Easy Dinners for Kids to Make

Cooking with your children teaches them to eat healthier and helps get them more excited about meals at home. Cooking can be a great learning and bonding experience. Put your kids in charge of these easy meals and have more fun in the kitchen.

  1. Main Courses

    • Have kids prepare foods with which they are familiar. For an easy and healthier version of chicken fingers--have kids dip chicken tenders in beaten eggs and crushed corn flakes. Bake these on a greased pan in a 375-degree oven for 15-20 minutes.

      Kids also love pork tenderloin. Have them make an Asian-style dinner by squeezing the juice of one or two limes into a freezer zipper bag. Add a tablespoon of soy sauce and a whole pork tenderloin. Seal the bag and shake, letting the pork marinate for at least 30 minutes. Roast the tenderloin in a 400-450 degree oven for about 20 minutes, then let it rest before slicing and serving.

    Vegetables

    • Think about using vegetables that need work to prepare. Get your child to snap the ends off green beans, peel the carrots, shuck the corn or wash the lettuce in the salad spinner. Add a simple sauce or new flavor to the veggies. Maple and honey melted in the microwave with a little butter sweetens carrots just enough for kids. A simple butter sauce spiked with parsley enlivens corn on the cob. Green beans sauteed with a little olive oil and tossed with parmesan cheese taste better than plain. Kids can help make a complete salad--allow them to get creative or suggest a fun combination. Pizza salad might include mozzarella cheese, tomatoes and pepperoni, or try a sandwich salad with diced ham, American cheese, croutons and cucumbers.

    Quick Makeovers

    • Let your kids make a favorite like hot dogs or pizza, but with a twist. Pizza is a simple meal for kids to construct. Get creative with the crust: english muffins, french bread or even tortillas work in a pinch. Top with jarred spaghetti sauce, salsa or even barbecue sauce and then sprinkle on cheese and other toppings before putting it under the broiler. Cheddar cheese, bacon and grilled chicken can all work as pizza ingredients.

      For change of pace with hot dogs, have your children wrap the hot dogs with crescent dough and then bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. When they come out of the oven, let your child decorate them with ketchup eyes and mustard noses.

    Be Safe

    • Adults should always supervise kids in the kitchen. For younger children, jars and bottles, as well as any dangerous cleaning products, should be kept out of reach. Adults only should handle sharp knives. When pots and pans are on the stove, try to keep the handles turned away from the edge of the stove.

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