Search Results for: blog how to make your kitchen kid friendly

How to Make Eating at Home Fun

Eating at home saves money. That is just a fact. I took my kids out to lunch at a family friendly restaurant for a treat, and with tip we spend half of our weekly food bill that feeds not only the kids and I but also my husband. Since we don’t often eat out, I had forgotten how much it really costs to eat out these days. Still, the kids love to do it. In fact, eight times out of ten that would normally be their choice. Well, it was that way, before I started getting more purposeful about making … Continue reading →

Toddler Friendly No – Carve Pumpkin Decorating Ideas

If your toddler is anything like my toddler, the very thought of carving a pumpkin this year probably has you rather frightened. Of course, picking out pumpkins with toddlers is a lot of fun so there is bound to be at least one pumpkin at your house. Here are a few no – carve pumpkin decorating ideas for you and your little ones so you can add some festive fall fun to your home without having to try in vain to explain the details of why Mommy can use a knife to cut a pumpkin and Junior can’t as Junior … Continue reading →

Make it a Kid-Friendly Valentine’s Day

Cue cupid; Valentine’s Day is just a week away. Love is in the air, but if you are planning to celebrate the holiday with kids, you are better off skipping the slow dances and romantic gestures, and instead, emphasize the fun factor. Get kids involved in all aspects of the party planning. Older kids can help blow up festive red, pink and white balloons, while you hang streamers and other cute Valentine decorations, such as kitten and teddy bear-shaped window clings. Preschoolers can also get in on the fun by assisting you in the kitchen. Create a healthy Valentine’s Day … Continue reading →

Putting Kids to Work During Thanksgiving Break

When you are cooking Thanksgiving dinner for 30 guests, there’s no room for pride. Don’t be afraid to ask for help in the kitchen… and other parts of the house. One of the biggest mistakes stressed out parents make during the chaotic countdown to turkey carving is letting their kids run around aimlessly when they could be helping with a myriad of holiday preparations. For example, even very young kids, can lend a hand when it comes to crafting decorations for your Turkey Day feast. Simply line a table with newspaper and let kids go to town making their own … Continue reading →

Organizing Your Kitchen When You Have a Special Diet

It’s official. You have an allergy. Your child has a food intolerance that’s causing eczema. Your nursing baby seems to be reacting to something in your diet. The logistics of moving to a new diet can seem overwhelming. I know, because I’ve been around that block a couple of times now, and I am sure there is more to come. In my late teens, I became very sensitive to milk and has to switch my diet around. Then I got type 1 diabetes, which made me rethink how I eat and made it essential to count the carbohydrates in every … Continue reading →

Thanksgiving Fun in the Kitchen

One my family’s favorite holiday traditions is making at least two or three kid-friendly recipes and allowing the youngest members of the clan to create edible masterpieces with help from mom, dad, grandma or grandpa. Each year my mom, my sister-in-law and I comb through our recipe boxes to find simple yet tasty treats the kids can make with little assistance. I always make sure that we choose at least one dessert and one main or side dish, so they can feel as though they contributed to different aspects of the meal. This year I settled on the following recipes: … Continue reading →

Progressive Cooking Class for Kids

If you’re going to be in the Disney World area the weekend of June 11-13, then there’s a unique event happening for your children that you should know about: progressive cooking classes for kids. Tampabay.com and TheDisneyBlog.com reveal that on Saturday June 12, three restaurants at Downtown Disney will open their doors to children, age limit unspecified, for an afternoon of cooking classes. The executive chefs at Portobello, Wolfgang Puck’s Grand Cafe, and Fulton’s Crab House will lead the classes. Starting at 11 a.m., kids move from one restaurant to another to receive cooking tips from masters in the trade. … Continue reading →

How to Make Christmas Entertaining Fun for Kids

Rather than letting them sit in front of the TV while you run around like a decapitated chicken preparing for your annual holiday party, get your kids involved in the process. Children are great helpers, especially if you give them specific tasks to accomplish. To keep them engaged, have them work on age appropriate jobs. For example, if you have a preschooler, task him with creating colorful homemade placemats made from construction paper, markers and glitter glue. (You can laminate their masterpieces when they are done.) Likewise, you can get your teens involved in party prep by having them make … Continue reading →

Why Cook With Your Preschooler?

I love food. I’m not an epicurean cook, since life seems to be too busy to create fancy meals most of the time. However, I am big on fresh, local ingredients, invented recipes, and delicious seasonal produce. Most of the time, my preschooler is welcome in the kitchen. Why? 1. Cooking is a chance to talk together. As long as I don’t get too hung up on doing things the “right” way, it’s a good bonding time, and we’re both doing something that we enjoy, whether it’s creating sauces or having a taste of maple syrup. 2. Cooking is a … Continue reading →

How to Make Mealtime Fun

Instead of getting upset with your picky preschooler at mealtime, consider getting him involved in the preparation process. If you allow him into the kitchen instead of chasing him out in order to give you more space to whip up lunch or dinner, he’ll become invested in the meal, and consequently he may try new items. Start off by experimenting with old favorites. For example, instead of making the same ol’ PB & J sandwiches, consider creating kid-friendly fruit kabobs, pizza, and quesadillas. Kids love dipping, stacking and rolling up their food into fun treats. Purchase some mini bagels, flour … Continue reading →