KIDS STIR UP SOME FUN IN THE KITCHEN
Education Desk
June 30, 2009
It's Never Too Early to Start Teaching Kids about Cooking.
Wilmington, Del. - Now that the kids are out of school for the summer they will be looking for something fun to do. Why not get them into the kitchen? The kitchen can be a great place to stir up some fun while teaching your kids science, math, and healthy eating habits.
All ages should learn the importance of good hand washing and it's never too early to start teaching kids about cooking. If your child is a fussy eater, cooking is a good way to get them to try new foods. Many times, they will be more likely to eat the meal if they've made it themselves.
Let toddlers help you "cook" by using toy food, pots, pans, bowls and spoons to copy what you're doing. Preschoolers can help by measuring ingredients and stirring. Grade school kids can make simple, no-bake recipes or use the microwave with proper supervision. Remember to use child-size tools and, if the counter is too high, use a sturdy step stool or have children sit at the kitchen table while they help.
Involving children in meal preparation encourages healthy eating habits and introduces them to the value and importance of nutritious, balanced meals. It also provides a chance to teach responsibility by allowing youngsters to help with household duties giving them a feeling of self-worth and importance.
"Involve your kids in cooking, meal planning and shopping," says Elizabeth Pivonka, Ph.D., R.D., president and CEO of Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) the nonprofit entity behind the Fruits & Veggies-More Matters® national public health initiative. "In the kitchen, kids can help by measuring, mixing, or gathering ingredients while you cook. At the store, let your child select a new fruit or vegetable for the family to try."
Some children see food as a control issue. Pivonka says that giving children a role in picking out what will be served and preparing meals will increase the likelihood that they will eat what's on the table.
Pivonka says taking a little extra time at the grocery store to interact with kids and single out fruits and vegetables as important is another way to persuade kids to give healthy fruits and veggies another try.
The Fruits & Veggies-More Matters website features some materials to make taking your child food shopping with you an educational experience. These materials are available to everyone online, free of charge. Just print them out and plan a trip to the store! The Fruits & Veggies-More Matters Take Your Child to the Supermarket materials are a series of fun, educational activities that are age appropriate for kids four through ten years old, but may be appropriate for kids a little younger or a little older depending on the individual child. They are designed to encourage children to eat more fruits and vegetables. The activity pages can also be printed out by teachers to provide a way to reinforce nutrition lessons while the kids enjoy a fun game.
Do the kids need someplace educational and fun to go online? Let them surf on over to www.foodchamps.org for an interactive website where they can play games, fill in coloring pages, and enjoy other fun, online activities all aimed at educating children ages two through eight about fruits and veggies. While on the site, children can have fun with fruit and vegetable math, play a fruit and veggie matching game, and even print out recipes to cook with an adult helper. They can also print out pages from the site to color with their own crayons or color special online coloring pages to print for Mom or Dad.
"We know it can be difficult to get kids to eat fruits and vegetables with so many other choices available, but we hope to help moms by offering a fun way for kids to learn about fruits and veggies in an online environment, where they feel comfortable," said Pivonka. "This website features great games and activities to get kids excited about fruits and vegetables and help them start eating more."
Don't forget about the 2009 PBH nutrition education catalog when planning your summer fun either! Kids love the Fruit & Veggie Memory Game and Fruit and Veggie Color Champions™ activity books. The Farm to Fork activity book is new this year, and the Fruit & Veggie Beach Ball Game is sure to be a big hit at any outdoor activity. The Treasure Hunt with Munch Crunch Bunch is a story/activity book created and designed to entertain, educate and empower young children to make healthy food choices.
"And if you're looking for Spanish language nutrition education materials, the PBH catalog is offering more than ever!" adds Pivonka.
Over 85,000 health professionals and educators have already received the PBH nutrition education catalog. Browse the online version now at www.pbhcatalog.com. While there, sign up to receive a copy of the 2009 catalog in the mail.
Visit www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org for user-friendly advice on how to add more fruits and vegetables to your diet; including, recipes, nutrition information, tips for getting kids to eat fruits and vegetables, and even videos. Parents can have their questions answered by other parents or a registered dietitian in the website's interactive areas.
