A Super Way to Introduce Kids to the Kitchen: Smoothies
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You’ve probably heard that it’s great to get your kids to help you in the kitchen to learn cooking skills, instill healthy eating habits, and more.
When I’m talking with moms and dads they often tell me one of two things about this:
- It sounds like a great idea. But they just can’t imagine how to make it happen when they think about the amount of work and the mess.
- Yes, they bake with their kids sometimes.
This is another great example of us health folks meaning one thing and parents hearing another.
Now don’t get defensive or let your mommy guilt kick in. I’m taking ownership of the miscommunication happening here.
When I mean “cook with your kids” I mean “get your kids involved in making healthy foods”.
I’m not against baking with kids. It’s fun too. Just don’t limit yourself to baking.
Invite your kids into the kitchen to help with simple, everyday tasks.
Choose one simple task for them to help with. Examples include:
- Washing veggies
- Measure out the dry quinoa/ rice and water
- Spinning and tearing up the lettuce for a salad
- Setting the table
- Placing dirty dishes in the dishwasher
- Smoothies
Smoothies are also a fantastic way to get kids in the kitchen:
- They’re something that they can make from start to finish.
- They’re quick and relatively mess-free.
- They include healthy ingredients.
- I’ve never met a child who doesn’t LOVE to push the buttons on machines (from cell phones to elevators to blenders).
And, while sometimes parents confess to me that they “hide” foods in smoothies (e.g. kale, spinach), it’s not “hiding” when your kids are the ones putting the ingredients in the blender! They’re simply helping make a tasty dish that includes healthy ingredients!
Do you involve your kids in making smoothies? What are your favourite smoothie combinations? I'd love to hear from you (comment below)!
March is Nutrition Month!