Guest post from Amaris Bradley, Registered Dietitian for PHA. Article first appeared in Modern Wellness Guide’s “Family Wellness” issue.
From convincing a picky eater to enlisting extra help at dinnertime, getting kids involved is a great way to expand their palates and instill healthy habits.
Kids as young as two can play a role in meal prep and, by the time they’re teenagers, they might even take the lead in putting meals together. Here are a few of our favorite ways to get kids cooking at every age:
2-to-3-year-olds
Even the youngest of kids can help in the kitchen. Toddlers are always looking for grown-up things to do, and letting them participate in food prep makes them more likely to try new foods with the added bonus of fine-tuning their still-developing motor skills. Try:
4-to-5-year-olds
Rising kindergartners are ready to pick up some more advanced skills and can even put some of what they’re learning in school to use in the kitchen. Try:
6-to-7-year-olds
With fine motor skills comes more responsibility. Introduce your kids to trickier techniques, and with supervision (and age-appropriate cutlery) your child might even be ready to start practicing those knife skills. Who doesn’t love to chop? Try:
8-to-9-year-olds
After mastering the basics, 8-to-9-year-olds are ready to be a little more independent in the kitchen and take on more advanced tasks. Try:
10-to-12-year-olds
After 8 years of experience, these kids are practically pros. Coach them on food safety and walk them through the next level of cooking techniques. Next thing you know, come dinner time, they’ll be leading the way and you’ll be their new sous-chef.
