Author Topic: Cooking with Toddlers  (Read 9737 times)

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Offline creations

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Cooking with Toddlers
« on: July 30, 2012, 21:31:21 pm »
Do you cook with your toddler?

My DS is 18 months.  We have done a little cooking in the past but we've just increased the amount we do together.  I've just ordered a kids cookery book, a child safe chopping knife and a rotary grater to make things a bit safer and easier.
So, if anyone already cooks with their young toddler, or wants to get started, would you like to share ideas, recipes, handy websites, tips etc? I thought it would be nice to have a kids cooking support thread if anyone was up for it.


Offline ZacsMumme

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Re: Cooking with Toddlers
« Reply #1 on: July 30, 2012, 23:48:35 pm »
I would love to do this but I struggle with Z being so sensitive and having a short attn span. Can I follow along for tips and ideas ;)
Katy (amayze) recently posted about this awesome thing you could get to aid kids cooking etc...I think it's in hogwatch
***Sara***
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DS1 - Our sensitive soul. Silent reflux.

DS2 Our cheeky chipmunk. Reflux, MSPI.

Offline amayzie

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Re: Cooking with Toddlers
« Reply #2 on: July 31, 2012, 02:49:18 am »
This is it!! http://www.littlehelper.co.uk/product.php?id=11

Also this- a learning tower: http://learningtower.com.au/

a DIY version; http://ana-white.com/2010/12/helping-tower.html

I'd LOVE to get one- i thought it might be worth the price as there's not really much else as safe-- i've had my cousins and nieces of all ages helping on step ladders and such- and they aren't really that great...

Katy, Mummy to Hamish!


Offline amayzie

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Re: Cooking with Toddlers
« Reply #3 on: July 31, 2012, 02:52:51 am »
Also= another tip- When i've cooked with my cousin who has a mild cerebral palsy/hemiplegia i got her to cut with a mezzaluna- you have to hold both sides for it to work, so it's hard to cut your hands while you are cutting. Perhaps still sharp for a 18 month old- but possibly good for a kid that's a little older..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mezzaluna
Katy, Mummy to Hamish!


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Re: Cooking with Toddlers
« Reply #4 on: July 31, 2012, 03:00:03 am »
I want! So bad! :D
***Sara***
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DS1 - Our sensitive soul. Silent reflux.

DS2 Our cheeky chipmunk. Reflux, MSPI.

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Re: Cooking with Toddlers
« Reply #5 on: July 31, 2012, 04:01:13 am »
I found that cooking with DD was a bit tough early on but when she got to be about 2.5 or 3 she was really able to keep her attention on it and at least stay through most of it.  Now she's 3.5 and loves to bake.
DD1 (1/09)
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Re: Cooking with Toddlers
« Reply #6 on: July 31, 2012, 06:48:16 am »
Ooh the towers look great.  Out of my price range though and I think I'd struggle to find somewhere to keep it (we have a big kitchen but I'm a bit of a clear up freak and like everything out of the way! haha, remember it was me that stores his play kitchen under the ikea high chair :) ).  They are a great idea though.

So, I'll be using DS's table which is an ikea SVALA.  He can stand at it to do chopping.  It's prob too high to do mixing at just yet (so far I've put him in the antilop for that) so I might need to do mixing with him sat on the floor or in his highchair.

I've just ordered the dog knife and duck snippers from here:
http://www.cookability.biz/kinderkitchen/d_491.htm
DS can't use scissors yet but thought I'd get them anyway and see what they are like.  The knife is similar to one we used at our toddler cooking class:
http://www.pamperedchef.co.uk/ordering/prod_details.tpc?prodId=10810&catId=4&parentCatId=&outletSubCat=&viewAllOutlet=
The dog knife is a little more attractive and a little more expensive, tbh I chose it to compare the two, I might end up getting the Pampered chef one too.

There's a couple of web sites that I'm looking at:
http://www.healthychild.net/NutritionAction.php?article_id=286
http://www.mydaddycooks.com/
The second one has video blogs of a Daddy cooking with his LO plus recipes.  They did BLW and this guy is making real family meals rather than just 'kid' stuff.

There's a TV prog here, I think the website and recipes will be useful too.  I've watched it a few times with DS, the presenter does everything in a child safe way (like pushing the centre of a sweet pepper to 'pop' it, then tearing the pepper up), but it's aimed at 3-5 yr olds.  I haven't spent much time looking at the web site yet
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/i-can-cook/
it looks like maybe there is only one recipe per week on there, but this page seems to have lots.  There's also a recipe book.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/programmes/b01729t0

So we used the Pampered Chef knife last week for the first time.  Used it to make english muffin pizzas.  It was great.  Pretty quick and held DS's attention well enough.  We also made carrot baton crudites. The knife worked so well I was amazed and I think this is really what has motivated me to get started on doing more cooking with him.  I'd like to make 'real' food rather than just mixing muffins or pouring ingredients.  Lets face it, there IS a limit to what a little toddler can do, but IMO it's boring to watch mummy use the food processor and chop stuff and far more interesting to be able to get your hands on the food and chop or tear it up.

