Get Kids Cooking: Summer Recipes to Cook with Your Kids

Written by Canadian Lentils Dietitian Gloria Tsang, RD

August is here! That means one more month of family time before the kids go back to school. It also means many families are running out of ideas for activities to keep the kids entertained. One great way to keep the kids occupied – while also teaching them some valuable life skills – is to get them involved in the kitchen. Cooking with kids can be a bit of a challenge, depending on how old they are, but if you start with simple recipes for foods your kids will actually love to eat, you might be surprised how enthusiastic they get about giving you a helping hand.

Here are some simple recipe ideas to try with your kids!

1. Hummus

It doesn’t get much easier than hummus – all you do is throw the ingredients in the food processor and process until you have the consistency you desire. Young kids like hummus because they’re allowed to eat it with their hands (give them some colourful veggies for dipping), while older kids like it because it’s a quick snack they can whip up on their own.

Recipe: 5 Minute Lentil Hummus

2. Granola Bars

What kid doesn’t love granola bars? The problem is that many you buy at the store may be loaded with artificial ingredients – and contain too much sugar. Making granola bars at home allows you to control exactly what goes into them, and make any adaptations you like to suit your kids’ taste.

Recipe: Lentil Granola Bars

3. Pizza

Pizza is a kid favourite because they can customize their own. It can be a great family activity to put out some pizza crusts, sauce, cheese, and toppings, and let kids build their own personalized meal. Avoid toppings like pepperoni and other processed meats that are loaded with sodium and additives. While the kids play with their toppings, the adults in the house can put their own pizza crusts to good use with the flavourful combination in the recipe below.

Recipe: Lentil Prosciutto Parmesan Pizza

There you go! Three easy ways to get your kids interested in helping out in the kitchen – and enjoying the healthy lentil-inspired foods they help you create. Enjoy the rest of your summer!