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  8. Helping in the Kitchen

Helping in the Kitchen

Helping in the Kitchen
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kids cooking

Having your young child help you in the kitchen is a good way to get your child to try new foods. Kids feel good about doing something “grown-up.” Give them small jobs to do and praise their efforts. Children are much less likely to reject foods they helped prepare. While the following suggestions are typical, children may develop these skills at different ages. Make sure they wash their hands before helping.

At 2 years:

  • Wipe tables
  • Hand items to adult to put away (such as after grocery shopping)
  • Place things in trash
  • Tear lettuce or greens
  • Make “faces” out of pieces of fruits and vegetables
  • Rinse vegetables or fruits
  • Snap green beans

At 3 years - all that a 2 year old can do, plus:

  • Scoop or mash potatoes
  • Squeeze citrus fruits
  • Stir batter

At 4 years - all that a 3 year old can do, plus:

  • Peel eggs and some fruits, such as oranges and bananas
  • Set and clear the table
  • Pour drinks into sturdy glasses
  • Crack eggs (in a separate bowl)
  • Help measure dry ingredients
  • Help make sandwiches and tossed salads

At 5 years - all that a 4 year old can do, plus:

  • Measure liquids
  • Cut soft fruits with a dull knife
  • Use an egg beater
  • Load the dishwasher
  • Grease or spray baking pans
  • Press and knead dough
  • Name and count foods
  • Help assemble a pizza

lemon-orange-supreme
Photo provided by Cami Wells

Lemon Velvet Supreme

Download Handout Spanish Handout
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients:
  • 1 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt
  • 1½ tablespoons instant, lemon pudding mix
  • 4 squares graham crackers, crushed
  • 1 can (15 ounces) mandarin orange slices, drained (or 2 cups of your favorite fresh or canned fruit)

Directions:

  1. Wash hands with soap and water. Combine vanilla yogurt and pudding mix; gently stir together.
  2. Layer bottom of serving dish with crushed graham crackers, reserving a few tablespoons to sprinkle on top.
  3. Pour pudding mixture over cracker crumbs.
  4. Top with mandarin orange slices or your favorite fruit. Sprinkle with remaining crumbs.
Notes:

Snack Crediting for Ages 3-5 in CACFP - Fruit, Meat/Meat Alternate

Nutrition Information:

  • Calories: 110
  • Total Fat: 1.5g
  • Saturated Fat: 0.5g
  • Cholesterol: 5mg
  • Sodium: 135mg
  • Total Carbohydrates: 21g
  • Fiber: 1g, includes 6g Added Sugars
  • Protein: 4g
  • Calcium: 8%
  • Potassium: 4%
Nutrition Software Used: ESHA Food Processor

Sources:

  1. Adapted from MyPlate Kitchen and UMass Extension Nutrition Education Program

  2. CHOICES Steps Toward Health

Source:

Kitchen Helper Activities, MyPlate, United States Department of Agriculture

This newsletter was written by Cami Wells and has been peer-reviewed. It was reviewed and updated in 2025.

Tags:

any season cooking with kids feeding children

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