I made char grilled aubergines yesterday and although DS couldn't do the grilling part I could see that chopping the aubergines would be an activity he could do once our knife arrives.
I'm kind of thinking maybe some cooking activity pre-nap, then do the hot stuff during his nap and eat lunch together post nap.  Maybe one day per week.


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Re: Cooking with Toddlers
« Reply #7 on: July 31, 2012, 07:34:59 am »
I was just looking at the My Daddy Cooks site and read that he has his LO in a fun pod, much the same as the tower :)


Offline Buntybear

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Re: Cooking with Toddlers
« Reply #8 on: July 31, 2012, 08:42:03 am »
Creations, you are a fantastic cook anyway so I am sure you are passing your enthusiasm for food on! We love I Can Cook, got the book although of course we are limited due to Olly's allergies we do some baking together.

I must get some safe equipment for him too!

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Re: Cooking with Toddlers
« Reply #9 on: July 31, 2012, 15:05:13 pm »
Creations, you are a fantastic cook
Ha ha!  I must have mummy-mush-brain as I don't remember you coming round for dinner :)

I almost bought the 'I can cook' book but then at the last minute chose a different book ('Easy Peasy') because the ICC recipes are available on-line and partly because the book I ordered was only 1p plus p+p.  Bargain!
I know on the 'I can cook' progs they use scissors and just say to get regular nursery scissors, which we don't have.  I heard today IKEA do some child safe scissors, although I also heard they are a bit sharp if you touch the blade so not sure about that.

I've watched a couple of the My Daddy Cooks videos now and they are really inspiring.  Half wondering how this stay at home dad has time to set up cameras, edit film and produce a high quality blog whilst also doing all the child care and family meals.  I wonder if he also vacuums?


Offline michaeljacknnugg

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Re: Cooking with Toddlers
« Reply #10 on: July 31, 2012, 18:44:49 pm »
Ha!

I think at that age we didn't do an awful lot more than basic baking, but we do grow a lot so DS has been out picking and shelling from an early age.

We have a small colander for him and he stands on his chair at the sink washing salad etc, so he can help make lunch. Can do that as often as he wants - tear lettuce etc and then share stuff out.
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Re: Cooking with Toddlers
« Reply #11 on: July 31, 2012, 21:59:04 pm »
DS has been out picking and shelling from an early age.
Ooh this sounds WONDERFUL!
We don't have a garden but I used to grow some things at a previous place.  Courgettes and peppers, toms, strawbs...oh I'm missing it now!
What a lovely activity for your DS.


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Re: Cooking with Toddlers
« Reply #12 on: August 01, 2012, 11:23:43 am »
It is lovely - he helps plant etc and is really into all his gardening. Running down the garden last week to go pick the redcurrants before the birds got to them! It does get interesting when he comes back in with something that's not ready yet, but that's the only downside.

Beetroot to harvest next, what on earth do I do with a whole crop?!?!?

I'd say keep the cooking simple at first - decorating biscuits is easy, and also sharing things out can promote sharing in general (I think!).
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My love, my everything - BabyTwo, Nov 2015

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Re: Cooking with Toddlers
« Reply #13 on: August 01, 2012, 16:00:32 pm »
Beetroot to harvest next, what on earth do I do with a whole crop?!?!?
Send them to me - I love beetroot and so does DS!

I was thinking some of our cooking activities might be chopping veg for our main meals things like that which are part of normal day stuff.  And then as separate cooking activity I'd really like to make some thing like flat bread or chapati even though I've never made them myself but we love eating them and I though maybe playing with the dough would be good.
Anyone made bread with their LO?


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Re: Cooking with Toddlers
« Reply #14 on: August 01, 2012, 16:18:20 pm »
Anyone made bread with their LO?

I make all our bread, but usually in the evenings when F is asleep. She has helped with pizza dough though - I just break a bit of the dough off and she can knead away. She also likes to sprinkle toppings on her own pizza :) I have prepared them in advance though.

I would like to do more cooking with her too. Mostly I just give her a few of the vegetables that I'm preparing, especially if they are small - mushrooms, shallots, baby corn etc - and a chopping board, plastic knife, bowl and large spoon, and she pretends to chop and then mix. She loves to play at cooking so it'd be nice for her to be able to be more involved in the real thing. I'll check out those links :)
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