Many parents think that the kitchen is no place for children! But involving your children in the preparation of meals, treats and snacks could be an opportunity to teach them many things from the importance of each type of food, to responsibility, teamwork, organisation, hygiene and even a little mathematics.
If your child refuses to eat certain foods then helping to prepare meals might be a solution. Children that help in the kitchen usually end up trying the dish that they make. So, prepare nutritious meals with your little chef, this will certainly raise the chances of them learning to like more healthy foods.
Helping to prepare meals is a learning process from start to finish. With the reading of the recipe, done by a father or mother, or by the actual child depending on age, your child can discover new fruits, vegetable, and other ingredients. The measuring, weighing and separating of ingredients with your little one is always fun and, sometimes, a little messy, but definitely helps with mathematics.
Separating all of the ingredients before beginning to cook and putting them away at the end it is a great way to teach them the importance of organisation. Washing your hands and the ingredients before cooking is a practical lesson in hygiene. And the child will also learn the art of teamwork during this whole experience.
Sharp objects and the oven are the responsibility of the adult in this exercise and the role of the child in this fun challenge is determined by their age. Opt for simple recipes that don’t require you to use the oven a lot. And when selecting a recipe, always remember that kids love getting their hands dirty!
Transform your kitchen into a place of fun and learning!
And why not make the experience even more special; give your child an apron and a chef’s hat?
RECIPE
Pizza in a baguette
Ingredients:
- 1 baguette
- 1 mug of pizza tomato sauce
- Mozzarella (grated is best)
- Oregano
- Olive oil
- Other ingredients of your choosing
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 220ºC.
Cut the baguette open into two halves and put each half over a broiler. Cover with tomato sauce, spreading it well to cover the entire surface, and drizzle with olive oil.
Then all you need to do is add your favourite ingredients, cover with the cheese, sprinkle with oregano and put it in the oven to crisp, until the cheese is golden brown and melted.
Don’t forget to add vegetable to transform this pizza into a healthier meal. Some suggestions of ingredients: olives, ham, bacon, tomato, peppers, sweetcorn, mushrooms, broccoli etc.
Bon appetite!
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