Cooking with Toddlers

My little guy has had a fascination with following me into the kitchen lately, climbing up on the stool, and asking, "Help you cook?"  Kaya is usually always in the kitchen with me when I'm cooking - strapped into her highchair and chewing on something: a wooden spoon, rubber spatula, anything new and different so I can keep her entertained while trying to throw something together.  But now Sammy-man has been going through a jealousy streak and wants to "help" too.  At first, I wasn't sure if it was a good idea - I'm thinking hot stove, big messes, and sharp utensils.  

But the look on his face when I said no, and his squeaky little voice saying, "Sammy crying," made guilt fill me up and rethink my decision.  After all, there are so many benefits of having him in the kitchen with me:

• Sammy's an extremely picky eater.  By helping to make his own food, he will learn more about it and want to taste his experiment (in theory.)
• Having an extra pair of hands in the kitchen could help get dinner on the table faster, which means I'll have more time to relax and enjoy our dinner together.
• He can entertain Kaya while I work on getting things going.
• He makes an excellent gopher ("go fer" this haha).
• He is learning to be more self-sufficient.
• He is spending quality time with me.

So we decided to make pizza together tonight.  After washing his hands, he jumped right up on his stool and helped with every little bit.  I was worried that I would get stressed, but we actually had a blast!  He asked me what every little thing he could reach does, and I was happy to let him know.  He wanted to know the names of everything, and repeated them back to me just like a little parrot.  That in itself was amazing to me - since there has been so many issues with his speech.

Nutrition is extremely important during the toddler stage, when your little one's growth rate starts to slow down and their energy levels spike.  They should get between 1,000-1,400 calories per day.  My Sammy-man often refuses to eat so bringing him into the kitchen is a great way to get him interested in food.

Here's what the USDA's MyPlate Food Guide recommends for toddlers of two per day:

Grain - 3 ounces (1 ounce equals one slice of bread, 1 cup of cereal, or 1/2 cup pasta or rice.

Veggies - 1 cup

Fruits -  1 cup (1 banana equals 1 cup)

Milk - 2 cups (2 oz processed cheese equals 1 cup milk)

Protein - 2 ounces (1 ounce is equal to one egg, 1/4 cooked beans, or 1 ounce of lean meat)

As you can see, it isn't a lot of food that toddler's need - their stomachs are small so it's important to make balanced meals and snacks that really count. 

And, I'm happy to report, he ate a whole slice of pizza without complaining or spitting it out.  I do believe we now have a Mommy and Me hobby.  Next we'll try cookies =)

Does your little one help in the kitchen?