The amazing, Darcy Grumke, is welcomed back this week with another incredible topic! Darcy has been a Registered Dietitian for 10 years, has a Masters in Medical Nutrition Therapy and tons of experience in the industry. We are so lucky to have Darcy as our current Practice Manager at Racquel Aesthetics! She doesn’t currently practice in nutrition, but truly finds passion in sharing her knowledge with as many as possible!! Take it away Darcy!
Making The Kitchen Fun For Kids
It’s the first official month of summer! While most of us are so excited, I know it can be a strain on moms or those who are taking care of children who are out of school. I hear from parents that there is less of a routine and each week can be different.
Kids have different camps, daycare might be different, and just in general things are looking a bit different than the school year.
Keeping kids fed in the summer when they are home for longer periods of time or off at camps can get repetitive. You can only make PBJ sandwiches so many times…. Do kids even eat those these days? 😂
If you are looking for ways to keep your kids fed while keeping things on the healthier side, here are some tips and fun ideas from my mom friends!
Get Kids Involved
Make kids a part of the grocery shopping process, let them make a list of their favorites and give them a cart at the store. I’m not talking let them pick every junk food option in sight, but maybe let pick which fruits or vegetables they want that week! It’s okay to let them prioritize which treat they would like and give them age appropriate decision making choices! Take them to a local farmers market and explore all of the different options. Farmers markets offer so many unique options and can provide so much education and learning experiences!
With the lack of routine, I would suggest keeping a routine with meals. I know it can be difficult when running around. The more consistent you can be with meal times, the more you have “somewhat of a routine”. It also gives you some structure to have throughout your days. Not only does the routine help your children, but it helps you stay on track with your nutrition and health goals as the parent.
Let your kids be a part of the cooking process. The more they do, the more empowered they feel. This also helps develop coordination and fine motor skills. Even if it is messy and takes more time, it’s an amazing skill for your kids to learn.These are great kid safe utensils!
Another great kitchen tool for younger kids is the kitchen tower, so they aren’t standing on a step stool or chair to help be apart of the cooking process.
A lot of my mom friends have been making their kids snack trays using muffin tins and silicone muffin holders. They are adding in fruits, veggies, proteins, snacks and adding color to their trays. These are great to take outside and have picnics. It also dresses things up vs just a regular plate. You are also able to offer new foods in a fun way.
Another great tip is set your menu according to your weekly schedule every week so you have a plan, on the busy nights filled with ball games, dance, swim, gymnastics, tennis, golf, piano, etc! Let your kids be a part of the menu decision process, whether it’s letting them pick a favorite meal or picking the vegetable or side!
Take advantage of getting creative with kids this summer. Find local farmers markets and explore the city you are in.
Look for cooking classes around your area, this will teach your kids the fun that can be associated with the kitchen and cooking. Racquel’s girls just took a cake decorating class and loved their experience and got to use so much creativity!
Get kids involved in the kitchen and have some fun! The sooner you start the fun in the kitchen with the kids, the higher chance of they will learn to love cooking and be a more adventurous eater!
Happy Cooking & Eating!
Darcy
