Summer is a great time to get your kids engaged in healthy food activities. By getting your kids engaged in the cooking process, they are more likely to try new things and eat healthy foods they may avoid at the table. Not only that, you’ll be building memories and life skills in the process. If you don’t know where to start, here are four fun food activities for kids.
1. Make Homemade Popsicles
Popsicles are a must for any childhood summer. Even as adults, enjoying a sweet, cold pop transports us back to outdoor summer memories. Make your own popsicles for a healthier treat and it can save you money. Packaged popsicles are loaded with high fructose corn syrup, artificial food coloring and are typically void of any nutritional value.
DishQuo family meal planning app has tons of summer popsicle recipes the whole family will love. Plus, making your own is an easy way to start cooking with kids. Purchase a popsicle mold and set up your pouring station outside. Let your little ones practice pouring skills without much clean-up for you. Learning to pour is great for fine motor skill development and fun!
2. Learn Cleaning and Cutting Fruit
Add another fine motor skill and life lesson with cutting and cleaning fruit. If your child loves playing with water, they’ll enjoy washing produce. Like with popsicles, it may get messy. Take this healthy kid activity outside. Fill up a bin of water and place each veggie and fruit on a tray. Let your child splash, wash, and scrub the produce.
Once dried, show your child how to safely hold the produce while cutting. Keep it safe with a butter knife or child-friendly kitchen tools. We recommend starting with soft fruits like bananas and ripe watermelon. If you don’t feel comfortable handing over a knife, wash herbs and let their little fingers pick herb leaves from stems instead. Always make sure you stay with your child as a safety precaution.
3. Grill Veggie and Fruit Kabobs
Invite your kids to pick their own fruit and vegetables. Visit the farmers market or a local orchard. Helping them connect to where their food comes from and giving them the power to choose will help them become more adventurous eaters.
Grilling is always fun during summer and grilled food on a stick is even better! Make kebabs with your freshly found produce and let the kids help. They can help you wash, chop and thread the food on the stick. For little ones, this is great even without the grilling. They can learn a fun way to make their own lunch or snack. Up the flavor with a DishQuo-friendly marinade and throw it on the grill for dinner.
4. Play Food Games Together
Kids learn through play. If they aren’t interested in these kitchen activities, meet them where they’re at. Pretend to eat bananas, carrots, and other healthy foods as part of a game or pretend picnic. Invite dolls and stuffed animals to join. As they open themselves to healthy eating through play, you’ll see them slowly open themselves up to healthy food in the kitchen with you too.
Have fun while you’re getting your kids excited about good nutrition! Take the pressure off and enjoy the process. Let them explore, get involved, and get messy. Summer is a great time to take these healthy cooking with kids ideas outside. DishQuo meal planning app has 3000+ recipes, many kid-friendly, which you can prepare with your family. Sign up for 2 weeks free and find your summertime favorites!
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