Culinary Kids Create Sweet Success
Culinary Kids Create Sweet Success
Peanut Butter Honey Play Dough
(Family Features) - Children are naturally curious when it comes to the ways of the kitchen, and parents are equally curious about how to include them in cooking and baking activities.
"The best way to promote lifelong healthy eating is to get kids involved in cooking at an early age," said Mitzi Dulan, registered dietitian and author. "Promoting the kitchen as a fun gathering place for the whole family will help build a positive attitude towards enjoying food."
With a little adult assistance, kids can easily learn their way around the kitchen and help create fun meals and snacks.
"Introduce kids to the kitchen by having them help prepare their own snacks," Dulan said. "A favorite snack for my children is a honey and peanut butter sandwich. Even very young kids can use a spoon to spread honey and peanut butter on whole wheat bread or a tortilla."
Here are three simple steps to heighten your child's desire to learn and be involved in the kitchen:
Tour the kitchen. Sure they eat there, but take time to familiarize them with measuring cups, cutting boards, hot pads and the general layout of the kitchen. Point out where kitchen staples such as honey, spices and other dry ingredients are stored and use this time as an invitation to talk about flavors and favorite tastes.
Make meal planning a family event. Browse through cookbooks, old family recipes or visit honey.com for kid-friendly and tasty recipes. Invite kids to pick at least one recipe to make each week to get them involved and interested in the family's eating habits.
Assist your little chef. Safety is a top priority for kids in the kitchen - adults should be active participants and lead by example. Always demonstrate safe kitchen practices - from knife skills and cleanliness to age-appropriate cooking activities.
The National Honey Board provides a collection of kid-friendly recipes and fun facts in the "From Honey Bees to Brain Freeze Kid's Guide to Cooking with Honey" brochure, including colorful illustrations and photography. To receive a free copy of the brochure, download recipes, or find out more about the benefits of using honey, visit honey.com.
Mitzi Dulan offers seven tips for raising food-smart kids
- Introduce a variety of foods. The key to expanding kids' food preferences is to try new flavors early and often. Be persistent - it can take 5 to 20 times of trying a new food before your child actually enjoys it.
- Avoid being a short-order cook. It's fine to frequently include some of their favorite foods, but you don't want to end up making four different meals each night for everyone in the family.
- Switch to whole grains. Bread, pasta, pancakes, tortillas, pitas, cereal, crackers and brown rice. It might not always be possible to eat whole grains when eating out, but it should be a no-brainer when you are making meals at home.
- Put the brakes on fast food. Fast food can seem like a great option when you are pressed for time, but try to limit the number of times you eat fast food. Instead, make a double batch of favorite foods and freeze half for later.
- Make activity a family affair. Go for a family bike ride or walk. Find local tennis courts, trails or a track and get moving!
- Ask for their help. Get children involved with grocery shopping. Make it fun by exploring colors and shapes in the produce section. Let kids select a new fruit or vegetable to try at home.
- Look for pure foods. Buy foods with short ingredient lists or single ingredient foods like honey and kiwi.
Peanut Butter Honey Play Dough
Ingredients
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Food coloring, optional
Preparation
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl; mix thoroughly until "dough" begins to come together. Do not over mix. If desired, add a few drops of food coloring to dough and mix; add additional food coloring if needed to reach preferred color.
- Store dough or shapes in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days.
Serves
Makes about 1 pound
Honey Berry Waffle Sandwich
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups fresh berries*, divided
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1/3 cup honey
- 8 frozen waffles, toasted
Preparation
- To prepare honey syrup, purée 1/2 cup berries in a blender or food processor; set aside. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add honey and bring to a boil; simmer 2 to 3 minutes, then add berry purée. Continue to simmer 2 to 3 minutes more until syrup thickens slightly. Set aside and keep warm.
- For each serving, place 2 waffles on plate. Top one waffle with 1/4 cup fresh berries. Drizzle with 1/4 of syrup, and top sandwich with remaining waffle.
Serves
Makes 4 servings
Notes, Tips & Suggestions
*Raspberries, strawberries and blueberries work well.
Honey Turkey Rollers
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/4 cup mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, optional
- 6 8-inch whole wheat tortillas
- 1 1/2 cups Colby Jack cheese, shredded
- 12 thin slices of turkey
Preparation
- In medium bowl, beat cream cheese with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add honey, mustard and onion powder; mix well.
- Spread 1 to 2 tablespoons of honey cream cheese mixture out to the edge of each tortilla. Sprinkle each tortilla with 1/4 cup cheese, leaving about 1 inch around the edge. Place 2 slices of turkey on each tortilla. Roll up each tortilla tightly and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill at least 30 minutes, then slice each tortilla log into 8 1-inch rounds and serve.
Serves
Makes 6 servings
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