“Tips to Get Your Kids to Help in the Kitchen for Family Dinners”
When time flies by, you may think there is no time to cook. Finding time for a family dinner on weekdays may be hard. Family dinners are important in children’s health. You can have children help in the kitchen to use time better and make mealtimes also family time. Some reason why Healthy Hands Cooking feels dinner shared three to five times a week is important include the following:
- Children have higher self-respect and control of their lives when they know their own family history, and are closer to their family. Generally, family meals will reflect the religious, ethnic, or cultural background of the family. A family’s cultural identity can be seen in the what, how, and when the family eats.
- Eating meals together can encourage open communication and build strong, healthy relationships. For younger children, the routine family meals can provide security and belonging.
- Children are more likely to get better grades in school, and have better language skills.
- Children are less likely to have substance abuse problems.
- When children eat family dinners more often they make healthier eating choices (even outside of the home) and eat more vegetables and fruit.
Here are some ways you can get children helping in the kitchen. Choose tasks that are appropriate for your child’s age:
- Help set the table
- Put pets, toys, or books in another room
- Turn off the TV
- Pour milk
- Put down placemats
- Hand out napkins and silverware
- Clear the table
- Wipe the table
- Wash fruits and vegetable
- Clean dishes
- Teach kids basic cooking skills like cracking eggs, measuring ingredients, sauteing veggies and more
For fast family dinners, you can:
- Find quick and easy recipes to cook such as stir-fried meat and vegetables, sandwiches, quesadillas, or quick soups and salads. Check out our healthy recipes at: http://www.healthyhandscooking.com
- Do work the day before the dinner. Some tasks such as washing and cutting vegetables, making a fruit salad, cooking lean ground beef or turkey for burritos or chili can be done beforehand. Store items in the fridge until ready for use.
Does your family work together to get meals on the table during the week? Share your ideas below!
References:
http://www.choosemyplate.gov/preschoolers/healthy-habits/making-mealtime-family-time.html
Healthy Hands Cooking is a movement to fight childhood obesity by certifying and empowering instructors to teach children and families about nutrition and healthy cooking. Our instructors are passionate moms, dads, teachers, nutrition grads, entrepreneurs, wellness advocates and more. www.healthyhandscooking.com