Cooking with Your Kids: Make Healthy Food Fun

By Katherine Petrunia

Family life is busy. Making a meal that is convenient and quick is tempting but can sacrifice nutrition. And of course, putting a plate of greens in front of your little ones is often met with objection. So what’s a busy parent to do?

Kids learn by doing; they are also more likely to eat food that they have helped prepare. Healthy homemade meals don’t have to be time- consuming and difficult. A great option that is sure to be a crowd-pleaser is personal pizzas. You can buy pre- made crusts (perfect if you need a gluten- free option) or make your own dough a day ahead and store it in the fridge (use whole wheat flour for an added nutrition boost).

Have your kids help measure & mix ingredients. They will learn about how recipes work; bringing together different ingredients to create something and you can teach them about measuring as you portion out the flour, water, etc. Have your kids suggest toppings, but make sure you include veggies to ensure they don’t just load up on meet & cheese.

If your kids are old enough to help with the chopping, let them contribute; for smaller hands, give them the task of grating pieces of cheese. And everyone will probably enjoy the task of rolling out their own pizza crust (it might be too tempting to resist tossing the dough, just make sure the floor’s clean if they miss on the way down!).
 When the toppings are prepared, have everyone scoop and spread their own sauce and select their toppings. Make it a fun rule that at least one veggie has to be included for each ‘fun’ topping such as pepperoni, ham, or cheese. Have an older sibling or parent give final approval before popping in the oven.

When the pizzas are ready, everyone can enjoy their own or sample pieces made by other family members. This is a great way to make meal time a family event and encourage your youngsters to eat healthier, homemade foods. By starting with a favourite meal item such as pizza, your kids will hopefully be more receptive to trying other healthy options and have an interest in helping with meals.

Other ideas include salads (where everyone can select from a variety of toppings such as seeds, nuts, and diced fruits & veggies), pastas, stir- fry, and kebobs.  These ideas don’t have to be time-consuming and complicated to be healthy: serve up veggie- loaded meals with brown rice or quinoa for an added kick of nutrition and you’re good to go!

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 About the Author

Katherine Petrunia lives in Vancouver, BC and is a proud wife & mama. Some of her passions include healthy recipe creation, DIY projects, writing, and budget- friendly family activities.

 She is focused on living a clean & natural lifestyle by eating as healthy as possible and going chemical free. She combines & writes about these passions in her blog, The Pampered Baby, where she posts recipes & articles focused on families.