Parents: Make Kitchen Memories with Your Child

February is the month that we focus on the importance of exposing kids to cooking in the kitchen. Need inspiration to get started? Start with teaching your child a fun way to fill their plate to fuel their day.

Taking the time to teach your child to cook not only helps build a skill that will last a lifetime, but also gives your child an opportunity to share with you what’s really going on in his or her life—a true treasure for parents.

Fill Your Plate for Performance

Teach your child how to fill their plate with foods that give them energy, but also enhance their performance in the classroom and beyond. Here’s how:

1. Ask

Ask your child to look at their plate and draw an imaginary line down the middle.

2. Explain

Explain that one half of the plate is devoted to non-starchy veggies such as spinach, tomatoes, carrots, zucchini and beets, just to name a few.

3. Fill

Once filled, ask your child to draw another imaginary line down the center of the empty half of the plate. Explain that one part is for protein-rich foods such as fish, chicken, meat or tofu, and the other part is for grains or starchy foods.

4. Add

Top the meal off with a glass of milk and a piece of fruit, and your child is ready to conquer his or her world!

5. Make it a Game

You can even add some fun to the learning process with our Rate Your Plate game. It’s an easy way to help your child learn about healthy food choices and proper serving sizes. You can even get the entire family involved—the rules are simple. Here’s how:

• 1 point for each fruit or vegetable
• 1 point for each fruit or vegetable of a different color
• 1 point for a milk, cheese or other dairy product
• 1 point for a whole grain food
• 1 point for a protein-rich food

Have fun in the kitchen and enjoy this treasured time with your youngster.

Here’s to a Happy February!

Lorna & Kathleen
Co-authors of Eating for A’s

P.S. Like this tip? For more, check out Eating for A’s: A month-by-month nutrition and lifestyle guide to help raise smarter kids. Kindergarten to 6th grade. (Second Edition)