Cooking simple recipes with your child is an incredible opportunity for your family!
Your child will be able to practice using their senses (especially taste, smell, and touch!) and fine motor skills (grasping, pinching, scooping, stirring, etc). It’s also a great chance to help them practice learning to clean up as they go and learning basic kitchen safety (wash hands, only grown ups touch the stoves, etc).
Plus, best reason of all: it’s a wonderful time for you and your child(ren) to spend time creating something together. No matter how simple the recipe or messy your kitchen, it’s the time spent with your child that is so precious.
I’ll list the links to 5 awesome recipes below for you to try out! My biggest suggestion: expect things to go slowly and be a little messier–kids are kids. Put an emphasis on the experience and being together, and no matter what you cook the memories will be magical!
Jobs a toddler can do when cooking:
- Stirring
- Pouring/sprinkling/spreading
- Measuring (with some help!)
- Taste testing (yum!)
- Using kid-safe knife to spread or cut soft foods
- Finding ingredients
- Washing produce
- Placing items onto pan or pot (make sure that the pot/pan is not hot)
- Pepperoni Pizza Crescents (by Vicky at Mess for Less)
Ingredients:
- Crescent rolls
- String cheese
- Pizza sauce
- Pepperoni
Total time: 20 mins
Full recipe: https://www.messforless.net/pepperoni-pizza-crescents/
2. Cheesy Quesadillas (by Taste of Home)
Ingredients:
- 4 flour tortillas (8 inches), warmed
- 1-1/2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
- 1/2 cup salsa
Total time: 15 mins
Full recipe: https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/cheesy-quesadillas/
3. Easy Carrot and Parsnip Soup (by Grace Hall at Eats Amazing)
Ingredients:
- 1 large onion
- 500g carrots
- 500g parsnips
- 1 leek
- 1 tbs olive oil
- 1 tbs mild curry powder
- 2 chicken or vegetable stock cubes *
- 100g red lentils
Total time: 35 mins
Full recipe: https://www.eatsamazing.co.uk/family-friendly-recipes/easy-recipes-for-kids/easy-carrot-parsnip-soup-recipe
4. Adriana’s Fave 10-Minute Pasta (Toddler Friendly) (By Angela at Oh She Glows)
Ingredients:
- 1 box (340 g/12 ounces) rotini or fusilli pasta*
- 2 cups (500 mL) marinara sauce
- 1/3 to 1/2 cup (80 mL to 125 mL) hummus
- 1/4 cup (35 g) hemp hearts
- The recipe includes several optional-add ins to increase nutrition and flavor!
Total time: 12 mins
Full recipe: https://ohsheglows.com/2017/02/23/adrianas-fave-10-minute-pasta-toddler-friendly/
5. Easy Weeknight Stir-Fry Recipe (By Natalie at Super Healthy Kids)
Ingredients (author gives suggestions about using what you have on hand!)
Sauce…
- 1/2 cup chicken broth, low-sodium
- 1/4 cup soy sauce, low sodium
- 1 tablespoon vinegar, distilled
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 teaspoon honey
Stir Fry…
- 1/2 medium onion
- 1 bunch broccoli
- 2 medium carrot
- 1/2 medium bell pepper, red
- 2 clove garlic
- 1 pound beef steak, any cut
- 2 cup brown rice, raw
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Total Time: 40 mins
Full recipe: https://www.superhealthykids.com/recipes/easy-weeknight-stir-fry-recipe/
Featured image: Photo by Heather Ford on Unsplash