Raising children can be a challenging endeavor and every parent goes to great lengths to raise their children to the best of their ability in the hope that they are equipped with all the skills necessary to become happy and prosperous adults. One of the best things you can do for your children is to spend quality time with them, and taking advantage of the time set aside for meal preparation is a great way to do that. Coming up with dinner ideas together and then working side-by-side to execute those easy dinner ideas is a great opportunity to spend time with the kids. Besides quality bonding time, there are many other positive benefits to involving children in the kitchen!
Conjuring up dinner ideas helps children feel a sense of accomplishment and contribution.
Getting involved in meal preparation encourages children to try healthier and more diverse foods.
Cooking is a much more constructive activity than watching television or playing video games.
Cooking is a skill that will be useful and applicable throughout your child’s life.
With a host of positive benefits, it certainly makes sense to involve your kids in meal prep! Here are some easy dinner ideas to get you started!
Chipotle Sweet Potato Bisque
This deliciously simple dinner idea is a great meal to make with the kids because the prep work, which involves chopping and peeling vegetables, is easily divisible. Of course, be careful to carefully supervise children when handling knives. For younger children and general peace of mind, plastic knife kits made especially for children are available at most home and kitchen supply stores.
Vegetable Lasagna with Three Cheese
This lasagna is a fun dinner idea because kids will love layering the noodle layers and delicious ricotta! The assembly will be a success, but just as exciting is when this tasty dish is taken out of the oven and your kids can see and taste their finished creation.
Pork stew with ancho tamarind
Although younger children are likely to be easily entertained and interested in helping out in the kitchen, you may encounter slight opposition from older, more mature teens. Do not be discouraged! The trick here is to tackle more challenging dinner ideas together. This ancho tamarind stew, for example, is a dizzying array of exotic and unfamiliar ingredients. Present a mystery and a challenge at the same time and completing this plate will be an achievement that you and your child can achieve together!