> ***[Kids Cook]{.underline}***
>
> **Who:**  WIC parents and their children
>
> **Why:**  To encourage parents to help children to learn to cook
> healthy & fun food at home
>
> **When:**  Designated class times (20-30 minutes in length)
>
> **Where:**  SCHD auditorium or SCHD library, Richland Outreach, Live
> Oak Outreach
>
> **What:**  Prevention of disease/obesity due to our society's emphasis
> on convenience foods
>
> **What for:  (by the end of the class participants will have)**
>
> 1.      Watched demonstration of how to make the recipe.
>
> 2.      Tasted prepared food according to recipe.
>
> 3.      Listened to kitchen safety tips for children.
>
>  
>
> **How:**  Live demonstration
>
> **Props:** Measuring cups, recipe ingredients, flip chart
>
>  
>
> **Handouts:** How to Cook with Young Children

Cooking Abilities of Young Children

>                    Quick and Easy Recipes for Children: Mini Pizzas
>
> Homemade Macaroni and Cheese

**Task 1 (7 minutes) Cooking Instruction...Cooking Abilities of Young
Children**\
Good morning/afternoon. My name is \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. Today we
are going to show you some easy ways to involve your child in the
kitchen. Helping prepare and cook foods is a great way for children to
learn, have fun and try nutritious foods. The activities your child will
be able to help with will depend on his or her age. Keep the following
in mind when including young children in cooking activities.

Two-year-olds are learning to use the large muscles in their arms. Try
activities such as:

(have these points ready on flip chart)

-   **scrubbing** vegetables

-   **dipping** food

-   **washing** and tearing lettuce and salad greens

-   **breaking** bread into pieces

-   **carrying** unbreakable items to the table

Three-year-olds are learning to use their hands. Try activities such as:
(have these points ready on flip chart)

-   **pouring** liquids into batter (you measure first)

-   **mixing** batter or other dry and wet ingredients together

-   **shaking** a drink in a closed container

-   **spreading** butter or spreads

-   **kneading** dough

-   **washing** vegetables and fruit

-   **serving** foods

-   **putting** things in the trash after cooking or after a meal

Four and Five-year-olds are learning to control small muscles in their
fingers. Try activities such as: (have these ready on flip chart)

-   **juicing** oranges, lemons, and limes

-   **peeling** some fruits and vegetables (bananas and even onions)

-   **mashing** soft fruits and vegetables

-   **scrubbing** vegetables (potatoes, mushrooms)

-   **cutting** soft foods with a plastic knife (mushrooms, hard-boiled
    eggs)

-   **pressing** cookie cutters

-   **measuring** dry ingredients

-   **cracking** open/breaking eggs

-   **beating** eggs with an egg beater

-   **setting** the table

-   **wiping** up after cooking

-   **clearing** the table after a meal

**Task 2 (2 minutes) Safety...Tips for Cooking with Children**

1\. Prevent food poisoning by:

-   always washing hands before cooking.

-   not eating raw eggs or raw meats.

-   waiting until the food is cooked before sampling it. Do not sample
    uncooked foods.

2\. Have children stand at the level of the activity. Use a stool if
necessary.\
\
3. Use cooking supplies that will not break like plastic measuring cups
and stainless-steel bowls.\
\
4. Use plastic knives or butter knives for cutting.\
\
5. Provide constant supervision.

-   Always watch children when they use knives, mixers, or the stove.

-   Supervise the use of ovens, stoves, and other kitchen appliances.

**Task 3 (10 minutes)...Cooking Demonstration...**Demonstrate mini pizza
recipe

(Optional: Select a child from the audience to participate in the
"activities for children" sections.)

**[Mini Pizza Recipe]{.underline}**

½ cup tomato sauce 2 English muffins or bagels, cut in half ½ cup
mozzarella, grated 1 cup diced vegetables (such as tomato, onion,
broccoli, bell pepper, zucchini or mushroom)(Have these diced in advance
of class time.)

> 1\. Preheat oven to 350°F.
>
> ***2. Spread tomato sauce on each muffin/bagel half and sprinkle with
> cheese.\
> \
> 3. Top with vegetables.\
> \
> 4. Place on cookie/baking sheet.***
>
> 5\. Bake for about 10 minutes or until cheese has melted.

Activities for kids to help with are in italics and bolded (Steps 2, 3
and 4).

**[Shopping List (enough for 10 participants to sample
recipe)]{.underline}**

1 8 ounce can tomato sauce 1 package English muffins 1 small block
mozzarella 1 package sliced mushrooms 1 yellow bell pepper 1 tomato

Also need:

baking sheet cheese grater knife or other cutter to cut up samples and
vegetables can opener spatula

Sutter County WIC September 2004