Cooking with Kids – developing the love of good food
Life’s greatest pleasures can be gained from the joys of planting, harvesting, cooking or sharing really tasty food. All four are possible but let’s be honest not something we get to do often. But we can share the experience of planting herbs or tomatoes, picking strawberries, planning meals, baking cakes and eating well at home or at restaurants with our grandchildren. Collectively such activities develop an appreciation of our farmers, survival cooking skills, good eating habits, and good manners and conversational skills.
For kids recipes try
Woolworths Fresh Food Kids – recipes and competitions
Taste.com.au – recipes for kids and more
Stephanie Alexander’s Kitchen Garden Foundation
Classic kids recipes
- chocolate crackles
- honey cornflake cups
- gingerbread men
- mars bar slice
- pikelets
- decorated cup cakes
- scones
Table manners and general ettiquette
Good manners show good breeding and respect for others and ourselves. Grandchildren are looking for guidance and knowledge. Delivered with patience, understanding and a genuine concern for their future, learning good manners is never wasted. Grandma knows stuff. A trip to eat out in a non-fast food but kid friendly restaurant is a great place to start.
Basic table manners
- Wash your hands before sitting down to eat
- Leave toys, books and pets behind
- Sit up straight
- If there a napkins they belong on your lap
- If there is small plate for bread, yours is to the left
- Your drink should not be near the edge of the table
- Wait till everybody is seated before starting to eat
- Ask politely for dishes to be passed, never reach across the table
- Elbows off the table
- Never chew with your mouth open
- Never talk with food in your mouth
- Never play with your food
- Never put a knife in your mouth
- Try new food but if you don’t like something (quietly) leave it to the side of your plate
- If you are finished put your knife and fork together neatly on the plate (in a restaurant this is how the waiter knows to take the plate)
- Ask to be excused from the table (and thank the cook for the meal)
- Take your plate to the kitchen
For all things on etiquette visit Emily Post
