Children of all ages can participate in preparing or cooking
meals. Kids ages 2 to 3 years old can help by snapping off the
ends of green beans, scrubbing potatoes or breaking apart
lettuce leaves for a salad. Not only will they be a little
helper, but they’re also getting a valuable lesson in the
kitchen. Older kids around 4 to 5 years old have more developed
muscles, which allow them to help with more difficult tasks such
as cracking eggs, stirring mixes and forming meatballs. Seven-
to 9-year-olds, with the supervision of mom or dad, can start
using the stove or microwave. Start with simple activities like
making soup, browning onions or steaming veggies so kids can
feel confident with their cooking skills. With increased
exposure to healthy foods, kids are less likely to be picky
eaters and are more inclined to enjoy healthy foods in the
future. Check out these nutrition resources to kids: • American
School Food Service Association, www.asfsa.org • Farm to School
programs, www.foodsecurity.org/farm_to_sch