Happy Wednesday!
Music is my #1, which you may not know if you’re here through social media. (I don’t post about it a lot, more on that another day!) But the runner up in my life is food. Cooking brings me so much joy, and the kitchen is a space where I feel fearless, creative, and confident. Good vibes!
However, there is no denying that it is a chore, and since having children that has never felt more true. At our home, it’s 3 meals/day + 2 snacks + however many in between snacks x 5 people who don’t always eat the same thing, + hosting + anything I happen to be craving because I saw someone make it on Instagram, + groceries + occasional delivery when “I’m done” (iykyk) and that = math that somehow demonstrates the effort it is to put meals together, or something. Don’t get me wrong, it’s by far my favorite chore, but it’s a chore!
Including the kids in the process has been a blast of a learning experience, for all of us. I figured, the sooner they know how to make my favorite snacks, the better for everyone, so I got their aprons on very early. In true Pinterest vs. Reality fashion, rarely is it picture perfect. But with prep and patience, it’s a great activity to share with kiddos. Below are a few tips for making it as easy as possible, hope it’s helpful!
Safety first! My kids are quite young so if it involves heat or knives, rather than attempting to modify them to be “safer”, I do those steps in their entirety myself and focus their involvement elsewhere. If the only step at that moment is not necessarily safe, I’ll give them an “in between” task such as cleanup, or assign something like lining up the carrots by size, to keep them occupied.
Baby steps (for everyone). If you’ve never made Beef Wellington before, maybe don’t use it as the recipe you tackle with littles - instead, go with something simple, or something you’re relatively familiar with. Less stress, more fun!
Plan ahead. Gather and portion your ingredients, have everything at the right temp (including the oven if you need it), make sure all tools and gadgets are assembled and plugged in, and consider handling the overly messy steps in advance on your own.
When it’s safe to taste along the way, go for it. I’ve found this is especially useful in the case of picky eating - enrolling them in the process makes them excited to enjoy the final product. I invite their opinions along the way and allow them to do and taste the adjustments (more honey, more salt, etc.).
Give choices! I’m a big fan of “build-your-own” spreads: sandwiches, tacos, bowls, great candidates. Additionally, choices on things they can easily “cook” themselves are good fun, such as pizza, salads, or nacho toppings.
Mentally prepare. It’s going to be messy! Something will break! They’ll still refuse to eat it and/or throw it on the floor! At least one person will have a meltdown and it will probably be you! But I promise, you’ll have fun!