6 Easy Ways to Get Kids Cooking

1. Start Small

Taking on a recipe with a huge list of ingredients can be frustrating for an experienced cook. Most recipes aren’t written for the beginner cook. Recipes with five ingredients or less is a great way to start. Not sure which recipes to try first? 

That is exactly why I created my membership, Teach Your Kids to Cook. I knew I wanted to teach my sons to cook but I was overwhelmed by all the things they didn't know how to do. I decided to break it down in easy-to-digest (get it?) video lessons they could watch over and over to master a skill. Before I knew it, they were cooking for themselves. To learn more about my membership click here.

2. Focus on Progress not Perfection

Lower your expectations. You want your child to learn the process of cooking so he or she can improvise when things don’t go as planned. Even if a meal is a flop, there is still a lesson to be learned. The goal is not a beautifully executed plate worthy of a fine dining establishment. The goal is for your young chef to improve after each cooking session flexing that confidence muscle.

3. Encourage Taste Testing

Let them have the first taste! My dad used to call this the “chef’s sample”. My sister and I would literally argue over who helped him man the grill because we knew the reward would be a tasty morsel before the rest of the family sat down to eat.

4. Teach Them to Clean as They Go

Best pro tip. Start with an empty dishwasher. Move your prep bowls to the dishwasher as soon as you use each ingredient. If you teach your young chefs to clean as they go, you won’t be stuck with the entire cleanup. And when you sit down to eat, most of your dishes will already be done! Who wants to clean up a big mess after you eat? Even the tiniest of kitchen helpers can return the ketchup to the refrigerator or wipe down the counters. We have a Kitchen Cleanup Checklist for Kids you can hang on the refrigerator. Your little ones can be in charge of marking off a task when it’s complete.

5. Praise the Effort

Your goal is to keep them coming back for more! Notice when they apply themselves to the task at hand. Compliment perseverance or determination. Find ways to positively reinforce their willingness to learn a new skill.

6. Have a Backup Plan

When things go wrong (and they will at some point), you will need a backup plan. I cannot tell you how important it is to know ahead of time what you will do when everyone is hungry and the meal your child worked so hard to make is inedible. Not only will your child be disappointed, but we all know emotions are amplified when kids are hungry! Whether it’s pizza delivery or a go-to pantry meal you always have on hand, it is best to plan ahead to avoid a meltdown.