When it comes to teaching children about nutrition, the most direct route may be through the stomach! Nutrition education takes on a whole new life when combined with cooking projects.

Children are more willing to try new healthful foods while nutrition principles taught in the classroom become more relevant (and tasty too). Best of all, cooking can be a whole lot of fun!

Why Cook With Kids?

As children become more self-reliant at an earlier age, a "teachable moment" exists for strengthening food-related life skills. With the advent of ultra-convenience foods, some food experts worry that we are raising a generation of non-cooks, skilled only in using the microwave to heat ready-prepared food.

For this growing number of youngsters, nutrition education can really work when concepts are practical and applied, emphasizing skills like sanitation, safe food handling, and basic food preparation skills. Cooking projects give children a boost in confidence, exposure to new and/or healthful foods, and often provide the curiosity and motivation needed to continue cooking at home.

At Peek A Boo kids club cooking projects are part of curriculum it gives kids lots of opportunities to strengthen their hand and finger muscles.

"With kids, things can get a little messy, but persevere and the mess gets less as they develop their skills".