Hot on HuffPost Parents:
Abbie Rumbach: The Confession That Blew My Daughter's Mind
PHOTO: Reese Witherspoon, Ryan Phillipe Reunite
Tweens don't recognize common fruits and veggies
Filed under: Teens, Nutrition: Health
Kids aren't always known for their adventurous eating habits, but when 200 11-year-olds were quizzed on the knowledge of basic vegetables in the UK, they had trouble identifying them. In fact:
A friend and I just talked last week about teaching kids lifeskills. Her nephew went off to college unable to boil a pot of water for macaroni and cheese. Kids can help out in the kitchen at any age, of course, but the tween years are an especially important time to teach kids some cooking basics, especially how to create a meal out of simple, fresh ingredients.
Diet-Blog recommends introducing a new fruit or vegetable every week, but don't just let it appear on their dinner plate. Instead, involve kids from start to finish -- picking out foods at the store, preparing and serving them, and then enjoying them as a family. Another fun project for smaller kids is using the alphabet to try new foods. Create an ABC chart on poster board, then let little ones draw a picture of each food as they try them. (A is for apple, for instance, P is for pomegranate, and so on.)
How do you involve your kids in the kitchen?
- 20% didn't know what a potato looked like
- 5.5% couldn't name a carrot
- 33% of boys didn't recognize a cucumber, though 90% of girls did.
- One-third of kids didn't know what celery was.
A friend and I just talked last week about teaching kids lifeskills. Her nephew went off to college unable to boil a pot of water for macaroni and cheese. Kids can help out in the kitchen at any age, of course, but the tween years are an especially important time to teach kids some cooking basics, especially how to create a meal out of simple, fresh ingredients.
Diet-Blog recommends introducing a new fruit or vegetable every week, but don't just let it appear on their dinner plate. Instead, involve kids from start to finish -- picking out foods at the store, preparing and serving them, and then enjoying them as a family. Another fun project for smaller kids is using the alphabet to try new foods. Create an ABC chart on poster board, then let little ones draw a picture of each food as they try them. (A is for apple, for instance, P is for pomegranate, and so on.)
How do you involve your kids in the kitchen?
Your<span>Voice</span>
Ask Us Anything About Parenting
TheTalkies:RelatedVideos
-
How to Introduce Your Kids to New Fruit and Veg
Learn how to introduce your kids to new Fruit and Veg by visiting the farmer's market.
-
Jesse Bradford on "Guys With Kids," Child Stars and More
Jesse Bradford dishes on his new NBC comedy series “Guys With Kids.” Plus, hear about his love of fruit sculptures and short career as an inventor!
-
Television Shows for Tweens
These cute comedies have good anti-bullying messages for kids and are appropriate for ages 9-12.
-
Kid Rated. Mom Approved: Episode 26
Should you take your tween to see the new 'Iron Man?'
SitesWeLove
- Site Map
- |
- Staff
- |
- Terms of Service
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Trademarks
- |
- Advertise With Us
- |
- About Our Ads
- |
- AOL Downloads
- |
- Contact Us
- |
© Copyright 2012 AOL Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Aol Family
ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
9-23-2008 @ 10:23AM
robin said...I always take one child with me to the store or farmer's market, and we like to pick out something new just for fun. When we get home, we look up recipes for that fruit or vegetable (if it can't be just cut up and eaten). Then we cook adventurously- a real life Iron Chef episode- fancy plate presentation and all. Not all the recipes are winners, of course, but it gets them enthusiastic about trying new foods.
I also made card with pictures of different fruits and vegetables, and another set of cards with the names printed on. Emerging readers can match the cards.
Reply
9-23-2008 @ 11:34AM
LS said...I've had Little Man helping me in the grocery store and at the stove for a couple of years now - and he's 5!
When we go to the grocery store, he gets to pick his favorite fruit or vegetable, if we need it. If he's grousing that he's hungry (and sometimes we end up going to the store on an empty stomach. I know... Bad Mom!!!), he gets to pick something healthy to eat, and we pay for that immediately.
He often helps me cook. Last night, in fact, he helped me make Nachos for dinner. He chopped the onions, helped me brown the beef, stirred in the black beans, chili peppers, tomatoes, etc... All over the stove, and all under mom's watchful eye.
And he ate every bite on his plate!
I do agree that the big thing is to get - and keep - them involved. It keeps them aware of what they're eating, generates interest, teaches them cool stuff, grooms them to be independent when they're older (his wife is going to thank me someday).... and above all? It's FUN!!!
Reply