Summer Ideas: Kids in the Kitchen

Summer is here!!  I don’t know about you, but I think this school year flew by! Time to keep the kids busy and plan some fun summer activities! If boredom strikes, which we all know it will, plan some fun days in the kitchen and experiment with some new recipes.

Cooking with your kids will not only keep them busy, but it will keep them healthy too! Some of these ideas are from the past school year that I have taught in my Live Virtual Cooking Nutrition Lessons to students through my work with Green our Planet. The teachers would sometimes make the recipe along with me and serve it to the students. I guess you can say the recipes were “kid tested and approved”!

Most of my recipes include produce that is growing seasonally in a school garden and in our own garden.  If you don't have a garden, I would recommend visiting a local farmers market to find some of the freshest produce (another fun activity to do with the kids)!

So gather your kids, aprons and chef hats and basic cooking utensils, and let’s have some fun in the kitchen!

Cucumber Guacamole Boats
This was one of my favorite recipes to teach! Avocados have over 20 vitamins and minerals! Probably one of the healthiest things kids can eat! A healthy fat that is good for brain health too! Make a batch of guacamole and add to cucumber "boats". Kids can add their favorite toppings: diced tomato, bell pepper, cilantro, onion and more! Find the recipe here: Cucumber Guacamole Boats

---

Veggie Bugs
You have all heard of ants on a log (celery with peanut butter and raisins), lets take it a step further and create bugs on a log.  All you need is celery, any spread (peanut butter or sunflower seed butter if nut free), cream cheese (can use vegan cream cheese) and /or hummus.  Next create some bug parts: cucumbers, radishes, tomatoes, chives, olives and let your kids get creative! Get the recipe here: Fruit and Veggie Bugs

Apple Donuts & Banana Sushi
Have a little fun at breakfast and set up stations to build apple donuts and banana sushi. Kids can get creative and add their favorite toppings! You do-nut have to feel bad about eating these treats! Find the recipe here: Apple Donuts & Banana

Rainbow Salad in a Jar
If you haven't tried salad in a jar yet, now is the time! Why make a salad a jar? Here are some reasons:
1) Fun for kids to customize their own
2) Great for meal prep - make now, eat later
3) Great to pack for lunch on the go
4) Fun way to eat salads
5) Because they are soooo cool!
6) Easy way to "eat the rainbow"
Ready to get started? Find the recipe here: Rainbow Salad in a Jar

Lettuce Wraps
Another fun way to have fun with "eating the rainbow" and eating fresh vegetables, is creating lettuce wraps. Make any type of hummus then add to lettuce cup and top with favorite colorful vegetables.  I also like to use black bean salsa in the wraps which my son always liked! Find my favorite Red Bell Pepper recipe here:  Swiss Chard Wraps with Red Bell Pepper Hummus
​
Lettuce Boats with Black Bean Salsa recipe here: ​Lettuce Boats with Black Bean Salsa

Tropical Kale Smoothies
I couldn't do a post about cooking with kids without adding a smoothie recipe. This is one of my favorites that uses kale! Think your kids won't eat kale? Try this!  Find the recipe here: Tropical Kale Smoothie
Smoothies are a great way to get kids involved and to sneak in some greens too! For more smoothie recipes, check out my smoothie recipe section.

​For more tips and suggestions on cooking with kids, check out my blog post "10 Ways to Get your Kids to Eat Healthier".  For healthy snack ideas for kids, check out my blog post "Smart Snacking"

Hope you have a healthy, fun and safe summer! Please share with me any recipes that you try and photos of you cooking with your kids! For inspiration throughout the summer, visit me on Instagram @lisacheplak ! Happy Cooking and Happy Summer!