Page 29 - 2023 September Parker Co. 4-H Connection
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COOKING WITH
YOUR KIDS
A U G U S T 2 9 , 2 0 1 9 B Y D I N N E R T O N I G H T
5 Great Reasons to
Cook with Your Kids
By: Nimali Fernando, MD, MPH, FAAP
When it comes to raising an adventurous eater, it
is not just about coaxing kids to eat their veggies.
Bringing up a child who can enjoy a cantaloupe as
much as a cupcake takes patience and
persistence, but it does not have to feel like a Kneading dough, rinsing vegetables, and tearing
lettuce all involve touching food and being
chore.
comfortable with texture. The complex flavors we
Kids may need to have frequent joyful experience when eating food come from both
experiences involving food to overcome the taste sensations from the tongue AND smelling
anxiety they may have around tasting the with the nose. While cooking with new
unfamiliar. Over time, cooking with your children ingredients, some children may feel too
can help build that confidence—and provide rich overwhelmed to taste. If this happens, you can
sensory experiences. try suggesting smelling a food first; this may
provide a bridge to tasting in the future.
Here are five ways to enjoy
Use cooking to raise smart kids. There are so
cooking with your children many lessons that can be taught while cooking.
Math concepts like counting, measurement, and
while raising an adventurous fractions naturally unfold when navigating a
eater along the way. recipe with kids. Explaining how food changes
with temperature or how certain foods can help
Engage other senses. For a hesitant eater, our body be healthy provide great lessons in
tasting an unfamiliar food can sometimes be science. While cooking with your child, practice
intimidating. You can help your child explore new vocabulary as you describe how food looks,
foods when cooking using other senses besides feels, and tastes. Following a recipe from start to
taste. This helps to build positive associations finish helps build the skills for planning and
with food. completing projects.
28 PARKER COUNTY 4-H CONNECTION /SEPTEMBER
