Photography by Brooke Lark
Getting kids involved in the kitchen is a great way to teach them life skills, encourage healthy eating habits, build confidence and foster creativity. Best of all, it creates longlasting memories. Here are some easy, fun and tasty meal ideas that everyone will love to make.
Photography by Andrey
PIZZAS
Pizzas are probably the easiest and most fun thing to make in the kitchen with little ones. You can make your own homemade bases or buy some pre-made pizza dough or pita breads. Spread out the bases, then kids can start by spooning the tomato sauce on, then add their favourite toppings like cheese, sliced meats, pineapple or colourful chopped veggies. Make it fun and educational by quizzing them on the ingredient names or asking them to count how many ingredients they have used on their pizza. An adult can then heat the oven to 200C (180C fan), put the pizzas on a non-stick tray or a tray lined with a baking sheet, then bake for 8-10 mins until crisp.
Photography by Rikokill
RAINBOW FRUIT SALAD
A bright rainbow fruit salad makes a quick and healthy snack for kids, and it’s delicious too! Choose fruits in all colours of the rainbow – red (strawberries, raspberries, red apple, cherries, watermelon), orange (oranges, mandarin, mango, peach, apricot), yellow (pineapple, banana, grapefruit, yellow pear, yellow apple), green (kiwi, green grapes, pears), blue (blueberries, black grapes, plums), and indigo/violet (red/ purple grapes, blackberries, figs). Fruit can be put in a large bowl and tossed gently to mix together, or children can lay each type of fruit in a rainbow shape or even make fruit skewers. You could also make a simple dressing to help keep the fruit fresh –combine 1/4 cup orange juice, 2 tablespoons honey and 2 tablespoons lemon juice, then drizzle over. Eat immediately or cover and keep in the fridge until needed.
Photography by Taylor Kidd
QUESADILLAS
Quesadillas are another fantastic and super easy meal that kids can make in the kitchen, even the youngest of children can get involved. Start by laying out soft flour tortillas on your workspace, then on one half of each tortilla children can sprinkle some cheese, then add toppings of their choice, such as shredded chicken, black beans, tomatoes, corn, red onion and spinach. Anything they like! An adult can then fold the tortillas in half and fry, toast or grill until the cheese has melted.
Photography by Vitaly Gariev
WRAPS
Wraps can be a great way to mix things up from your usual sandwich routine while incorporating a range of healthy ingredients into your child’s diet. Buy some soft corn or whole wheat tortillas and put them on your workspace, then your little ones can add some fresh salad items and crisp vegetables from your selection – think peppers, cherry tomatoes, sweetcorn, broccoli, onion, carrot, spinach, lettuce or cucumber. Make the wraps extra tasty with some cream cheese, avocado, shredded cheese, eggs or hummus. Leave them as veggie only, or add cooked meat or fish, like tuna.
Photography by Margarida Afronso
NO-BAKE TREATS
No-bake sweet treats are a fun and simple snack to make as they only have a handful of ingredients. Some are so easy that kids can help from start to finish!
Photography by George Gagan
Banana and cinnamon balls: Mash
- ripe banana and mix with 1 cup oats and ¼ cup nut (or seed) butter. Roll into balls and chill until set.
- Chocolate crackles: Mix 4 cups Rice Bubbles, 1 cup icing sugar, 1 cup desiccated coconut and 3 tbsp cocoa. Melt 250g butter (or Copha), stir into dry ingredients, spoon into patty cases, and chill until set.
- Peanut butter balls: Mix ½ cup nut (or seed) butter with ½ cup maple syrup and 1 cup oats. Roll into balls and chill until set.
Photography by Lisa Gageler
- Rice bubble slice: Melt 125g butter and 200g marshmallows together. Stir in 4 cups Rice Bubbles, press into a tin, and chill until set.
- Chocolate coconut balls: Blend 100g pitted dates, 150g rolled oats, and 25g cacao (or carob) powder until sticky. Roll into balls and chill until set.
Photography by Tanaphong
Photography by Markus Spiske
Photography by Olivia Oliver
SAFETY
It’s important that from a young age, children learn how to hold a knife and cut ingredients safely. Depending on how young your child is, they can either use a plastic knife or a proper kitchen knife. Start out with soft food when cutting and always supervise children, especially for the first few times until they are feeling more confident. Remember that using a sharp knife is actually safer than using a blunt one, as it is more likely to slip, and always keep knives flat when not in use. Ensure your workspace is well-lit and steady, using a stool for your child if necessary. Make sure you are using a non-slip cutting board or place a damp cloth or paper towel underneath.
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