Fun and Interactive Ways to Get Kids Involved in Cooking

Most children are not natural-born cooks but learning how to cook can encourage kids to feel like they have ownership of the food they put into their bodies.

Get your kids excited about cooking wholesome, delicious meals that are also healthy. The trick is getting them involved in the process so it feels like something they can own and take responsibility for. Sitting bored at the kitchen table while mom or dad is hunched over a hot stove stirring pots doesn't tend to endear kids to mealtime. And let's be honest: most children are not natural-born home cooks. But there are ways to encourage kids to feel like they have ownership of the food they put into their bodies. 

Why Involve Your Child With Cooking?

Let's face it, no kid wants to be forced to eat anything, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to get them interested in wholesome ingredients and flavors from an early age. Eating healthy doesn't have to be boring or tasteless, so it's important to instill in your child a curiosity about all the different foods that are out there and how they all taste. By trying and working with new foods and experimenting with flavors, your child can discover which foods he or she likes and which ones aren't so appetizing.

As your child gets older, you can also try to incorporate healthy eating into fun activities. Cooking together as a family not only facilitates bonding but also helps your child learn about nutrition. As your child becomes more knowledgeable about what's in the foods he or she eats, they will probably be more interested in trying new things. Here are some ideas on how you could involve your child in the cooking process so they feel more invested and eager when eating meals you make together.

Be age-appropriate and let kids choose what to make

If you have a child who has never been interested in cooking, you're going to have to start slow. Even if you have a very precocious child, of course, you want to take their stage of development into account. You don't want to overwhelm them with too many steps, too much responsibility, too many ingredients, or too much noise. 

Be sure to keep things simple and age-appropriate and then slowly add more as your child shows an interest and enthusiasm for the process. Let your child choose what to make and try to find a recipe that's not too many steps above their level of experience. You can always go back to that meal again when they are a little more experienced and have developed a taste for cooking.

Use pantry staples as ingredients and build from there

If your child has expressed an interest in cooking but seems overwhelmed by all the "grown-up" recipes out there, bring them back to the basics. It's fun to experiment with recipes and create new dishes from scratch, but sometimes it's good to know where to start. The most effective way to get kids interested in cooking is to get them interested in eating. If your child hates brussels sprouts, there's no point in trying to get them to make brussels sprouts. 

You're not going to get them interested in the process or feel empowered in the kitchen if they don't have a stake in what they're making. Start with simple flavors that are easy to grow and are readily available in the supermarket. Find recipes that use ingredients you can find in your pantry and fridge (or even your garden) and build from there.

Let them do the mixing and measuring

Some children get excited about the process of cooking and really enjoy the challenge of following a recipe. Other kids may prefer to focus on one aspect of the process that really interests them. Mixing and measuring are great ways to get kids involved in cooking without having to worry about following a recipe. 

Have your child measure out pantry staples like salt, sugar, and spices and let them put them into shakers. They can also mix up batters, muffin ingredients, and pancake mix. Mixing might seem like a pretty basic task, but it can be a lot of fun when you're getting creative with ingredients and recipes.

Have kids help you shop for ingredients

You don't want to send your child out into the world unprepared, so they should always be accompanied by an adult when they go grocery shopping. But there's no reason they can't help you select ingredients and learn how to read nutrition facts and ingredient labels. Let your child help you shop for ingredients you're going to use in recipes. 

When you're browsing the produce aisle, let your child pick out vegetables they'd like to see in the dish you're making. Letting your child select ingredients means they're more invested in the process and have a better understanding of where their food comes from and how it's prepared.

Try a little bit of everything before deciding what you like

Kids of all ages love to try new foods. You can encourage your child to be adventurous at mealtimes by offering them a small sample of something new before they dive into their main course. Let your child try a bite of whatever you're eating before they decide if they want to eat it or not. If they don't like it, don't force them. 

This isn't a test, and they don't have to finish it. Just encourage them to try a bite and see what they think. If they like it, give them another little sample before they eat their main course. Eventually, they'll want to try the main course, too.

Watch cooking shows with your kids

Whether it's a cooking show on television or a YouTube series, the best way to encourage kids to love cooking is to get them started early. By watching cooking shows with your kids, you are exposing them to a new set of role models to whom they can look up. This is especially important for young girls who might not have many female role models in their lives.

While watching these cooking shows, talk about what you are seeing with your kids. Ask them questions about what they would like to try cooking one day. Ask them if they have tried any of the recipes that they have seen on TV. Cooking shows are great for kids because they often have a detailed tutorial that your child can follow along with. Most of these shows are geared toward teens and adults, so kids can still learn from them.

Try making a meal your child is already excited about eating

Let your child choose a recipe and make a meal that they're already excited about eating. If your child loves nachos, let them make nachos. If they love pancakes, let them make pancakes. If there's something they already love to eat, let them make it. Let them use their imagination, explore new flavors, and get creative with the process. They'll gain an entirely new appreciation for cooking and be eager to make meals again and again. Try different recipes and use your imagination. Make meals that appeal to all different tastes, including kids.

Conclusion

The most important thing is to keep trying. You won't get it right every time, but you will get better at it. If your child shows no interest in cooking at all, there's nothing wrong with that. Not every child should be expected to love cooking or want to participate in the process. But for the children who do enjoy the process, it can be a great way to get them interested in food, nutrition, and the way their bodies work. 

Cooking is a great way to keep your kids engaged and interested in their food while also teaching them important skills they can use throughout their lives. Even if they don't want to be a chef as a career, these skills will still come in handy! Visit Educationalcraft.com to learn more about how to nurture your child and spend more quality time with them.

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