When thinking about nutrition for children, realize that they like, and need, variety. Many kids, if they had their way, Read more »

When you’re making lunch for children, you can always use more ideas – so here they are! Read more »

Here’s a note I got from a friend about how she teaches classes – Cooking with Preschoolers. I thought you would enjoy reading it. I know I learned a few things… Read more »

We all hear that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but cooking breakfast for children can sometimes become a drag especially when you have picky eaters.  Many natural doctors even say that you should eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a worker and dinner like a pauper.  When you are met with a “I’m not hungry” or, “I don’t like that!” Read more »

Cooking for children is a little more difficult sometimes than cooking for an adult. Your average adult will nod politely and find a way to dispose of unwanted food, where a child might protest loudly. Children and food can be a highly unpredictable combination.  Why is it that a children will eat chicken nuggets but sometimes not like a slice of chicken?   Read more »

Nothing gets more activity in my kitchen than a new cooking gadget.  Everyone wants to know how it’s used and what I am going to do with it.  It’s like getting a new toy, only for a practical, hands-on purpose.

Cooking gadgets usually make your life easier and save you time.  I’m not going to highlight Read more »

If you are wanting your children to start cooking with you or on their own, you have probably asked this question many times – Can my kid make this recipe?  If your child has shown that they can stir and mix and season along with you, then you can start looking for recipes they can make on their own.

I suggest your child first work with you for a while on these tasks: Read more »

I’ve been looking over cookbooks for kids, so Kitchen For Kids cookbook by Jennifer Low caught my attention. The subtitle states “100 amazing recipes your children can really make.” The book uses no sharp knives, no stove-top cooking, and kid-tested recipes.

Although I can appreciate the author’s sentiments at the beginning of the book, Read more »

Depending on the cook and the child, cooking with toddlers can be a great bonding experience or a horribly frustrating experience. I thought I would include some tips here to help make your time together a pleasant experience.

Toddlers can do a variety of things. Read more »

With all the cooking we do at our house, I thought it was time to do some kid cookbook reviews. We don’t really use them that much though.  My children either like to use my recipes or they like to create their own dishes.  It’s much more fun to add some spices and look like a real chef than to measure everything out with a measuring spoon and cup. You can tell, if you’ve cooked with your children very much, if one of your recipes will be something they can handle.

We have gotten a few cookbooks out of the library like Read more »

Welcome to Children Cooking.  Sometimes when people think of cooking with children, they think of having a big mess in their kitchen and then decide to just cook themselves or not cook at all. Cooking is becoming a lost art. Yes, that’s right I said ART. Cooking can be a form of creative expression. You don’t always have to have a paint brush in your hand to consider yourself artistic.

My two older children do not enjoy cooking and my two younger children Read more »

With the Christmas season coming upon us quickly, I thought I would highlight some of the best cooking toys that you could get your children for Christmas to help encourage them to cook with you.  You can use these toys to inspire your children’s interest in cooking or you can Read more »

If you’re cooking with and for children you will need to know where your recipes are and how to find what you need – thus the need to organize recipes.

I’ve used many systems over the years, but the best system I have found is Read more »

One of our favorite children’s books is called Cranberry Thanksgiving.  It is the story of an old New England fisherman that is invited to a little girl’s house for Thanksgiving.  The little girl, Maggie, lives with her grandmother.  Neither family has much money, but they are willing to Read more »

Have you ever watched Kids Cooking Challenge on the Food Network?  It’s not on there is it? I think it would be a great idea. My children love watching this show and for the past two weeks, for lunch, my 13 year old daughter and 7 year old son have declared a “Cooking Challenge” all on their own.  All they have to say is “cooking challenge” and both of them rush to the kitchen.  They set the timer Read more »

Some kids like cooking and some don’t.  Some want to be right there with you every step of the way and some just want to come in when dinner is ready and eat.  I have both kinds of kids in my house.  The ones that like to cook Read more »

Here is some more information from my friend about the outline for the co-op classes she teaches for cooking with preschoolers. Read more »

Children think a Christmas diet should consist of stuffing as many cookies as possible into their mouths in a 24-hour period. If we spend a bunch of time making 10-20 dozen cookies, then that will be pretty easy for them to do. Here are several reasons why you should Read more »

Some of the best kid cookbooks are not cookbooks at all, but picture books. Have you ever read a great picture book to your child and found a recipe for the item in the book list in the back? What’s the first thing your child wants to do when they are done reading that book with you? Read more »

When cooking FOR children we sometimes need tips for picky eaters. Just because we make a meal doesn’t mean our child will be excited about eating the meal. Here are some tips that might help you: Read more »

Here’s another yummy recipe for you.  When my family smells this
meal in the oven they longingly ask, “Are we having baked chicken?”
I say “yes” and they have a big smile on their face.  What more
can you ask for….

Baked Chicken Read more »

When thinking about easy kid recipes, finger sandwiches come to mind. Who doesn’t like a fun way to eat fancy? Maybe my kids are wierd, but they love fancy party things.

Instead of just making plain sandwiches, use some alternative breads or crackers and make an ordinary sandwich much more fun! Read more »

The thought of cooking with toddlers may not seem like a very smart thing to do. It has the potential for being a little messy, but can be a great bonding and learning time.  Toddlers can learn about kitchen equipment, basic safety, proper food handling and preparation, cooking and baking techniques, as well as meal presentation. They can also learn Read more »

These ideas of lunch for children probably work best if you are having lunch at home with your kids, but these could be adapted to packing a lunch for your kids at school.  You can make these or you can work with your children until they are able to make lunch for themselves and even you.  Pretty soon you Read more »

Next I’m going to review the cookbook called The Spatulatta Cookbook by Isabella and Olivia Gerasole. The subtitle states “Recipes for kids, by kids, from the James Beard award-winning spatulatta.com website.” Read more »