19
months
COOKING with you Have your child watch you cook! Set them up somewhere safe (like in their highchair nearby) with some wooden spoons, spatulas, measuring cups, and bowls, and talk to them about what you’re doing and the foods you are making. Let them smell, touch, and taste any size and texture appropriate foods as you prep them. This positive food exposure is beneficial to your tot for years to come!
Allow your child to be your “helper” in the kitchen (after having cleared away sharp utensils and anything else potentially dangerous). Washing vegetables is a great way for children to become familiar with and learn the names of different vegetables. Let them be the “masher” and mash up the potatoes or the “pourer” and pour the measured dry ingredients into a bowl. Start with simple, quick recipes that give an instant result (think smoothies, fruit salads, veggie wraps with hummus, yogurt parfaits etc.) Prep ingredients out of reach of your little one. Working with knives and a hot stove can be dangerous while handling a young child, so keep your child more than arms-length away. Let your tot taste test. As you move through ingredients, talk about it with your child. Let her smell it; offer her a taste. You can even go through your spice cabinet and offer her tastes and smells of different herbs and spices (avoiding those which may be too hot or peppery). The more exposure
she has to different flavors, textures and smells, the more adventurous an eater she may be.
Let your toddler tag along with you at the grocery store. Encourage her to pick out a new fruit or vegetable to try. Toddlers are more likely to venture out of their comfort zone with trying new foods if they had a role in picking it out. After all, they like to be in charge!
Make hand hygiene and food safety a priority, too! Wash your hands together
before and after your cooking adventure.
This tip is from our Happy Mama Mentor Jaime, RD and mom to Annabel & Alexa Also available to chat at: happyfamilyorganics/chat