It happens at every family dinner table. The adults are ready to dig in, but the kids look at what’s being served and ask, “Are we supposed to eat THAT?”
Whether you have picky eaters or kids who don’t appreciate all that goes into making a meal, one of the best things you can do for a kid’s palate and attitude about food is get him or her involved in the kitchen.
“It always starts at home,” says Sapna Von Reich, a cooking instructor who teaches adult and kids’ cooking classes in Windsor, Loveland and Fort Collins. “The more you involve your kids in the meal process, the more likely they are to eat what they have made.”
Piquing interest
Cooking involves all five senses, making it a creative activity that can pique kids’ interest at a young age. Cooking also can reinforce a lot of skills kids are already learning in school, including math, following instructions and time management.
“I approach kids by asking a lot of questions,” says Kristi Martin, a Severance resident who taught professional baking classes at Emily Griffith Technical College in Denver. “Cooking is something we kind of take for granted, so for kids it’s good to break it down to bits and pieces.”
A good place to start is the grocery store. Talk to young kids about the names of fruits and vegetables. Talk about what to look for when picking out produce.
“Grab something you don’t usually get and ask kids questions like, “What do you think this tastes like? Where do you think it comes from?” said Martin, who will be teaching cooking classes for kids at the Windsor Recreation Center.
Take kids to a farmer’s market or go to a farm where they can pick their own vegetables. All of these things develop a child’s understanding of where food comes from and how it can be prepared. Read more…
Written by Anne Cumming Rice
For The Tribune
Published in Greeley Tribune on March 9, 2018