Yep, this month (as well as each and every month of the year) you can have a few more of these cute little kitchen helper hands in the kitchen!
To highlight the role everyone plays in ensuring a healthy future for our nation’s children, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and its Foundation celebrate Kids Eat Right Month™ each August.
Kids Eat Right Month focuses on the importance of healthful eating and active lifestyles for children and families, featuring expert advice from registered dietitian nutritionists to help families shop smart, cook healthy and eat right.
Why support Kids Eat Right with Kitchen Helpers?!
Why not?!
Plus, my good friend Sara Haas is a chef and a mom to a wonderful little one. She’s also a past Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Spokesperson who is 100% invested in encouraging families to get in the kitchen with their kids!
Thus, when Sara decided to do a blog brigade to promote Kids Eat Right, I told her I would join the fun.
How to cook with those kitchen helpers?
First off, you have to look at this infographic! It’s filled with helpful information that really touches on age appropriate recipes and is a great way to remember some of those food safety basics!
I told you, this is the daddy of resources from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics! I highly encourage you to check this out and see what new tips and tricks you can pick up!
What tips do you have for moms wanting to get their kids involved in cooking?
While this graphic may seem like kids should start getting involved in the kitchen after 3 years old, that is certainly not the case!
As you know, I’ve had Hayden in the kitchen pretty much since the day she was born. Whether I was wearing her in a wrap or laying her in the center on her Dock-a-Tot, I was determined to let her know the kitchen could be her safe place, too!
As you can see, even Mr.CEO got in on the action!
To help you feel a bit more comfortable getting your little one’s involved in cooking, here are a few tips to encourage those kitchen helpers!
Read menus with them when you go out.
Even if their under one, they are still a sponge and enjoy hearing your voice! Enticing their curiosity young will help excite them when you ask them for help recreating that dish you had out!
Let them try things.
Raw batter isn’t encouraged, but biting into a raw tomato and letting those juices envelop their little chins is a great way to see a smile (or a gag) and remind them to try new things! Taking it a step further and then showing them how that raw tomato is the base for their favorite pasta or pizza is an awesome way for them to see food evolve!
Give them a task.
Does your little one crave independence? Mine too! That’s why giving them a small task to help complete the meal or snack you are preparing is huge for building their self confidence and independence!
As you can see, H’s task was to practice using the colander to wash the snap peas for our Stir Fry!
Hayden and I are having are own fun right now in the kitchen (remember that pesto wrap), but I wanted to show you how other moms get their kids in the kitchen too!
So, I enlisted the help of my mom friends who also happen to be RDs to share their best tips, tricks and recipes with you today.
Now, let’s jump into those mom blogs out there that I absolutely adore!
You guys remember Jess, right? She’s incredible in the kitchen! Her twin girls know a thing or two about great cooking and they’ve got a killer homemade applesauce recipe to prove it!
They’ve also got a few more highlights from their kitchen experiments, too!
OMG, I know, adorable, right?! Sonali, aka The Foodie Physician, has been over here on the blog a few times!
She’s the author of those great cookbooks: The Natural Pregnancy Cookbook & the Natural Baby Food Cookbook! Plus, Sonali likes to get her hands dirty in the kitchen with her sweetheart, Sienna!
Oh my gosh, I can’t get enough of these adorable little chefs! Brynn, the mom, dietitian and recipe guru behind The Domestic Dietitian, has a wonderful site that includes some great tips on getting your kids to be comfortable with new foods in the kitchen!
One of her best tips: try a new food with a favorite food! Genius, right?!
I had a little helper in the kitchen today. Every morning, I allot 20 minutes for making breakfast, not a minute more or there will be chaos. My daughter loves measuring and dumping things! She s gotten really good at it she can scoop flour, then sweep the extra off the top for an accurate measure, and triumphantly dump it into the bowl!
