Many young children and adults alike enjoy fruit salad. Fruit is easy to cook with and makes a fun project. By using soft fruits such as pears, strawberries, watermelon, cantaloupe, mango, and pineapple, young children can help cut up fruit and add to a bowl.
Start out by setting up cooking materials on a large flat surface that is at child's level. Set out a cutting board, large bowl, mixing spoon, and plastic knives. Gather ingredients for the fruit salad such as the soft fruits suggested along with any others you would like, along with 1 cup plain or flavored yogurt. Make sure to wash hands and fruit before starting. Using plastic knives, young children can help cut fruit into small bite size pieces and place into large mixing bowl. Discuss knife safety while cutting with young children and how using plastic knives are safer than the large cutting knives adults use. Once all the fruit is cut up, allow child to help measure out 1 cup of yogurt. Add yogurt to cut fruit in mixing bowl. Use mixing spoon to incorporate yogurt. Have child help spoon out fruit salad into bowls to enjoy.
Applesauce is an enjoyable activity for young children, which involves mashing and fun flavors. Start out by selecting different types of apples while at the grocery store. Discuss how different types of apples have different flavors. Apples have different color skins and several flavors. When you get home, sample apples and make a chart listing colors and flavors of apples.
Have an adult peel and core the apples, leaving the soft flesh to cut into small pieces. Make sure to wash hands before cooking. Using plastic knives allow young children to cut up apples and place in a small stockpot. When all the apples are cut, have child help cover apples with water. Place pot on stove and simmer for 30 minutes. Turn off heat and allow apples to cool to room temperature. With adult help, strain apples and place in a large mixing bowl. Using a potato masher, allow young child to mash the apples. When finished, taste and adjust flavor with seasonings such as cinnamon and sugar.
Everyone loves pizza and making one with young children helps encourage healthy eating. Using pre-made pizza dough and fresh vegetables makes the pizza easy to make for small hands. Gather ingredients needed such as pre-made pizza dough, tomato sauce, shredded cheese, and vegetables such as spinach, mushrooms, red pepper, and tomatoes. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure to wash hands before starting. Place pizza dough on a lightly greased pizza pan. Apply a small amount of oil to child's hands and allow them to press the dough into the pan making sure to have the dough reach the edges of the pan. Wash hands and then spoon small amounts of pizza sauce onto dough. Have child spread the sauce using the bottom of a large spoon. Sprinkle shredded cheese over pizza. Using plastic knives cut up vegetables of choice and place onto pizza. Add extra cheese or fresh basil and oregano for more flavor. Have an adult place in oven and cook until bubbly and brown on top.