This has been my first winter not being able to devote all my time to my toddler. We welcomed a new little man in October, so it’s been a learning process for everyone. My 3-year-old is not a huge fan of the cold either, so I’ve been on a mission to discover new indoor things to do that are toddler-friendly and can be done during baby’s short naps.
I’ve discovered I have a future chef on my hands, and honestly, the benefits of having some time in the kitchen together are endless. Cooking together involves the senses and learning new skills. New smells, textures, and sounds (we love having music in the background), colors, measuring, fractions, different types of food and counting. It’s also a wonderful time to bond and get your child talking.
Allow your child to do whatever you feel comfortable with – pushing down the button for toast, “chopping” vegetables with a childproof plastic knife (you’ll have to go back and really chop unless it’s soft, like bananas), sprinkling cheese, scooping oatmeal – anything safe with you watching. Please note – this is usually not the cleanest project!
The recipes I’m about to share are also excellent choices if you’ve got a picky eater. Not only do they feel a sense of accomplishment because they helped with the food, they’re also eating something delicious and healthy!
English Muffin Pizzas
– 1 cup assortment of chopped vegetables – green or red peppers, onions, mushrooms, olives, broccoli, etc. (really, whatever you choose or have on hand!)
– 2 whole wheat English muffins, halved
– 3/4 cup pizza sauce (or crushed tomatoes mixed with 1 tsp Italian seasoning)
– 4 slices mozzarella (or 1/2 cup chopped fresh or shredded mozzarella)
1) Preheat broiler and cover a baking sheet with tin foil
2) Halve the English muffins and toast in toaster
3) Spread even amounts of pizza sauce on each half
4) Scatter chopped vegetables over the sauce (you can sauté these a bit if you like your veggies softer)
5) Top with mozzarella
6) Place each half on the baking sheet and broil until cheese has melted – enjoy!
Chocolate “Ice Cream”
– 3 peeled bananas, chopped into chunks and frozen
– 2-3 generous tablespoons peanut butter (or almond butter if your child has peanut allergies)
– 2-3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
Place frozen banana chunks and peanut butter into food processor or blender, and mix until almost smooth (If using a blender, this might take a few minutes). Add cocoa powder and continue to blend until smooth. It will have a yogurt-like consistency. Feel free to eat then, or put into an air-tight container for an hour to freeze up a bit, and serve like ice cream!
1 comment
Great idea! Meal time is a great family gathering time which can be extended to include the prep. Also, how empowering for the kids to feel such a big part to the greater good of the family. Bon appetite and happy clean up!