Wilmington, Del. - Now that the kids are out of school for the summer they will be looking for something fun to do. Why not get them into the kitchen? The kitchen can be a great place to stir up some fun while teaching your kids science, math, and healthy eating habits.
All ages should learn the importance of good hand washing and it's never too early to start teaching kids about cooking. If your child is a fussy eater, cooking is a good way to get them to try new foods. Many times, they will be more likely to eat the meal if they've made it themselves.
Let toddlers help you "cook" by using toy food, pots, pans, bowls and spoons to copy what you're doing. Preschoolers can help by measuring ingredients and stirring. Grade school kids can make simple, no-bake recipes or use the microwave with proper supervision. Remember to use child-size tools and, if the counter is too high, use a sturdy step stool or have children sit at the kitchen table while they help.
Involving children in meal preparation encourages healthy eating habits and introduces them to the value and importance of nutritious, balanced meals. It also provides a chance to teach responsibility by allowing youngsters to help with household duties giving them a feeling of self-worth and importance.
"Involve your kids in cooking, meal planning and shopping," says Elizabeth Pivonka, Ph.D., R.D., president and CEO of Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) the nonprofit entity behind the Fruits & Veggies-More Matters® national public health initiative. "In the kitchen, kids can help by measuring, mixing, or gathering ingredients while you cook. At the store, let your child select a new fruit or vegetable for the family to try."
Some children see food as a control issue. Pivonka says that giving children a role in picking out what will be served and preparing meals will increase the likelihood that they will eat what's on the table.
Pivonka says taking a little extra time at the grocery store to interact with kids and single out fruits and vegetables as important is another way to persuade kids to give healthy fruits and veggies another try.
The Fruits & Veggies-More Matters website features some materials to make taking your child food shopping with you an educational experience. These materials are available to everyone online, free of charge. Just print them out and plan a trip to the store! The Fruits & Veggies-More Matters Take Your Child to the Supermarket materials are a series of fun, educational activities that are age appropriate for kids four through ten years old, but may be appropriate for kids a little younger or a little older depending on the individual child. They are designed to encourage children to eat more fruits and vegetables. The activity pages can also be printed out by teachers to provide a way to reinforce nutrition lessons while the kids enjoy a fun game.
Do the kids need someplace educational and fun to go online? Let them surf on over to www.foodchamps.org for an interactive website where they can play games, fill in coloring pages, and enjoy other fun, online activities all aimed at educating children ages two through eight about fruits and veggies. While on the site, children can have fun with fruit and vegetable math, play a fruit and veggie matching game, and even print out recipes to cook with an adult helper. They can also print out pages from the site to color with their own crayons or color special online coloring pages to print for Mom or Dad.
"We know it can be difficult to get kids to eat fruits and vegetables with so many other choices available, but we hope to help moms by offering a fun way for kids to learn about fruits and veggies in an online environment, where they feel comfortable," said Pivonka. "This website features great games and activities to get kids excited about fruits and vegetables and help them start eating more."
Don't forget about the 2009 PBH nutrition education catalog when planning your summer fun either! Kids love the Fruit & Veggie Memory Game and Fruit and Veggie Color Champions™ activity books. The Farm to Fork activity book is new this year, and the Fruit & Veggie Beach Ball Game is sure to be a big hit at any outdoor activity. The Treasure Hunt with Munch Crunch Bunch is a story/activity book created and designed to entertain, educate and empower young children to make healthy food choices.
"And if you're looking for Spanish language nutrition education materials, the PBH catalog is offering more than ever!" adds Pivonka.
Over 85,000 health professionals and educators have already received the PBH nutrition education catalog. Browse the online version now at www.pbhcatalog.com. While there, sign up to receive a copy of the 2009 catalog in the mail.
Visit www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org for user-friendly advice on how to add more fruits and vegetables to your diet; including, recipes, nutrition information, tips for getting kids to eat fruits and vegetables, and even videos. Parents can have their questions answered by other parents or a registered dietitian in the website's interactive areas.
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