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As a mom it is extremely important to teach my kids good eating habits. I want them to want to eat the food that is healthy and nutritious for them. And not only that but I like to teach them how to cook healthy foods as well. That way I am giving them a skill for life. So I thought I would share my tips for cooking healthy meals with kids:
1. Keep it Simple- I find it is easier in the kitchen with kids helping if I keep things simple. It isn’t the best time to make your most complicated meal or dessert that needs to be exact 🙂 Instead keep it easy and kid friendly to make.
2. Add in Veggies- It is really easy to add in veggie servings secretly, just frappe a veggie and add it into a casserole. In an almost liquid form your kids don’t know it is there. If the color is a give away, then cauliflower is a good way to go (cause it’s white). Of course if they are cooking with you then the jig is up, but you can tell them that it has always been in there and they like it anyway. Hence them learning they like that veggie.
3. Let them experiment- In fact I encourage it. Some of the best meals I make were born out of experimentation. If your child says “Let’s put some of this in” go ahead and let them, of course unless you know it will ruin the flavor 😉 But experimenting can be fun for kids, it helps them feel creative and proud when their creation is good. If it doesn’t end up being good, well then there is a lesson there as well.
4. Let them help- I know it is more hassle and A LOT more mess, but kids love to help. Just seeing the smile on their faces and the satisfaction they get in helping makes all the chaos worth it. Plus, it is your chance to teach them your healthy cooking habits and tips.
No matter how you do it, teaching your kids healthy eating and cooking habits is must as a parent. It is a habit & skill that will benefit them for life. I would love to hear your tips for cooking healthy meals with your kids. Please share…
About Uncle Ben’s
Uncle Ben’s®, the number one rice brand in America, is proud to offer a wide range of rice dishes with flavors and textures that will help bring more to your meals, both for convenient side dishes and savory main courses. Uncle Ben’s® offers a wide variety of white, whole grain brown, and flavored rice’s in cook times ranging from 30 minutes to 90 seconds, as well as rice for food service operations such as restaurants, schools and hospitals. The first mass-produced parboiled rice, Uncle Ben’s® is the top-selling branded rice in the United States and products can be found in more than 100 countries worldwide. Uncle Ben’s® Brand products are manufactured by Mars Food NA, part of Mars, Incorporated. For more information, visit www.UncleBens.com.
More info on Uncle Ben’s: http://www.unclebens.com/
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