6 reasons to bring the kids into the kitchen

You might think keeping your kids out of the kitchen is easier and less messy. But by bringing the kids into the kitchen, you can teach them about healthy eating. Reading recipes, chopping, stirring, measuring, grating and learning more about different foods develops new skills.

1. Let kids choose a healthy recipe and help prepare it. By helping, they are more likely to eat what has been cooked. An excellent tip for fussy eaters.

2. Get them started in the kitchen when they are young and they will be able to cook healthy meals for themselves when they are older.

3. By starting young, you can help them develop an adventurous palate.

4. Cooking can build confidence and encourage creativity.

5. Cooking together builds relationships and helps with communication.

6. Cooking together also teaches them about preparing food safely. Learning about washing hands, washing fresh fruit and vegetables carefully, using clean equipment and keeping food either hot or cold is an important skill. Check out our Make your lunch box food safe blog for more information.

Here’s what they can do:

Young kids can:

• Wash fruit and vegetables.
• Tear foods like lettuce or bread.
• Use scissors to trim veges.
• Add premeasured ingredients.
• Sift, stir and sprinkle.
• Roll things in balls.

Older kids can:

• Use measuring cups, spoons and scales.
• Use equipment like salad spinners, graters, food processors and blenders under supervision.
• Prep easy to chop ingredients with a kid’s knife.
• Be in charge of preparing simple recipes.

Teenagers can:

• Learn how to use a chef’s knife.
• Be responsible for dinner (or a part of it).
• Operate kitchen equipment on their own.
• Use the cooktop and stove.

Try these simple recipes with your kids – there is  even a video to show them how!

Easy pasta salad

Beef kofta

Fried rice

Banana pikelets

Chicken burrito bowl

Japanese vegetable pancakes

Mediterranean scrolls

Carrot and ricotta dip

Chicken couscous salad

Thai chicken meatballs

No bake cookies

And don’t forget to show them how to wash up!

© Cancer Council NSW 2024 Head Office Address: 153 Dowling Street, Woolloomooloo NSW 2011. Cancer Council NSW is registered with the Australian Taxation Office as an Income Tax Exempt Charity: Charitable Fundraising Authority No. 18521.

Some images on this site have been supplied by Cancer Council Western Australia's Crunch & Sip website