It’s never too early to start teaching children about cooking. Involving kids in meal preparation encourages healthy eating habits and introduces them to the value and importance of nutritious, balanced meals.

Registered dietitian Elizabeth Pivonka with the Produce for Better Health Foundation says the kitchen can be a great place to stir up some fun while teaching healthy eating habits.

“Involving children in cooking is an important step in getting kids interested in fruits and vegetables and getting them more excited about eating them,” she says. “Kids can help by measuring, mixing or gathering ingredients while you cook. If kids help with the cooking, they are more inclined to eat what’s on the table.”

Preschoolers can help by measuring ingredients and stirring. Grade school kids can make simple, no-bake recipes or use the microwave with proper supervision. Remember to use child-size tools and, if the counter is too high, use a sturdy step stool or have children sit at the kitchen table while they help.

“Kids like to have fun with their food, so one way to get them to eat something is to offer it with a dip,” Pivonka says.

She offers some dipping suggestions like low-fat ranch dressing, mild salsa, guacamole, or hummus for dipping vegetables, or any flavor of low-fat yogurt or peanut butter for dipping fruit.

PEAR PARTY SALSA
Serves: 4

• 1 comice pear, cored and finely chopped
• 1 apple, cored and finely chopped
• 2 kiwi, peeled and finely chopped
• 1 orange, peeled and finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• Cinnamon graham crackers or sliced fresh fruit and veggies

1. Combine pear, apple, kiwi and orange in a medium-sized bowl. Pour honey and lemon juice over fruit and gently toss. Scoop fruit salsa using cinnamon graham crackers or sliced fresh fruit and veggies.

PEAR KABOBS WITH STRAWBERRY DIPPING SAUCE
Serves: 6

• 1 cup lowfat vanilla yogurt
• 4 tablespoons strawberry preserves
• 2 anjou pears, cored and cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 bananas cut into 1-inch slices
• 1 8-ounce can pineapple chunks, drained
• 2 cups strawberries, stems removed
• 6 wooden skewers

1. In small bowl, combine yogurt and strawberry preserves. Set aside.
2. Thread fruits by alternating pears, bananas, pineapple and strawberries onto skewers. Serve fruit skewers with a dollop of the strawberry sauce on the side.

For more information: fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org, usapears.org, florida-agriculture.com

Courtesy of Family Features (#09594)
Source: Produce for Better Health Foundation

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