Wonder Mommy: Foodie Friday: Cooking Classes

Written by Foodie Friday contributor: Callie D.

As moms, we are always looking for innovative, exciting, and educational experiences to share with our children. I strongly believe in creating a hands-on environment for your child where they can explore and “wonder” about food! The possibilities are endless when it comes to food. I look forward to shedding some light on ideas for you and your little ones in upcoming blogs! Think about it how much of our lives are centered around food! It is a major focus throughout our everyday lives and even holidays and special occasions! We eat at least 3 times a day, with occasional snacks/treats in between. I like to think there are no rules when it comes to what we cook/eat, you can get as creative as you want or keep it simple, while still enjoying every minute!

We had a blast on our recent 'Wonder Mommy & Me' Growing Cooks Field Trip Friday! We put on aprons that were just the right size and started out by decorating our very own chef hats. Identifying colors and scribbling to their hearts content was just one of the many highlights! Chef Frank provided a demonstration before we got started. We were his youngest group yet! We learned how to roll and shape pretzel dough! The little ones used hand/eye coordination, fine motor skills, and believe it or not, sat still for more than a few minutes! “Cooking” with Mommy makes the little ones feel ‘so big’ and ‘so cool’! After all, it has to be pretty empowering for them to get their hands dirty and accomplish such a fun task. They love to “copycat” what they see adults doing, so for them to get the chance to cook really is a big deal!

No matter what, they will always look adorable while giving it their best attempt and it makes for great photo opportunities! While the pretzels were baking, we decorated cupcakes! There was a choice of vanilla or chocolate cupcakes, various frosting colors, and various toppings. The mini spatulas are a perfect fit for their little hands to frost the cupcakes! My little one could not wait to take a bite of her hard work! Maybe if we let them decorate vegetables, they’ll be just as anxious?!? We’ll save that experiment for another blog! ;)

Once the pretzels were done, we quickly brushed them with butter and had a choice of sprinkling salt or cinnamon sugar on top before we took a big bite! The pretzels were delicious! After many pictures were taken, the kids “explored” what Growing Cooks had for sale. They sell a lot of great cooking supplies for kids, especially in mini or safer versions of what adults use. If you are looking for a unique birthday gift or to stock up on supplies for your little one to cook with at home, you will find it at Growing Cooks.

Overall, everyone had a really good time! There were some moments of chaos, but that is never unusual with toddlers! This is the best time to expose them to these types of activities. Practice makes perfect! Ultimately, they will keep getting better and better at focusing and enjoying every step of the cooking process!