Cooking with kids, and showing them how to prepare healthy and delicious whole-food, plant-based meals, has so many benefits. They learn to read recipes, follow instructions, and carry out basic food preparation. There are also the less tangible, infinitely rich benefits of working side by side with parents or loved ones: learning that food matters, meal times matter, and you matter. Here are five tips for cooking with kids, and eight simple recipes to get started.
By Lisa Esile, MS,
Relax. Enjoy the experience. Being together is half the fun. Show them your tricks and learn new ones together. A love of preparing great-tasting nutritious food sets best when allowed to simmer over time. No pressure required.
As long as they’re supervised and given age-appropriate tasks, it’s never too early to have children in the kitchen. There’s always something they can do. When my daughter was a year and a half, she loved putting sticks into chocolate-banana fruit pops.
Cleanup is part of food preparation, so once young people are old enough, expect them to be part of that too. Putting things away as you use them will keep your kitchen halfway clean. But, let’s face it: It’s a messy business. Try and be relaxed about it, too.
There are plenty of kid-friendly vegan meals, including pizza and mac ‘n’ cheese. These are a good place to start, but don’t stop there. Get into salads, soups, risottos, and everything else. It’ll stimulate interest in new flavors and may ignite interest in foods they would otherwise avoid.
Food is front and center of most family festivities. But when it comes to entertaining, it’s easy to take control of everything. At the next family celebration consider letting younger family members take on a role, maybe even taking charge of one of the dishes. You might be surprised at what treasured family rituals evolve.
Ready in 20 minutes and with only six ingredients, these light and tasty biscuits are ideal for beginner bakers. The recipe calls for whole-wheat flour but they also work with gluten-free flour mixes. Serve plain or with jam or nut butter, or as a base to a berry shortcake.
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These chocolatey pancakes are surprisingly healthy. They get their lightness from the usual suspect—baking powder—but also from ground flaxseed. It’s fun to watch the batter rise to almost double it’s size, and you only have to wait 10 minutes. Add chocolate chips if you’re feeling decadent or leave them out; they’re plenty chocolatey without them.
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Pizza is the ultimate kid-friendly food, making this an ideal recipe to try with young cooks. Pita rounds are topped with sautéed veggies and a cheesy spread made from white beans, nutritional yeast, and garlic. If you don’t have pita pockets, try this Potato Onion Pizza, which uses Homemade Oil-Free Pizza Dough.
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Black beans and rolled oats form the base of these hearty vegan burger patties. Serve with Homemade Ketchup or Cheesy Caesar Dressing. Heck, why not throw some Baked French Fries in the oven!
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Cashews and potato give this scrumptious mac ‘n’ cheese its creamy factor. If your family is new to whole-food, plant-based cooking, this is a great way to show that you don’t have to miss out on your favorite dishes.
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Take a can of chickpeas, a can of tomatoes, and a packet of spaghetti for a simple meal that takes only 15 minutes to make. You can use any whole grain pasta, though noodles are always fun.
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Satisfy those sweet cravings with this fudgy treat. Filled with ingredients such as banana, dates, and rolled oats, these are far healthier than traditional brownies recipes.
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You’ll create lasting memories with your children when you share the satisfaction of making your own bread. Pull freshly made warm cinnamon rolls out of the oven and put your feet up.
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Lisa Esile is an author, illustrator, blogger, vegetable gardener, and whole-food enthusiast with a special fondness for potatoes. She has a master’s degree in human nutrition and is passionate about showing people how to live happier, healthier lives. Lisa is the author of Reach your Big Calm and the co-author of Whose Mind Is It Anyway?.
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