Tips and recipes for cooking with children

Have you ever cooked with children? What is the difference between small and large master chefs?

Yes, I have often cooked with children.

When I cook with little master chefs, I find it really funny to watch the children. You can see immediately where people cook at home and where they don’t. This is independent of age. Well, I used to cook with my daughter and a few kids from kindergarten. They were about four years old at the time. You could see how naturally some children use knives to carve vegetables. Others don’t know that at all.

Perhaps many children do not dare. Do you have any tips on how to introduce children to cooking and healthy eating?

I think children should be involved and participate in the kitchen from the very beginning, despite all the stress of everyday life. First in the high chair next to me when I’m preparing or cutting something. Then you can also give the child a piece of carrot to taste in between. As the kids get older, you can say, “You know what, I’ve got a little surprise here. Here’s your cutting board, your little knife. You just record now.”

As a mother, you should really use this time in the kitchen and not just think, now I have to cook something fresh. Mother and child can use this time to slowly relax and cook something delicious together. At the same time, the children are away from the television and remember: “Great, mommy has time to cook something with me.” I know that this doesn’t happen every day, but you should just say, this is our little break with the children. Cooking and eating bring us closer.

Do you have some everyday tips for our mothers on cooking with children?

I think children are incredibly curious. Anything you can get your hands on is great. And mothers should start early. After almost a year, you can naturally put out vegetable sticks that the little ones can nibble on and get a feel for, for example, what a carrot feels like. Or you spice up the classic dinner. You can do this with fresh fruit, for example, which you offer again and again. This is way better than the milk slices or a biscuit.

Are there mistakes mothers should avoid?

Of course, it’s easier and quicker to take something ready-made out of the fridge than to wash, cut and core an apple. You catch yourself again and again taking the easy route and putting something in your child’s hands. It is precisely this mistake that mothers should avoid and deliberately take a few minutes to do.

Can you recommend some recipes for our moms?

Of course, I’ve now thought more about recipes for children for this campaign. Children’s curiosity also plays a major role for me when it comes to recipes. For example, I made Vegetable Chicken Mikados . The children can simply pick up the Mikados. Another great recipe is the little pirate meatballs that I came up with. These are small fish cakes that the children can also hold in their hands. Almost all children like mashed potatoes because it is sweet. As a mother you can use this and carefully mix the puree with mashed peas or with some spinach.

Can you raise children without sweets?

I do not think so. But as with everything else, a healthy mix is ​​also important here. For example, my mother never gave us sweets back then, which led to us gorging ourselves on sweets at every kid’s birthday party until we were sick. My daughter Paola also loves children’s chocolate and gummy bears. But the mix is ​​important. I have a little trick. I always ask her first thing in the afternoon if she would like an apple, a pear or a banana. Most of the time she says yes. Then gummy bears and chocolate are out of the running. It’s rare for her to eat chocolate or ask for gummy bears on her own.

Is there a dessert recipe you would recommend as part of a healthy kids diet?

As an approach you should choose what children like for dessert, for example the creamy one. You can combine that with dairy products, not necessarily with sugar-coated quark or yoghurt. If there are fresh strawberries, you can puree them great. If it’s not sweet enough, you can add a spoonful of honey to taste. You already have a milk dish, a dessert or a dessert that is easy to make and you know what’s in it.

Are organic ingredients better than normal and if so why?

I’m the biggest fan of organic because organic tells us that the product is controlled and that I can rely on the control. But mothers should also keep their eyes open when it comes to organic products. Because not everything that is organic automatically tastes good. So just try it. You should pay close attention to fresh fruit and vegetables in particular. Because with a limp apple that has been at the organic retailer for weeks, there is nothing more to get.