The connection between making chocolate chip cookies and healthy eating may not seem obvious, but learning to cook is fundamental to helping your child become an independent young adult who can nutritiously feed themselves.  In the pre-dinner madness your child’s kitchen “help” is not always appreciated, but it is worth finding time to explore cooking together.

Generally all preschoolers are capable of washing fruits and vegetables, pouring and adding pre-measured ingredients or stirring but many are ready to try out a little more. Here are a few hints:

Choose the right project:

• Will your child enjoy eating the end product?
• Does the recipe, or part of the recipe you’ve chosen, match their attention span? (Making cinnamon buns could just mean having them spread the butter/sugar mixture and roll up the buns).
• Does the recipe match their skill level?

Kitchen Skills: It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Let your kids learn in increments.

• Cutting: By age three kids can start cutting soft food like bananas with plastic or infant knives, and move on from there. Cutting hard food with sharp knives should only be attempted once kids have strong cutting skills (often not until 11 plus).
• Measuring: It’s hard for children (even well into the elementary school years) to level off measuring cups.  Use a smaller measure or spoon to scoop into a glass or see through plastic measuring cup larger than the amount you need.  It’s easier to fill to a line. Similarly always use a bigger bowl than required as mixing can be…er… vigorous!
• Egg cracking: Most preschoolers can “dent” the egg and you do the rest. Even once they can crack and separate, crack the eggs into a separate container so you can remove shell fragments if necessary.

Be ready for research: kids have plenty of questions about the chemical reactions of cooking (why does baking powder make things rise etc.), if you don’t know the answer look it up. This curiosity is the reason why even making cookies is putting them on the road to feeding themselves nutritiously.

Looking for a cookbook to get started? Check out one of Molly Katzen’s (of Moosewood fame) three cookbooks for preschoolers and up. Clear illustrations help even the youngest chefs feel like they’re ‘reading’. The first recipe we tested was Yoghurt Pancakes from Honest Pretzel, apart from dropping the batter on the pan our four and seven years olds did everything themselves.

Food Safe Reminder: when you are cooking with kids sharp knives and hot pans aren’t the only danger. Remember to be Food Safe by washing hands frequently and not eating batter containing raw eggs  – no matter how hard it is to forgo the raw cookie dough. Stay safe and wait for the finished product to start sampling.

Bon appétit!

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