As parents pay closer attention to how certain foods affect children’s behavior, it’s become increasingly clear that a well-nourished child is also a happy one. The great news is that it’s easy to make changes that will improve kids’ brain function, concentration, and outlook on life. Here are quick, delicious, and nutritious meals that will help grow a more contented, better behaved child, from an energy-boosting breakfast of blueberry and apple muffins to chicken dippers, (more…)

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Kids love helping Mom and Dad in the kitchen and whipping up meals for family and friends, and this updated edition teaches kids the basics about cooking, kitchen safety, and nutrition, while offering recipes for a Just Peachy Smoothie, Bite-Sized Blueberry Pancakes, Poppin Popovers, Take-Along Trail Mix, and more! With 30 delicious food-themed puzzles, kids will have fun both in and out of the kitchen. Written by a certified dietitian, this creative cookbook gives kids the know chocolate-finger-lickin%C2%92/dp/1598695924/ref=sr_1_10/182-3655296-2786306?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250268756&sr=8-10?ie=UTF8&tag=metally-20″ title=”More at Amazon”>(more…)

Playful Chef is real cooking for kids. Help your child experience the wonderful world of food through the Playful Chef Complete Cooking kit. Playful Chef encourages children, and the adults who love them, to roll up their sleeves and engage in fun cooking adventures together. The Playful Chef is perfect for a weekend with the grandkids when multi-generation chefs share the kitchen or for hours of fun at your daughters sleep-over party. (more…)

Kids love to cook and help in the kitchen. That’s why Jennifer Low has created this book of 100 no-knives, no-flame, from-scratch recipes that kids can easily make with the help of a caring adult. Each recipe has been tested by kids aged four and up and each dish is beautifully photographed From Paddy Thai Noodles (an oven backed take on traditional Pad Thai) and One-Potato-Two Bread (more…)

Playful Chef is real cooking for kids. Help your child experience the wonderful world of food through the Playful Chef Complete Cooking kit. Playful Chef encourages children, and the adults who love them, to roll up their sleeves and engage in fun cooking adventures together. The Playful Chef is perfect for a weekend with the grandkids when multi-generation chefs share the kitchen. Playful Chef can provide hours of fun at your daughters sleep-over party. (more…)

Of course babies can’t cook yet, but they will enjoy being with you and experience the sights, sounds, and smells of the kitchen.
• Talk about what you are doing as you move around the kitchen.
• When babies begin to crawl, they’re safest in a high chair in the kitchen.
• Talk about and name cooking utensils and foods.
• Talk about what they like to eat.
• Give babies a separate bowl and spoon and let them mix foods that are safe for them to eat.

Two-year-olds are learning to use the large muscles in their arms. They will enjoy these activities:
• scrubbing vegetables and fruits
• dipping vegetables and fruits
• tearing lettuce and salad greens
• breaking bread for stuffing
• snapping fresh beans
• wiping tables

Three-year-olds are learning to use their hands. Try these activities:
• pouring liquids into a batter
• mixing muffin batter
• shaking a milk drink
• spreading peanut butter on firm bread (This may be messy!)
• kneading bread dough

Four- and five-year-olds are learning to control smaller muscles in their fingers. Offer them experiences such as these:
• rolling bananas in cereal for a snack
• juicing oranges, lemons, and limes
• mashing soft fruits and vegetables
• measuring dry and liquid ingredients
• grinding cooked meat for meat spread
• beating eggs with an eggbeater

Step 2: Next, clear and clean a work area to prepare the recipe. You can sanitize counter tops by adding 1 teaspoon bleach to 1 quart water in a spray bottle. Let air dry or dry with a paper towel.

Step 3: Set out all ingredients, pans and baking tools listed in the recipe. This is also a good time to preheat the oven if you are baking. Teach kids to use dry hot pads when handling hot pans, pots and dishes; to handle knives safely; to be careful with hot liquids; and to tie back hair and not wear baggy clothing when cooking.

Step 4: Measure accurately! Help kids choose the correct measurement tool for liquid and dry ingredients, and follow the steps in the recipe.

Step 5: Last but not least, have the kids help with clean up before sampling the final product!

Got a little helper who insists on being your sous chef during food preparation? The tools in this kit are appropriately sized just for kids and are safe for children to use. The kit comes with a set of blue plastic measuring cups in 1/8-, 1/4-, 1/3-, 1/2-, and 1-cup sizes and red plastic measuring spoons for 1/4-, 1/2-, and 1 teaspoon and 1/2- and 1 tablespoon sizes. Kids learn valuable math concepts by measuring out quantities with these cups and spoons. (more…)