This past Saturday was a great day of quality Auntie-Munchkin time! I’ve been wanting to test out a few new healthy but kid-friendly recipes, and as much as the muchkin loves to help me in the kitchen I thought, what better way than to do this together? With Auntie Dannie’s help, of course. I mean come on… She’s a teacher!
The munchkin was in the mix from the start, from grocery shopping (read: recreating the Indy 500 through the aisles at Wegman’s) to mixing and breading and watching and tasting. (He’s the best judge of “perfectly golden brown” there is, btw.) It was a blast for all of us (except maybe Grandma’s kitchen floor and counters) and he loved every bite of the yummy snacks we made! The best part? They were healthy!
Turns out, letting kids help out in the kitchen is a great trick to get them to eat healthy foods. Studies have shown that getting kids involved in the kitchen can help them build healthier eating habits. By introducing them to new and healthy foods in an engaging way, kids gain interest and are more likely to try and enjoy the food.
While yes, it’ll definitely take longer to get food on the table with little ones getting in the mix, there are a ton of reasons why you should encourage their participation. Here are just a few:
Quality family time. Time spent with kids at home can often be limited to morning routines, bedtime rituals and rushed moment in between a litany of scheduled activities for everyone in the family. Taking the time to cook together gives parents and children a time to learn and work together, engage in conversation, and build stronger family connections.
Teaching moments. The kitchen is a place full of lessons that reinforce basic concepts taught in the school classroom. From math and science to reading and even social studies, kids can practice the same principles they learn at school at home in the kitchen. As they learn to measure, begin to understand the science behind heat and how the cooking process works, and discover where certain recipes and ingredients come from, their horizons are broadened and their ability to apply these fundamental concepts learned in school is advanced. This is a great way for parents to engage their kids in an academic way beyond homework supervision!
Building healthy habits. Research has shown that family meals and eating at home makes for stronger, happier, healthier families. From strengthening relationships to encouraging healthy eating, spending time around the dinner table together has long been a valuable family tradition. Preparing a meal together with fresh groceries means good quality, known ingredients and bonding time as you get everything on the table. You’re able to try new foods and cooking styles together and set a precedent for healthy eating at home. Kids are more likely to eat foods you never thought they would when they’re involved in the preparation process. In other words, it’s gonna be yummy if for no other reason than, “I made it myself!” When the kids are involved, they start to build these habits early and stand a better chance of carrying them into adulthood, leading to longer, stronger, healthier lives.
Getting your family on the road to happy, healthy eating starts at home in your own kitchen. As you get everyone involved, you can create a positive atmosphere that promotes a healthy family lifestyle and create tons of memories doing it! If nothing else, the time spent together will be well worth the extra 15 minutes and the mess at the end. 🙂
Keep an eye out for our latest munchkin-approved recipes coming very, very soon! First one is headed your way tomorrow!
[…] we talked a little about the great reasons to let the kiddos help in the kitchen and how I’ve really come to love cooking with the original Munchkin (he’s quite […]