FLOUR GHOSTS, COOKING POT DRUMS AND T-SHIRTS SMEARED WITH FOOD. FUN IDEAS FOR PLAYING AND COOKING

Mommy, let me help you!" calls your little one from her room. Uh oh! Just when it's time to prepare lunch. You’re already imagining a huge mess in the kitchen and you know perfectly well that, instead of having lunch, you will be cleaning it up. But no discussion: let’s go! Let’s wash our hands, go into the kitchen and cook with your child.

But there are a couple of advantages: children love to be near their parents, they are supervised and they also learn a lot of things about food. A bit of organization and some recipes adapted for children is a promise of a tasty and healthy meal. Of course, healthy cooking for children is not always very easy, especially if your child is difficult to please. Maybe you can find some recipes for kids that your family will like too? That way you'll always have an idea ready.

"All by himself!"- your child can mix, beat, cut, sprinkle...

What to do if a two-year-old wants to do everything alone? If something goes wrong, it's going to mean trouble with his or her mood. Avoid whining by coming to the rescue with tasks that your child can do all by him or herself.

That is how children can help in the kitchen: mix the ingredients, sprinkle cheese on a baking sheet bake or put spoonfuls of flour in a bowl. If, in doing so you make a cloud of flour that seems like there are ghosts everywhere, just open the window. Little helpers can also use a rounded knife to cut soft fruit.

Another ingredient for a good mood is to let the child make decisions like: will the red or blue bowl be used? Would you like to mix with a wooden spoon or a whisk? Other tasks which the child can help with are: turn on the digital scale, run the food processor or mixer. (Those not wanting to renovate their house must ensure that the mixer whisk is sufficiently immersed in the bowl!).

House music alternative - the pot becomes a drum

If the child begins to get nervous and doesn't want to help, just distract him. In addition to preparing meals in the kitchen there are so many things to do: find towels and fold them, bring the tableware, the cutlery or make a nice colourful picture for a centrepiece. Another great job is organizing kitchen drawers. Just fill the lower drawers with lidded storage containers, plastic bowls and pots. Leaning towers can be built with the bowls, storage containers serve as a hiding place for Legos and a pot makes an ideal drum. OK, admittedly you’ve got to have steady nerves, but in the meantime the meal is ready.

Healthy recipes for kids: banana and vanilla quark, yummy!

Healthy cooking for kids can be very simple. No complex recipes or special ingredients or cooking equipment. An example of an easy and tasty recipe is banana and vanilla quark. Ideal as a breakfast, snack or dessert.

Ingredients for 4 portions: three ripe bananas (like those with the brown spots left in the playground snack-bag). 500 grams of MILBONA quark, half a BELBAKE vanilla pod and a little bit of Saskia mineral water. If you prefer it sweeter, add some honey.

First, have the child peel the bananas and cut into pieces on a cutting board with a rounded knife. Prepare a large bowl to mix the bananas. Meanwhile halve the vanilla bean and scrape the inside with a sharp knife. Add the vanilla to the banana pieces. Then add the quark to the bowl. This is something even the smallest can do. If he gets a little on himself and some ends on your face ... no matter, it’s good for your skin! Blend the bananas, vanilla and quark with a mixer. If desired, add a little honey to sweeten. At the end, add a good splash of sparkling mineral water for a softer consistency. Enjoy!

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