Cook Something This Summer with Your Kids

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Thursday, July 01, 2010

Jamie Oliver: If you’re looking for ways to have fun with the kids and keep them busy this summer there’s no better way than cooking with them. Not only will you get to spend time with them, you’ll also be giving them vital life skills.

It doesn’t matter how old they are, there are always ways for them to get involved.

Here are a few of my top tips:

Start with simple dishes, especially if you have younger kids. A salad is a great place to start; anyone can tear up herbs or lettuce leaves and chances are if they’ve prepared it they’ll eat it.
If your kids are older get them chopping, stirring, reading out the recipe instructions or measuring out ingredients.
Let them touch and taste the ingredients where appropriate (of course I’m not talking about raw meat, eggs or anything else that’s going to make them sick!).
Be prepared to make a big old mess in the kitchen and see that as part of the fun. Just make sure everyone pitches in and helps you clean up at the end because that’s all part of it.
Praise your kitchen helpers (even if the recipe doesn’t quite go according to plan) and let them have the first taste of whatever it is you’ve cooked together.
Involve your kids in mealtimes and ask them what they’d like to try making next time.
Explain how important hygiene is and make sure they wash their hands before anything kicks off.
As a parent I know this goes without saying, but keep an eye on your kids in the kitchen. Don’t assume they know when something is ‘safe’ or ‘unsafe’, tell them.
Enjoy yourself! If you’re having fun, your kids will too.

I’d love to see how you get on so please post pictures of your family and their creations on the Food Revolution community page on Facebook. There might even be a prize in it for you!

Good luck

Healthy Child is proud to support Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. Eating more whole foods and less processed is not only nutritionally superior, but also reduces exposure to synthetic food additives and contaminants that can leach from food packaging. Thank you to Jamie Oliver and MomsRising for working to protect our children and for sharing this important message.

The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and not necessarily those of

Healthy Child Healthy World.

Posted by elizabeth irvine on 07/03/2010 at 05:55 AM

I am a big fan of Jamie Oliver! Living in London for fifteen years Iv’e know Jamie as the guy who got my husband interested in cooking with his very first cookbook- The Naked Chef!

Congratulations to Jamie and his wife Jules on all of their positive healthy influence in creating healthy families for generations to come!!

Elizabeth Irvine, BSN
Educational Partner for Dr Andrew Weil’s Weil Baby
Author Healthy Mother Healthy Child: Creating Whole Families from the Inside Out

Posted by thenon-toxicmom on 07/01/2010 at 04:40 PM

One of the best times I ever had was when my young kids pitched in to help me get a meal ready for company. I was running really late and they saved me! It was so nice just being together in the kitchen.
And Jamie, my town needs you…
http://thenontoxicmom.wordpress.com/2010/05/10/where-are-you-jamie-oliver/

Posted by Momscape on 07/01/2010 at 03:27 PM

These are great tips! For some reason, my kids have always liked to bake even more than they like to cook… maybe because there’s a seemingly magical element to baking: the dough or the batter looks one way going in and comes out looking another way entirely. We are always looking for healthy recipes for muffins and baked goods.

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