Eat, Play, Love: Raising Healthy Eaters is a blog series by parents and dietitians whose stories and advice reminds us that we can overcome the challenges of feeding children. Subscribe to find ways to build lifelong healthy eating habits for your children.

I used to love to cook when I was a young girl, and made good use of my Betty Crocker’s Cookbook for Kids.  I even prepared dishes that I didn’t particularly like (carrot and raisin salad in a mayonnaise dressing springs  to mind) just so I could claim credit for the final product.  So, I vowed early  on that my two daughters would have the chance to explore the challenges and delights of our kitchen.

Certain principles guided the way I approached cooking with my kids:

Don’t take the “basics” for granted. Take the time to show them simple  yet essential skills like stirring, chopping, grating, sautéing.  I still remember preparing dinner with about ten girls on a Girl Scout camping weekend.  We were preparing tacos, and one girl was fascinated by the cheese grater.  She could scarcely believe that a block of cheese could be transformed into grated cheese by such a simple tool; she had only seen grated cheese in a package!  That taught me to make no assumptions about cooking skills or knowledge the children might have. Find out what kids can do in the kitchen at different ages!

Deconstruct simple dishes to show them how easy many of their favorite foods are. It was great to see my daughters’ delight with making spaghetti from scratch (that’s right…not sauce from a jar!).  And French toast or waffles that didn’t come from the freezer section. Many of these recipes can still be made in short order, so busy family schedules can be maintained. Find kid-friendly recipes at Meals Matter.org!

One entertaining way to introduce children to simple cooking skills is through Hey Kids, Let’s Cook!  This is a 30 minute cooking show specifically targeting children.  Simple, nutritious recipes that will appeal to children and parents alike are highlighted.  Information about the show can be found at the Hey Kids, Let’s Cook!

Share the mentoring duties with family and friends.  I’m not a baker, but my mother-in-law is.  From her, my girls learned the proper techniques for all manner of rolls, biscuits, pie crust.  A favorite aunt was able to teach them how to make jellies and preserves. And sharing time with extended family in this way is a treat for all parties involved.

When each of my girls turned 10, they were given the “privilege” of planning and preparing the family dinner one night each week.  If the menus skewed towards burritos, quesadillas and personal pizzas with more frequency than I might have preferred, that was okay.  Beyond the basic skills fostered, the cooking experience helped them connect to family traditions through favored recipes.  It’s doubtful they would have grown to enjoy Southern dishes like cornbread, mustard greens or deviled eggs without that link!

So, I encourage you to welcome your children into the kitchen as junior chefs.  It’s an experience you’ll all enjoy.

Subscribe to our Eat, Play, Love: Raising Healthy Eaters blog series to find ways to build lifelong healthy eating habits for your children.

For more tips and information on raising healthy eaters, follow @mealsmatter and the #eatplaylove hashtag on Twitter.

Mary Anne Burkman, Registered Dietitian