Presbyterian | Your Story | Centennial Care | Summer 2021

8 Kids who help their parents cook are more likely to try all the foods they make, even if they don’t like them right away. Cooking teaches kids about nutrition and food safety. And a child who becomes skilled in the kitchen is less likely to grab unhealthy foods when hungry. Ready to have your kids begin cooking? Here are some tips. Start with food safety. Be sure your children know the basics, like: • Washing their hands with soap and running water before and after handling food • Keeping work surfaces clean • Keeping raw meat, poultry and fish separate from other foods • Waiting until food is cooked before tasting • Cooking foods to the right temperatures Let them explore with their senses. Kneading dough. Rinsing produce. Tearing lettuce and snapping green beans. These activities will pique a child’s curiosity about food with senses other than taste. If your child is hesitant to taste a food, invite them to smell it first. Teach them how to read (and follow) a recipe. Show your kids how to gather ingredients and utensils for a recipe. Tell them why it’s important to measure the correct amount of each ingredient for the recipe to work. Emphasize safe kitchen skills. Teach your child how to use kitchen tools the correct way. They may not be ready to use knives, even with supervision, until they are 10 to 12 years old. Explain why they should turn pan handles inward to avoid bumping into them. Be sure they know how to turn appliances on and off. Cooking with your kids can set them on the path to a lifetime of healthy eating. Sources: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; American Academy of Pediatrics Get healthy together this summer Step out on a family walk! Walking is a great way to be more active as a family. It’s free and easy to do. Plus, you’re not likely to get sidelined with an injury. Here’s how to get the habit started—and stick with it: Set doable goals. You could start by walking together for just 10 minutes at a time. Eventually, try to work up to a brisk 30-minute walk five times a week. Get in a routine. Step out with your kids after dinner or early in the day before it heats up. Make it fun. Add games like a neighborhood scavenger hunt. Add skipping, side shuffling, or even walking backward. Challenge yourself. As walking gets easier, go faster and farther. Or find other ways to step it up, like tackling some hills.