Any parent with a picky eater knows that dinnertime can go from "fun" to "frustrating" in a flash!
Celebrating Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day is a fun way to encourage children to get involved in cooking and meal preparation and teach them valuable life skills related to cooking and nutrition. The more kids are involved in planning, shopping, and preparation, the more likely they are to try new foods.
We have fun ways to help you celebrate Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day on September 13 — or any day you want to put the kids in charge of mealtime.
1. Start with a giggle.
Lettuce begin with a joke. We think this one is souper! But if you don't like it, well, we cannoli do so much!
Q. How did the past chef get locked out of his house?
A. He came home with gnocchi.
(Gnocchi is pronounced similarly to "no key." Hear it here.)
2. Sign up for a cooking class.
Learning to cook is more than a life skill. It's an opportunity to discover where our food comes from, develop healthy habits, practice math skills, and learn about chemistry!
If you don't want to make a mess in your kitchen, sign your kids up for a cooking class — with or without you!
- Flour Power Cooking Studios in Highlands Ranch has classes for kids, school break camps, regular Kids' Night Out events, and family workshops.
- Highlands Ranch Community Association hosts classes for kids as young as 2 years old, Cooking With Your Kids family classes, and school break camps.
- South Suburban Parks & Recreation offers monthly "Saturday Treats Workshops" for ages 4-7 and 7-12.
- Uncorked Kitchen in Centennial offers school break camps, family cooking classes, and interactive parties where kids and teens learn to cook with friends.
3. Make a favorite snack or meal.
When my older son was 11, he asked me one day if he could have a tuna fish sandwich for lunch. I answered, "Of course!" But when I didn't get up, he asked, "Would you make it for me?" I told him he could make it himself, and he hesitantly replied, "But I don't know how."
Of course, a tuna fish sandwich is easy to make, but how would he know that if I'd never shown him? We went into the kitchen to make one together, and he happily made his own tuna fish sandwiches for lunch many more times during that summer break.
Since then, my kids have learned to make many of their favorites: pancakes, monkey bread, chicken rolls, zucchini muffins, and the perfect grilled cheese!
4. Make paper-woven placemats.
A special meal deserves a special place setting! Kids will have fun "weaving" strips of paper into a placemat. Plus, you can customize each person's placemat with their favorite colors or match your placemat colors to a specific holiday.
Watch the video below for a way to level up your weaving technique with this intricate design from Crafty Minds.
5. Set up an in-home restaurant.
Now that your kids have the knowledge, skills, and place settings needed, it's time to really let them take over! Have them pick a theme, choose a menu, and prepare and serve dinner to the whole family.
Older kids may be able to handle nearly every step with little supervision. Younger kids may need some thoughtful guidance and extra parental assistance.
See how dinner at The Rainbow Cafe turned out for our Macaroni KID DTC publisher and her family!