Love the charts with suggestions on what even very young kids can do in the kitchen. I think it really helps kids develop healthy attitudes to trying new things when they are involved! Thanks for sharing my carrot cucumber salad. Spiralizing is so kid friendly since my kids love noodles! They can have as many vegetable noodles as they wish!
Such a wonderful post! Thanks so much for including me and my sous chef Sienna! I’ve tried to get her in the kitchen with me from the beginning and now she loves to cook! We’re still working on the eating part, haha!
Love this! It’s so nice to see all the RD bloggers’ cute little ones! With my job I find that the kids are more excited to eat new foods even from just scooping out their own food or handing out napkins! You have inspired me to create a new post 🙂
Amazing! I love this post so much Liz! Thank you so much for spreading the news that KIDS CAN COOK! I love that you featured our amazing colleagues too. A wonderful read!
You know this is the kind of post that makes my heart smile!! Thanks for promoting kids in the kitchen and extra thank you for your kind words about our blog, FB live and including our posts 🙂
Thank you for the fun, engaging post. It summarizes what Kids Eat Right Month is all about– inspiring and empowering eating healthy all year long!!!
Thank you so much Libby! I so appreciate you reading it!
Awww, this is really cute! I wish I’d learned to do more in the kitchen when I was little!
I had a little helper in the kitchen today. Every morning, I allot 20 minutes for making breakfast, not a minute more or there will be chaos. My daughter loves measuring and dumping things! She s gotten really good at it she can scoop flour, then sweep the extra off the top for an accurate measure, and triumphantly dump it into the bowl!
That is the best idea ever! I love it, and I know those memories will stay with her forever!
I love this post!!! Forwarding it to my BFF who has 2 small kids. Do these guidelines work for spouses too? 😉
Ah thanks Laura! They can certainly try lol!
Love the charts with suggestions on what even very young kids can do in the kitchen. I think it really helps kids develop healthy attitudes to trying new things when they are involved! Thanks for sharing my carrot cucumber salad. Spiralizing is so kid friendly since my kids love noodles! They can have as many vegetable noodles as they wish!
LOVE the spiralizing with kids! Thanks so much for sharing your recipe, such a great color combo in there!
Such a wonderful post! Thanks so much for including me and my sous chef Sienna! I’ve tried to get her in the kitchen with me from the beginning and now she loves to cook! We’re still working on the eating part, haha!
She’s adorable and I’m sure that will come with time!! Take her out to SD and Aunt Liz will spoil her with tacos lol!
This is a great post! Kids in the kitchen is the best for bonding and promoting healthy eating
Thanks Jodi! So true- lifelong habits are formed!
I agree with all the other commenters! Great post and always neat when you can get kids involved. Let them help and start creating great habits young!
Amen! And thanks so much for your recipes!
Love this! It’s so nice to see all the RD bloggers’ cute little ones! With my job I find that the kids are more excited to eat new foods even from just scooping out their own food or handing out napkins! You have inspired me to create a new post 🙂
Ah that is so awesome Kim! It sounds like you have such an awesome job! Can you take me to work one day?!
Such a great post and resource! Thanks so much for including me and my girls. Xo
My pleasure Miss Jessica! Love those smiles!
Great post! Looking forward to more Kids In the Kitchen ideas and tips!
Thanks Elana!
Amazing! I love this post so much Liz! Thank you so much for spreading the news that KIDS CAN COOK! I love that you featured our amazing colleagues too. A wonderful read!
Of course! My pleasure and what a great idea to start a blog party for this month!
You know this is the kind of post that makes my heart smile!! Thanks for promoting kids in the kitchen and extra thank you for your kind words about our blog, FB live and including our posts 🙂
Anytime Deanna and Serena! You know I <3 you ladies!
This is such a fantastic post! It totally motivated me to join the Kids Eat Right movement thru the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Great resources, tips and recipes!!
Ah, thanks so much Brynn! I adore your blog posts and am so grateful you contributed!