Keeping Kids Busy in the Kitchen

When the kids are home, it’s a great time for parents and caregivers to share life lessons. What we can learn in the kitchen about nutrition, food preparation and a healthy diet will support and guide healthy eating habits for the rest of our lives.  

Cooking and baking with kids builds maths, science, literacy and fine motor skills, along with confidence, self-love and a sense of belonging and value within the family. Here are some healthy, kid-friendly recipes made with pantry staples. 

Popcorn is a healthy, wholegrain snack.

These Popcorn Balls are quick to make, and younger kids love to get their hands in there and help. If you have black tahini on hand, it adds a fun and healthy twist of colour. 

This Peanut Butter & Cinnamon Caramel Popcorn recipe is ​dairy, gluten and refined sugar free, but totally amazing. My guess is it’s gone before you even finish the cleaning up! If nuts are a no-go in your household, use tahini instead. The sweetener you choose will change the flavour of the caramel. Pure maple syrup creates the most indulgent caramel flavour, honey gives it a true honey flavour, and rice syrup is the least sweet creating a milder caramel flavour. Simply use whatever you have on hand.

Simple, healthy treats for kids to make.

We can’t eat carrot and celery sticks all the time! Here are some scrummy treats made with real whole foods and less sugar than many other recipes. 

Beetroot and chocolate are the ultimate combo. We suggest using roasted beetroot in these Chocolate & Beetroot Mini Cakes, giving it a delicious earthy flavour and a moist texture. Getting the kids to eat veggies has never been so easy.

This is a healthier take on a nostalgic childhood treat. Chocolate Rice Krispies are secretly filled with nuts and seeds, oats and nut butter to boost the family’s nutrition intake. Kids of any age love these.

These Healthy Chocolate Raw Bliss Balls are easy to make and mainly use pantry staples. Let the kids choose alternative ingredients to suit their palate. They are more likely to eat something they helped to create. 

Tahini is high in calcium which is great for healthy bones, and these Tahini Oat Biscuits are super easy with only 5 ingredients. Replace the nuts with sunflower and hemp seeds for a boost of omegas. 

Getting older kids to help make dinner.

Chipping into the needs of a household gives a sense of value and belonging. Asking older kids to make dinner by following a simple recipe makes them feel needed and gives Mums and Dads a night off too. 

Everyone loves sausage rolls and these Lamb, Rosemary & Garlic Sausage Rolls are a total winner. Let your kids be creative, using beef mince or any shredded vegetables on hand to make the recipe go further and have enough for leftovers too. 

Including beans in a meat-based dish increases the protein content, as well as its sustainability. Filled with pantry staples, this Smoked Veggie Sausage & Chilli Baked Butter Beans is the perfect recipe for older kids to make on their own. Substitute any sausages or beans from your pantry and reduce or omit the cayenne pepper to suit the family’s taste buds. 

Simple, plant-based meals for the kids to make.

Nowadays, tweens and teenagers are choosing to eat less meat as part of the climate change movement. Let’s celebrate this forward thinking with these plant-based meal ideas. 

​Lentils are a great source of fibre and plant-based protein. They easily absorb sauces and seasonings making them an ideal base for curries. This Easy Lentil Curry is a warming vegetarian recipe that uses pantry staples and comes together in no time. 

​The whole family will love this quick and easy Lentil Spaghetti Bolognese. Even meat eaters will be impressed! Lentils are the star again, adding sustainable plant-based protein and fibre. Mum can sit down and let the kids take over. It’s a win-win!

Pumpkins and carrots are full of fibre, potassium and vitamin C, perfect to support your immune system. This vegan Roast Pumpkin & Carrot Soup makes a satisfying, yet light dinner.  

Inspiring our children to be involved in meal preparation and a healthy diet is supporting a future of healthy and happy adults.