" What to pay particular attention to "

A delicious aroma of freshly cooked food wafts through the kitchen. With every passing minute, the appetite and anticipation of finally tasting the tasty delicacy grows. The children's eyes light up with pride as they set the table and call everyone over to eat. Cooking healthily with children is a wonderful thing. Today we'll give you some valuable tips, suggestions and, of course, a few recipes that even toddlers can help with. You will also learn about safety in the kitchen and what else you should be aware of when cooking with children.

From what age can children help with cooking?

There is absolutely no reason why children should not be able to help in the kitchen from the age of two. Of course, it is always important to think about safety in the kitchen. Of course, this also applies when the children get a little older. Young children should only work with certain kitchen utensils under supervision or not at all with knives, peelers and electrical appliances.

However, it is important that your child never gets the feeling that they are incapable of doing anything. Therefore, always give them easy tasks that they can do without much guidance. This way, your child will feel needed and at the same time learn many important things about nutrition and preparing food.

Family cooking spaghetti together

Safety comes first in the kitchen!

Before we swing the wooden spoon and chop vegetables for healthy dishes, you need to be aware that the kitchen is not a playground. There are various dangers for the little ones. Toddlers in particular must first understand and learn that they cannot do everything on their own, as they could burn, cut or scald themselves. Explain to your children that it's not a bad thing if their parents are there to help.

Keep the following things in mind to ensure safety:

Cutting with a sharp knife

Many parents think it is better to give their child a less sharp knife to cut with for greater safety. However, there is a risk that the child will slip and not be able to cut properly. If the child is older than four or five, a sharpened knife can be used under their watchful eye. Under the age of four, it is best not to cut at all.

Father and son cooking together

Boiling water, hot fat and hotplates

Your child should never be left unattended in the kitchen and should always keep a certain distance from pots and pans to avoid scalding themselves. Of course, this also applies to hotplates, which children could reach onto under certain circumstances. Therefore: Always keep an eye on your children!

Danger of falling!

Of course, young chefs can't reach everywhere yet. A stool or a chair is quickly pulled up to provide a height. Don't do this. Instead, hold your little treasure in your arms. This will prevent falls.

The right tableware

Once the food is cooked and the meal is on the table, it's time to eat the delicious results. Sharp knives, fragile plates and the like should be avoided. Special children's crockery and cutlery reduce the risk of your little one cutting themselves or breaking a plate.

What tasks can the little ones do?

There are definitely some tasks that your little ones can take on when cooking. These include

• Cutting vegetables
• Stirring
• Garnishing sandwiches
• Preparing salads
• Kneading dough

But don't forget to supervise your child during these activities! If you don't want your child to spill on themselves when topping sandwiches or kneading dough, it's a good idea to wear old clothes or a nice children's apron to tie on.

Cooking with children takes longer

If you want to cook with your little sunshine, you should allow more time than usual. This is because everything takes a little longer and requires your full attention. If you are stressed and don't really have time, save cooking with children for the weekend.

It all starts with good planning and shopping. This is where young children learn what will be important later on. Before you go to the weekly market and supermarket, you should think together about what you actually want to cook.

Then draw up a shopping list together for cooking with children:

Shopping with children

Healthy recipes for children

Dishes for small children should be simple, fresh and not too spectacular. There is a wide range of recipes to choose from. Don't despair if you have to make pasta for what feels like the umpteenth time. Then take the opportunity to make a fresh sauce. Here are two delicious recipes for toddlers that focus on healthy cooking with children.

A delicious stew

Ingredients required:

• Water
• Soup greens
• carrots
• potatoes
• beans
• salt
• fresh parsley

A tasty stew is quick to make and will delight young cooks. Take a large pot and fill it with water. First chop the greens and put them in the pot to boil.

The next step is for your child to get to work. Prepare the vegetables that will go into the stew. Help peel the potatoes. Just like the carrots and beans, the children can cut them into small pieces. Add a little salt to the stock and allow everything to cook until the vegetables are firm to the bite. Finally, garnish with fresh parsley and the first dish is ready.

Two girls prepare vegetables

The classic: pasta with fresh tomato sauce

Ingredients required:

• pasta
• Fresh tomatoes
• salt and pepper
• a little milk
• depending on taste: onions and garlic

Pasta with tomato sauce is a highlight on every child's plate. The dish can be cooked with the help of the little ones. Cook the pasta according to the instructions and try creating your own tomato sauce with your little ones. Use fresh tomatoes and blanch them in hot water first. Remove the skin, as children usually don't like it at all. Now you have the juicy flesh in your hands. The young chef can now cut it into small pieces.

Sauté the whole thing in a little olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Finally, add a little milk. This will make the sauce nice and creamy and delicious. Depending on your taste, you can add a little garlic and small pieces of onion to the sauce. However, this depends on your taste.

Pasta with fresh tomato sauce

Pizza and co. don't have to be taboo for a healthy diet

Pizza, nuggets and the like are very popular with kids. However, most parents don't see this as a healthy diet or a tasty meal. But that doesn't have to be the case. Healthy recipes for children also include pizza and the like.

Freshly prepared and topped with healthy ingredients, pizza doesn't have to be junk food. There are plenty of recipes for pizzas. Toddlers especially enjoy topping the dough. Fresh tomatoes, bell pepper strips, salami or ham not only taste delicious, but can also be easily cut and placed on the base of the pizza by even the youngest children.

Nuggets are also no rocket science if you use fresh ingredients. Simply cut fresh chicken into small pieces, bread and fry. Serve with a fresh salad. This is how healthy cooking with children can work.

Father prepares a pizza with his daughters

Eating together!

Once the kitchen battle has been won and the food has been prepared, it is of course time to eat the meal together. Again, take your time and enjoy the meal that you have cooked together with your sunshine. If you pay attention to safety in the kitchen and always keep an eye on your little one, cooking together should be a wonderful experience.