4 Meals You Can Make With Your Child

Cooking with your child helps them learn valuable lessons about nutrition, and tasks such as measuring ingredients can allow them to develop their math skills. Most importantly, however, it is a fun and easy way to spend quality time together.

Here are four meals you can make with your child’s assistance.

Scrambled Eggs

A breakfast classic, scrambled eggs are easy to make and can be built upon to create a full meal. Younger children may need supervision, but older children may not. Be sure to educate your child about reducing the spread of Salmonella and other pathogens by having them wash their hands after cracking the eggs into the bowl.

Ingredients:

2 eggs

2 Tbsp milk or cream

Pinch of salt and pepper

Whisk the eggs, milk or cream, and salt and pepper in a bowl. Spray a skillet with cooking spray, or add a small amount of butter. Heat the skillet over medium heat. Add the egg mixture and reduce the heat to low. Using a heat-resistant spatula, gently stir the eggs until large, soft curds have formed with no liquid visible. Remove from heat and serve immediately.

Additions to scrambled eggs include: herbs such as chives, dill, or parsley; ¼ cup shredded cheese; ¼ cup salsa; or cooked vegetables such as spinach, tomato, or mushrooms.

Build-Your-Own Wraps

If your child is a fussy eater, they may feel more willing to eat something where they can control what goes into it. Wraps are a quick and easy lunch or dinner idea that are easy for kids to help with. Show them the appropriate amount of each filling per wrap, and demonstrate how to roll everything up, and let your child create their own. Here are some filling ideas you can use to get started:

  • Herbed cream cheese, ham, carrots, and cucumber
  • Plain cream cheese, turkey, tomato, and avocado
  • Guacamole, cooked rice, black beans, and shredded cheese
  • Scrambled eggs, onions, and red pepper
  • Hummus, grilled chicken breast, lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, and feta cheese

Chicken Satay

A tasty idea for your next barbecue, these chicken satay skewers are ideal for older children to help with. Younger children can help to make the dressing for the cucumber salad. The strength of the marinade’s flavor can be adjusted based on your family’s taste preferences.

Get the full chicken satay recipe at BBC Good Food.

Empanadas

Using store-bought pie crust and pre-made salsa makes this recipe easier and faster for children to help with. Younger children can help to measure out each filling ingredient and cut the dough into circle shapes, and older children can fold the empanadas in half and use a fork to seal the edges.

Get the full empanadas recipe at PBS Kids.

By helping out in the kitchen, your child will gain an invaluable education in nutrition and food preparation that they can use for the rest of their life. Cooking with your child will not only allow you to teach them these skills in a safe manner, but it will be an ideal opportunity to strengthen your bond.