I grew up in a family that was very ignorant about nutrition and paired with the fact that there were six kids meant we ate a lot of prepackaged dinners that were fast, easy and cheap. Because eating was more of a mad dash than a chance for learning or gathering, it has never been something I enjoyed. I have always disliked cooking or really the act of sharing a meal mostly because my siblings were always fighting over food and when the meal was over we fought about who had to do the dishes. As an adult, I continued to consume prepackaged meals that didn’t require any thought or effort beyond opening the microwave door. When my son was born, I knew I had to change my approach to nutrition not only so he would have a better relationship with food but just for his basic health and mental development. I started contemplating how little kids can help cook.
Beyond the basic concepts of the food pyramid (eat your fruits and veggies!), I don’t know a lot about nutrition or cooking, and I often struggle to find creative, healthy recipes that my son will enjoy eating. It has been a constant battle since he started eating regular foods, and I am frequently frustrated as I slather peanut butter and jelly on a sandwich after yet another veggie packed dinner has gone untouched. From bribery to outright trickery, I have tried everything. However, as he becomes more independent, it has given me the chance to include him in the process of cooking in hopes of teaching him about the importance of healthy food as well as to give him the knowledge to be able to cook. In this, I also hope he will be more willing to eat healthier meals if he feels a sense of pride because he had helped prepare it.
When I was provided with the chance to try a sample of Kidstir, it was the perfect opportunity to encourage him to play an active role in his own nutrition and eating habits. Kidstir is a monthly subscription that sends recipes and kitchen utensils as well as a variety of other resources to inspire kids to spend time cooking.
By including our son in meal preparation, it also gives us more time as a family. Instead of trying to keep him entertained while we make dinner, he is right there with me and my husband stirring ingredients, setting the table and learning about making healthy choices. The games included give us an opportunity to talk and interact with each other over our meals and make it a time to bond. It has given me a whole new experience when it comes to cooking and enjoying meals. I have to also admit, Kidstir has been a great learning experience for me. I can cook about as well as an eight year old, and the healthy, easy to make recipes have assisted me as I embark on my own cooking journey.
The Kidstir cooking kits can be purchased on a monthly basis or by 3 month, 6 month or a full year subscription. For all new subscribers, they will receive 2 bonus years of Family Fun, Parents, or Rachel Ray Magazine, and if you sign up for a prepaid 12 month subscription, you will receive a bonus cookbook binder in your first kit.
Each kit includes
- 3 step by step recipes covering the food groups
- 3 educational foodie pages
- 2 kitchen utensils that are kid-sized as well as themed activity materials
- A digital and printed shopping list for your recipes
- 3 fun games and activities
- An e-newsletter with recipes and printable
The kits are perfect for cooking with kids. They break down the recipes with a convenient recipe card and provide simple step by step instructions on how to make it. There are also great captions about food facts, cooking definitions, as well as hints and tips for trickier cooking techniques. This is an amazing resource to begin teaching kids basic life skills as well as how to make healthy choices that taste good too. There is no better time than now to start teaching kids about food before they begin to create bad habits. These kits will help teach your kids to cook better, eat smarter and be more independent. As parents, we are the gatekeepers for our children, and it is up to us to give them the tools they need to succeed…Nutrition is no different. Start showing them how with Kidstir.
When you get get friends to sign up, you will receive $10 off and your friend will receive $10 off too! Join today!
I received a sample kit for review. All opinions remain my own.
I was just talking to my friend about getting my little guy in the kitchen. This will help tremendously.
This is a great way to teach kids to eat healthy. They would definitely enjoy eating something they made on their own. I’ll give this Kidstir a read through.