Getting Your Kids in the Kitchen: Advice from Chef Lara Holland

Cooking is a life skill.  It is something we all should learn, but when you have a child with food allergies it becomes even more critical that they have some sense of how to operate in the kitchen.  Safe meals don’t cook themselves, so getting your kids in the kitchen, having fun and learning those basic cooking skills will be an important building block in helping them to effectively manage their own food allergy.

Chef Lara Holland, Centered Table CEO, and also known as Food Allergy Gal, spent some time with me sharing ways to get your kids in the kitchen- and having fun while doing it.

Chef Lara Holland

Early Exposure

Chef Lara recommends getting your kids in the kitchen as early as possible.  Every exposure opens their eyes to what is happening in the kitchen.  Even children in a high chair can be pulled over to the cooking prep area to see what is happening.  She suggests passing safe foods to your child so they can feel, smell and possibly taste the foods you are preparing.  As children get older, pull bar stools up to the countertops and create a “chef’s table” where young cooks can be a part of meal prep.  Also, eating meals as a family is an important part of creating a positive experience in the kitchen.  “Try to have at least one meal each day as a family”, says Chef Lara.  Sitting down to enjoy the food you made is a great reward and creates positive feelings about cooking and sharing meals. 

Making Your Kitchen Cool

Some kids are naturally excited to be in the kitchen, others may take a little encouragement to jump in.  Holland suggests lots of great ways to make your kitchen “the place to be”.  First, make your kitchen accessible.  Designate shelves and drawers that contain kid-friendly and age appropriate kitchenware.  This might mean pots and plastic containers for younger cooks, and as they get older, access to their own baking or measuring supplies.  This also means being comfortable with the crazy.  Cooking can get messy when kids are involved, but Chef Lara says, “embrace the mess and go in with realistic expectations”. This is one area I have really had to work on- when you put a Type A mama (me!!!) in the kitchen with kids it can be stressful, but I have learned to let go (a little) and they always have more fun when I let the mess happen. 

 

Second, make your time in the kitchen a sensory experience.  As you cook let your child sample foods and talk about where they come from.  Taste them raw and cooked, compare the difference. Holland also suggests incorporating music into cooking.  Pick upbeat music for cooking and transition to something softer as you sit down to enjoy your meal. 

Third, have your child help you get needed supplies and ingredients.  This not only teaches them the names of these things, but also helps them to learn their way around the kitchen.  As kids get older, have them be a part of recipe and menu development.  Let them take the lead and see where it leads you in the kitchen!

Inspiration

Find inspiration and ideas from some of these great sources suggested by Chef Lara.  Check out magazines for pictures of food (younger kids) and recipes (older kids) to find new things you would like to try.  Look to other cultures and try to recreate “safe” versions of these meals at home.  Our family does this every year on the Chinese New Year.  We make a safe Asian dish and decorate for the holiday.  We may not be able to eat out at an Asian restaurant, but we have a blast cooking and eating together. 

Chef Lara also suggests finding ideas at markets and food fairs.   Take your kids to a farmer’s market or cultural market where you can find new foods to try, new recipes to explore, and it is a great way to start the conversation about finding substitutes to still make certain recipes or try certain cuisines, even if at first look they seem off limits due to your allergens.  And, one of my favorite suggestions, attend a food fair for inspiration.  Typically, I would avoid these type of events but Chef Lara suggests framing it as a way to find new foods you want to cook at home.  Visit the booths and review the menus- start making a list of the things you want to make at home.  “Set expectations about what you will be able to do at the event and be sure to bring your own snacks”, she says.  The benefit, beyond finding inspiration for your home kitchen is that you get to have a food experience outside of the house. 

Look in your area to see if there are camps or cooking classes that can accommodate your allergens.  Chef Lara leads a cooking experience at a camp in Atlanta, Truly LivingWell, aimed at teaching kids from all backgrounds about the true source of foods and how to prepare them.  They accommodate all food allergens and ensure campers have a safe and fun experience as they prep meals in an outdoor kitchen.  In my neck of the woods, Cooking at the Cottage offers a small number of allergy-friendly class options throughout the year.  Finding places that can offer a safe cooking experience is another great way to grow your child’s skills and help them enjoy cooking.  Just be sure to do your own research and make sure you feel comfortable with the way the camp or store manages food allergies. 

Armed with all of these wonderful ideas I hope you are making plans to get in the kitchen with your kids to make your next meal!  Thanks, Chef Lara, for the great advice!  And, stay connected, there is more to come on the blog this week about cooking with kids.  And, if you haven't done it yet- like our Facebook page for more great info this week on cooking with food allergies!

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Learn more about Tami and her company, Thrive On Consulting, which provides food allergy coaching and training.  You can also follow her on Facebook for tips to Thrive On with food allergies.