Safety Tips for Cooking with Children

Kids Cook 

Who:  WIC parents and their children

Why:  To encourage parents to help children to learn to cook healthy & fun food at home

When:  Designated class times (20-30 minutes in length)

Where:  SCHD auditorium or SCHD library, Richland Outreach, Live Oak Outreach

What:  Prevention of disease/obesity due to our society's emphasis on convenience foods  

What for:  (by the end of the class participants will have)

1.      Watched demonstration of how to make the recipe.

2.      Tasted prepared food according to recipe.

3.      Listened to kitchen safety tips for children.    

How:  Live demonstration 

Props:  Measuring cups, recipe ingredients, flip chart   

Handouts: üHow to Cook with Young Children

                              üCooking Abilities of Young Children           

       üQuick and Easy Recipes for Children:  Mini Pizzas

                                                  Homemade Macaroni and Cheese 

Task 1 (7 minutes) Cooking Instruction…Cooking Abilities of Young Children  
Good morning/afternoon.  My name is ____________.  Today we are going to show you some easy ways to involve your child in the kitchen.  Helping prepare and cook foods is a great way for children to learn, have fun and try nutritious foods.  The activities your child will be able to help with will depend on his or her age. Keep the following in mind when including young children in cooking activities.

Two-year-olds are learning to use the large muscles in their arms. Try activities such as:

(have these points ready on flip chart)

• scrubbing vegetables
• dipping food
• washing and tearing lettuce and salad greens
• breaking bread into pieces
• carrying unbreakable items to the table

Three-year-olds are learning to use their hands. Try activities such as:                                                     (have these points ready on flip chart)

• pouring liquids into batter (you measure first)
• mixing batter or other dry and wet ingredients together
• shaking a drink in a closed container
• spreading butter or spreads
• kneading dough
• washing vegetables and fruit
• serving foods
• putting things in the trash after cooking or after a meal

Four and Five-year-olds are learning to control small muscles in their fingers. Try activities such as: (have these ready on flip chart)

• juicing oranges, lemons, and limes
• peeling some fruits and vegetables (bananas and even onions)
• mashing soft fruits and vegetables
• scrubbing vegetables (potatoes, mushrooms)
• cutting soft foods with a plastic knife (mushrooms, hard-boiled eggs)
• pressing cookie cutters
• measuring dry ingredients
• cracking open/breaking eggs
• beating eggs with an egg beater
• setting the table
• wiping up after cooking
• clearing the table after a meal

Task 2 (2 minutes) Safety…Tips for Cooking with Children

1. Prevent food poisoning by:

• always washing hands before cooking.
• not eating raw eggs or raw meats.
• waiting until the food is cooked before sampling it. Do not sample uncooked foods.

2. Have children stand at the level of the activity. Use a stool if necessary.  
 
3. Use cooking supplies that will not break like plastic measuring cups and stainless-steel bowls.  
 
4. Use plastic knives or butter knives for cutting.  
 
5. Provide constant supervision.

• Always watch children when they use knives, mixers, or the stove.
• Supervise the use of ovens, stoves, and other kitchen appliances.

Task 3 (10 minutes)…Cooking Demonstration…Demonstrate mini pizza recipe 

(Optional:  Select a child from the audience to participate in the "activities for children" sections.)

Mini Pizza Recipe

½ cup tomato sauce                                                                                                                                     2 English muffins or bagels, cut in half                                                                                                   ½ cup mozzarella, grated                                                                                                                         1 cup diced vegetables (such as tomato, onion, broccoli, bell pepper, zucchini or mushroom)(Have these diced in advance of class time.)

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Spread tomato sauce on each muffin/bagel half and sprinkle with cheese.  
 
3. Top with vegetables.  
 
4. Place on cookie/baking sheet.

5. Bake for about 10 minutes or until cheese has melted.

Activities for kids to help with are in italics and bolded (Steps 2, 3 and 4).

Shopping List (enough for 10 participants to sample recipe)

1 8 ounce can tomato sauce                                                                                                                              1 package English muffins                                                                                                                      1 small block mozzarella                                                                                                                         1 package sliced mushrooms                                                                                                                   1 yellow bell pepper                                                                                                                                  1 tomato 

Also need:

baking sheet                                                                                                                                   cheese grater                                                                                                                                    knife or other cutter to cut up samples and vegetables                                                                       can opener                                   spatula   

Sutter County WIC September 2004