8 Healthy Kid-Friendly Recipes You'll Love Too (2024)

FAQs

What can a 9 year old cook for lunch? ›

A standard 10 year old should be willing to eat anything put in front of them. However, a picky 10 year old would probably prefer a few foods over others. This includes pizza, mac and cheese, hot dogs, ice cream, chicken nuggets, hamburgers and grilled cheese.

Dark leafy greens are high in Vitamin B-12, B9 (also known asfolate) and other B-vitamins. B-vitamins get an “A+” when it comes to producing natural brain chemicals that positively affect mood and other brain functions. Common leafy greens that you can grow in your garden include kale and spinach.

8- to 11-Year-Old Cooks

Kids at this age can follow simple, straightforward recipes, plan menus and meals, and begin to work with the stove or oven. Use this time to teach them about the dangers of equipment and utensils.

With an adult supervising, a 10-year old should be able to scramble eggs, stir fry vegetables or flip a pancake on an electric stovetop (you may want to wait longer if you have a gas range). Safety tip: Be sure to teach them to tie back long hair and never wear loose clothing around the stove.

You can begin involving your children in the kitchen as young as two years old, with the most simple and safe tasks, as long as they can follow simple directions (Dean et al., 2021). Teach children to wash their hands for 20 seconds and clean counter spaces before preparing food.

What age can kids cook a meal? ›

Ages 6-8. In this age group, you can start to introduce some actual cooking skills. Teach them the basics of using a stove (with your supervision always). Practice turning the stove off and on.

An egg sandwich, a pot of Greek yogurt or cottage cheese, and peanut butter on wholegrain toast can all be eaten on the way to school. High protein pre-made waffles and pancakes, or protein bars are also easy to grab and go on busy mornings.

Whole grains: whole-wheat noodles, brown rice, whole-wheat bread, rolls or tortillas. Proteins: boneless, skinless chicken; lean ground beef or turkey; no-salt-added canned beans; eggs. Dairy: milk is great at meals, but limit it to 2 to 3 cups a day. Cheese and plain yogurt are great options, too.

For example: carrot coins or sticks, cucumber, broccoli, bell pepper strips, asparagus spears, summer squash ribbons, or grape tomatoes. Choose any 1 healthy protein. For example: Beans, edamame, nuts, seeds, peanut butter, hummus, veggie burger, roasted turkey or chicken slices, or a hardboiled egg.