Getting Kids Into the Kitchen
By Sue Gilbert

All the charts on the walls, all the pyramids on the frig won't turn your kids on to good food and nutrition like getting their hands and imaginations into will. Getting them involved with food, making it connect to everyday experiences, helping them to see food as a part of culture and history, or art and science will make nutrition and healthy eating fun and interesting.

For little children

The younger crowd has not yet been bombarded with nutrition facts and figures, or an overload of "eat it, it's good for you". They are still receptive and open to experiencing food. If you can set aside a small space in the kitchen and a small bit of your tolerance and patience (they are going to make a mess and waste some food) then they will begin to learn about food inside and out, while you sneak in a few comments about nutrition.

A place of their own: In a lower cupboard set aside at least the lower shelf for use by your baby and toddler. Supply it with the kitchen tools they need. Yogurt containers with lids, an old oatmeal box, plastic bowls, plastic measuring spoons, wooden spoons, rubber spatulas, plastic cookie cutters, rolling pin, plastic measuring cups and plastic pour spout containers, are all good material to start with. Only their imagination and yours limit how they will be used.

Some project ideas:

Salt dough: If you haven't already experienced salt dough, you will be more than happy with this new discovery. Together you and your children can mix up the dough, then you can set them to work molding, sculpting, rolling and cutting, pounding and squishing. The recipe:

1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
a little less than 1/2 cup water
Mix flour and salt, add water until mixture holds together like dough, knead. This dough will keep in the refrigerator for a few days if stored in plastic.

Once the final shape has been decided, bake it in a warm oven (200 to 250) until dry. Thicker pieces will take longer and may be better air-dried. Once dried they can be painted. Some great ideas are: hand impression plaques, cookie cutter ornaments, animal sculptures, beads, and free form shapes.

Fruit or vegetable people: Use fruits and vegetables that are edible when raw. Use toothpicks (under supervision with young ones) or peanut butter to put the pieces together. Some people you can make:

Curtis Cucumber - Begin with a small cucumber for the body, poke a hole in each side and insert a couple of green beans for arms. Two small cherry tomatoes can be applied as bulging eyes. Use a small carrot stick, or baby carrot inserted for the nose. Make a smile with a red pepper slice, add parsley for hair. While you are creating this green man, you can talk about how eating carrots help you see in the dark, that red peppers help cuts to heal faster. After having made this clever creation, your child may just be enticed to eat him. Or, serve him at dinnertime for the whole family to enjoy. Your child's pleasure in your reaction may also inspire her to take a few bites of those fresh vegetables.

Annie Apple - This is really a creation on a flat plate. Cut two round apple slices for big eyes, add some blueberry pupils, a strawberry nose, orange section ears, banana cheeks, grapefruit section smile, and orange and apple peel curls for hair. You can use the rest of the fruits for a mixed salad. On your little one's plate is a fruit filled smiley face begging to be eaten. Offer a little vanilla yogurt for dipping the fruit into.

Try your collective imagination at creating Tommy Tomato, Penelope Peach, Pepper Pete, Buster Banana, or make up some other creations like melon boats and banana cars. All the while you can discuss what the food is, who else likes to eat it (monkeys, kids on the other side of the world, grandma) and how else it is used (juice, tomato sauce, soups).

Bean bags: Fill a couple of ziplock sandwich bags with dried beans, offer a target and allow a little bean bag tossing.

Pretzel animals: In a big bowl mix together 1 package yeast, 1.5 cups warm water, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 1 tablespoon salt. Stir in 4 cups white flour and 2 cups of whole-wheat flour; knead on a counter dusted with flour until the dough is smooth. Shape into animal shapes, brush with a beaten egg and sprinkle with a little salt. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes at 425 degrees.

Muffin mixes: You can find some wholesome ones that require only an egg and milk to be added. An easy project with quick results.

For older children:

Older children will enjoy a little bit more responsibility and sophistication in their kitchen projects. It may be that now they are tired of hearing about which foods are good for them and which are not. Other aspects of food may help keep them interested while deepening their knowledge of food.

One interesting approach is the cultural one. A very memorable evening can be had by renting the movie Ghandi and ordering take out food from the local Indian restaurant. The kids may be more willing to try this new cuisine than under normal circumstances, and they were able to make a much better connection between the food and its people. This same idea can be applied to any age group. Making use of some classic old movies, try these ideas (or make the connections yourself with more current movies your children are enjoying) How about Mary Poppins and a tea party with scones and tea ? The Sound of Music and some cheese fondue would be wonderful fun. Here is a fondue recipe that contains no wine (like the traditional recipe) and is easy enough for most kids to make, or help make. Fondue is the French word for 'melted' and it originated in the French speaking part of Switzerland (the country to which the Von Trapps escaped to ).

Ingredients:
2 cups of low fat milk
1 pound grated Swiss cheese
3 tablespoons flour
Cubes of sturdy bread, like French

Directions: Heat the milk in the top of a double boiler until simmering. Mix the flour and the grated cheese (it helps keep the cheese dispersed while melting instead of ending up in a big blob to sink to the bottom of the milk). Drop the cheese by handfuls into the hot milk and stir until the cheese is all melted and bubbly. Place the double boiler (or put into a fondue pot) and put in the middle of the table with the basket of bread cubes. Using fondue forks or regular forks, spear the bread and dip into the cheese.

The economic approach: This is a bigger project and will take lots of involvement on your part. Give your child a certain sum of money and allow him to plan, shop, and prepare a meal. Some preparation for this is to make sure you have some kid friendly recipes around the house for him to use. This can be a good experience learning about the price of food, why some people may end up going hungry, and how difficult it can be to make a budget work.

Back to nature approach: By far, the best way to help children understand and appreciate good food is for them to grow it themselves. Even the smallest of garden plots or patio planters will provide a big lesson in how food is grown and harvested. And nothing inspires vegetable eating like growing and picking it yourself.