Mommy Chef Wisdom
Cooking in a professional kitchen really isn’t all that different than cooking at home for my family. Sure, there are fewer people around, and those who are around are typically under foot or clambering up on stools to help.
Why not try these kid-tested ideas to help turn meal preparation in your home into an interactive, fun and educational experience the whole family can enjoy.
Create-a-Meal Night
Saturday night in our house is create-a-meal night. The kids alternate picking ingredients that mommy then has to turn into a great meal. Think ‘Iron Chef,’ mommy-style.
The rules: they have to pick at least two vegetables and one protein and I pick the carbs. For example, one night I chose brown rice, and they chose chicken, carrots, broccoli, peanut butter and pineapple. Then it was time to turn their random ingredients into a Sweet and Sour Chicken Stir Fry with a Thai Peanut Sauce.
Create-a-meal night not only teaches children about proteins, carbohydrates, vegetables and more, it also gives them a vested interest in the meal.
Kids Recipe Book
Each of my children has their own recipe book. It’s just a simple book of colored paper in which we write down their favorite recipes, or new ones that I’ve made that they like. When they’ve earned enough stars for being helpers in the kitchen, they get to pick a recipe for us to make together for dinner that night.
Stone Soup
Are you familiar with the book “Stone Soup” by Ann McGovern? First, I would read the story, and then the kids would get to make their very own ‘stone soup.’ They loved to select the ingredients, with a little bit of guidance from me, of course. (No, applesauce probably isn’t the best choice for soup!).
Don’t forget to add your creation to their recipe book when you are done.
Young Gardeners
How many six year-olds know what basil is? Mine do! Kids love to watch things grow, and as a professional chef, I love using fresh herbs whenever possible.
Herb gardens can grow in pots on the patio, in a flower bed … in just about anything that can hold soil. Fresh herbs add vibrant flavor to any meal, and after growing the herbs themselves, your children may be more inclined to try new dishes and flavors.
By including your children in meal prep, you are teaching them vital cooking skills and allowing them to contribute which builds self-confidence and much more. Bon appétit!
Jennifer is a mom/chef/writer extraordinaire. Stay tuned for more helpful tips from Mommy Chef in the weeks to come.
