty eating vegetables, so presenting them attractively can make a difference. For example, try carrot croquettes or vegetable boats, they will definitely liven up.
Tips for cooking with young children:
* Choose age-appropriate tasks: Assign chores to your children that are safe and appropriate for their level of development. Young children can help wash vegetables, stir ingredients, or decorate dishes.
* Be patient and understanding: Cooking with kids can take longer and be a little messier than usual. Be patient, have fun, and don’t worry too much about perfection!
* Turn the kitchen into a fun place: Play music, sing songs with them and make the experience as pleasant as possible for the children.
* Praise their efforts: Recognize and praise your children’s efforts, even if the results are not perfect. Your support will encourage them to continue participating in the kitchen.
* Make it a regular experience: Try to cook with your children regularly, whether once a week or even daily. The more they practice, the more confidence and skills they will develop.
Cooking with young children brings many benefits:
* Develop valuable life skills: From learning to follow directions and measuring ingredients to improving fine motor skills and coordination, cooking gives children the opportunity to learn practical skills that will serve them well in the future.
* Promotes healthy eating: By getting involved in food preparation, children are more likely to try new foods and develop healthy eating habits. Experimenting with different flavors and textures in the kitchen can spark their curiosity and get them interested in eating more nutritiously.
* Increase self-confidence: Completing tasks in the kitchen and seeing the end result gives children a great sense of accomplishment and increases their self-confidence. They will feel proud of having contributed to the preparation of the meal and will enjoy recognition for their work.
* Strengthens family ties: Cooking with kids is a great way to spend quality time as a family. It is an activity that can be enjoyed regardless of age, and provides the opportunity to create happy memories and share moments of connection.
* Stimulates creativity and experimentation: The kitchen is an ideal space for children to experiment and let their imagination fly. They can create their own recipes, try different flavor combinations and decorate the dishes in an original way.
Cooking with young children can be a rewarding and enriching experience for the entire family!