Sharing in the Kitchen with kids...
Karen Schachter, contributing editor
Sharing mealtime responsibilities with children is one of the best ways to engage a child’s curiosity about food, invite them to explore their taste buds and expand their knowledge of all kinds of interesting and healthy foods. It is also a wonderful way to teach math concepts (measuring), science concepts (mixing), and boost their confidence (“look what I made!”).
Sharing the responsibilities of preparing a meal and then enjoying it together is one of the best ways to connect and communicate with children! Studies have shown that children who have regular family dinners not only eat healthier, but also have a decreased risk of substance abuse, smoking, and alcohol use, as well as improved grades in school.
Sharing time in the kitchen means children are absorbing not just the nutrients from healthy food, but the true nourishment that comes from spending time with, exploring and learning from you, their role model.
Here are a few ideas for working with your kids in the kitchen:
- Be safe in the kitchen. Make sure you have child-friendly kitchen equipment on hand and teach your children how to use them properly.
- Keep tasks age-appropriate.
- Keep it simple — choosing recipes that are easy and just a few steps to complete. Remember, young children have short attention spans and the idea is to keep them interested!
- Make time for exploration and by all means, have fun! Keep in mind that for children, it’s all about the process.
- Wash hands thoroughly and regularly.
Here’s an easy, child-friendly recipe — perfect for sharing with your kids:
Sauteed Kale
1 bunch kale, washed and dried thoroughly
1 small sweet onion (Vidalia is a good one), chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
Olive oil
Sea salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
1 teaspoon lemon juice
½ teaspoon honey
- Begin with having children wash their hands in warm soapy water. Rinse away all soap and dry hands with a clean paper towel.
- Rinse kale with cold water to remove all dirt from leaves and stems
- Have children remove stems from kale and tear into large pieces
- Heat olive oil in sauté pan and add onion to heated pan. Cook on medium heat.
- Saute until just tender and add garlic clove. Stir and cook an additional 1 minute.
- Add kale and sauté until wilted or limp
- Add honey and sea salt.
- Lower heat and continue cooking for about 2 minutes. Turn off heat.
- Add lemon juice and mix thoroughly
A note from Bonnie — because kale tends to be a little strong for younger palettes, the honey will help to mellow out the flavor. Lemon juice is added to create a “nice” fresh note to the dish.