Celebrate Green Blog

by Kia

Looking for something fun to do with your kids this summer? Try cooking together. Sure it can mean a little extra time and clean up when you have little “helpers” but it’s worth it. Of course this isn’t something that needs to happen for every meal, even if you just cook together once a week, it can create cherished memories and traditions that will last a lifetime.

Getting your kids involved in preparing meals is a fantastic way to develop healthy eating habits. Did you know that kids are far more likely to dig into a new dish if they helped prepare it? There are lots of things even very young children can do in the kitchen. Toddlers can wash and rip lettuce, preschoolers can measure and stir, and older kids can find recipes and help create meals.

Here are a few ideas that don’t require “actual cooking” but are fun recipes for kids to make and eat.

Rainbow Fruit Sticks

Need a colourful, tasty, healthy item to bring to your next potluck or school event?!? Try these easy to make Rainbow Fruit Sticks. They are a huge hit at any event with kids of all ages.
All you need is a collection of colourful fruit and some skewers. I like to use: Pineapple, Green Grapes, Cantaloupe, Raspberries, Honeydew Melon and Blackberries to give the skewers a nice rainbow effect.

1. Wash your fruit and let dry a little so that they are easy to work with.
2. Arrange your fruit and skewer them in the same order.
3. Display your Rainbow Fruit Sticks on a platter and get ready for the compliments.

Cinnamon Apples

All you’ll need is an Apple and some Cinnamon.
This is an easy snack. Wash and slice an apple then sprinkle with cinnamon. Adds a yummy twist to eating apples.

Kids want to have fun…that’s part of what makes them such great people to be around. So when you want to get your kids on board for something, try making a game out of it. Look at your kitchen through the eyes of your little one and suddenly the salad spinner becomes a merry-go-round for lettuce and the sink turns into a carwash for vegetable vehicles! Get them involved and have fun!!

Kia Robertson is a mom and the creator of the Today I Ate A Rainbow kit; a tool that helps parents establish healthy habits by setting the goal of eating a rainbow of fruits and vegetables every day. Kia is passionate about creating tools that help parents raise healthy kids!