Kids in The Kitchen

Spending time in the kitchen and cooking new recipes helps children to develop a positive connection to all different types of foods including fruits and vegetables. Forming a positive experience with fresh foods is so important because healthy foods are the foundation for good nutrition. Children will also learn basic cooking skills that they can use for the rest of their lives.  They can use all of their senses-(children learn by touching, tasting, feeling, smelling, and listening) just by helping to fix a meal with their family. 

There are many ways to get kids involved in cooking. They can help prepare food and cook. Cooking with kids provides practical experience with many essential skills such as reading, following directions, and measuring. Getting involved in cooking helps your child to develop fine motor skills, eye hand coordination, and even early concepts of math and science. There are just so many great benefits to cooking with kids, too numerous to list. Cooking with kids is also great for family time.  

There is a great need in Marion County to get children involved in the kitchen. When the sign-ups were open for the Kids in the Kitchen Program that I was putting on, there was such a response that I offered two classes just to fulfill the need. 23 children in total ages 8-12 came to the office twice a month for seven sessions. They learned Kitchen Basics-dicing and chopping with proper knife handling, quick breads, cookies galore, pies and cobblers, edible rainbow, versatile vegetables and holiday treats. Thanks to the pre and post-tests, I learned that 80% of the children were able to make at least one dish that we made in class for their family, 95% tried some new vegetables and all 100% would like to take another class at the Extension office. 

With the success of this class, there will be more classes offered in the future.