Will you be spending time in the kitchen this holiday season? If so, why not include your children to help build skills and precious memories? We’ve put together some ideas for holiday cooking activities that you can enjoy with children:

Decorate Cookies:

• Bake a batch of sugar cookies in holiday shapes (trees, stars, snowflakes) using wholesome ingredients from scratch.
• Provide various colored icing, sprinkles, and edible decorations. There are many natural ways to add color to homemade frosting such as boiling spinach in a bit of water, and using the cooled, green reduction liquid as a coloring agent.
• Let the kids unleash their creativity by decorating the cookies! Toppings such as raisins, cranberries, shaved coconut and nuts can boost the nutrition content while adding festive color.

Gingerbread House Decorating:

• Use pre-made gingerbread house kits or make your own gingerbread pieces. If you plan to eat your creation, then homemade ginger-bread is best.
• Set up a decorating station with royal icing, gumdrops, candy canes, and other festive candies. This is also a good opportunity to add healthy ingredients like walnuts, coconut, cranberries, dried blueberries, and seeds to allow your child’s imagination to run wild!

Hot Chocolate Bar:

• Set up a hot chocolate station with different toppings like whipped cream, chocolate chips, marshmallows, and crushed peppermint.
• Let the kids customize their own hot chocolate.

Fruit Kabobs:

• Provide a variety of colorful fruits like strawberries, grapes, and pineapple.
• Let the kids create their own fruit kabobs using wooden skewers.
• Serve with a yogurt or chocolate dip.

Holiday Shaped Pancakes:

• Make pancake batter and use holiday-shaped cookie cutters to create festive pancakes.
• Allow the kids to add toppings like maple syrup and fresh berries.

Mini Pizzas:

• Provide small pizza crusts or English muffins, tomato sauce, cheese, and various toppings.
• Kids can create their own personalized mini pizzas.

Reindeer Rice Krispies Treats:

• Make Rice Krispies treats and cut them into squares.
• Use pretzels for antlers, candy eyes, and a red cranberry for the nose to turn them into reindeer.

Holiday Popcorn Mix:

• Pop some popcorn and mix it with holiday-themed candies (such as red and green M&M’s, yogurt covered pretzels, and dried cherries).
• Toss with a bit of melted white chocolate and let it cool.

Snowman Cupcakes:

• Bake homemade cupcakes and frost them with homemade white icing.
• Decorate with marshmallows to create a snowman figure, using additional colorful dried fruits, pretzels, and nuts for facial and body features.

DIY Gingerbread Cookies

• Homemade gingerbread dough can be rolled and cut into all kinds of shapes.
• Kids can decorate their own gingerbread men, bells, stars, and more.

Remember to prioritize safety in the kitchen and adapt these ideas based on the age and skill level of the children involved. Most importantly, have fun and enjoy the delicious results! Lastly, if you’re still looking for a fulfilling career helping others, please consider becoming a children’s healthy cooking class instructor. We can’t wait to help you in your journey!