Helpful Hints -

Here are some HELPFUL HINTS for activities that will be successful and tasteful!

• Have all equipment and ingredients ready before you begin.
• Allow children to do as much as they can. Choose recipes where they can experience success.
• Take advantage of the “teachable moment” by stressing hygiene and etiquette.
• Discuss where foods come from, how they are grown, what food group they are from, and other nutrition and science concepts.
• Explain the entire recipe step by step. Go over what the cooking terms mean and demonstrate what they should do. Teach the children how to use the utensils safely.


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• Illustrate recipes with pictures and drawings. You might use the rebus recipes you can download, or make step-by-step cards or posters.


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• Give children choices. Not all children like the same thing, so allow them to individualize their serving if they wish.
• Be aware of food allergies. (Cream cheese or honey can easily be substituted for children who have peanut allergies.)
• Children don’t like to wait, so use recipes where they can make their food and eat it right away.
• Encourage children to talk and comment on the way foods taste. Use graphs to compare foods that they like best.
• Invite parents to be “chef of the week.” They can come in and cook with the children or simply provide the ingredients for the cooking activity.
• Relate cooking experiences to classroom themes and skills. Make a “Zoo Train” for a trip to the zoo or a “Spider Sandwich”’ for THE VERY BUSY SPIDER.


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• Keep it SIMPLE! The fewer ingredients and steps involved, the more fun it will be for the children and for you!

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