Kids Cooking Classes: Teaching kids the essentials skills and nutrition

*So excited to see one of my articles featured in this months

Good Living Magazine Tampa Bay. 

To see and read the article in the magazine you can click here. It is on pages 37-38. 

My youngest daughter, Graci,  who is 10 years-old couldn't wait for me to take her to the Kohl’s Cooks for Kids classes. Ever since her older sister, Randi, who is now 12 years-old attended the class two years ago, Graci has begged me to take her.  

Randi cooking dinner.
She took the class when
she was 10. Now she is 12.

Graci sees her sister taking over the kitchen these days cooking fabulous meals for our family and wanted to learn the basics of cooking like Randi did when she went to the cooking classes.

Grace Polson and Graci washing dishes
after making a meal during one
of the classes.

Kohl’s Cooks for Kids, is a free children’s nutrition and cooking course sponsored by Fit4AllKids at All Children’s Hospital for kids ages eight and up. It is one night a week for five weeks. The classes fill up pretty fast, so you have to register in advance.

 Parents attend with their child, so you learn together lessons about healthy eating. Parents are mainly there to help and supervise, but the kids do all the work and cook the food. They also wash the dishes!

Graci receiving her certificate the
last night of class. She is with
Amanda Babonas, Terry Edwards and
McKenna Lalomia.

The classes usually have about 18 people including the children and their parents. Graci had the same instructor Randi had from two years ago, Terry Edwards or as the kids call her "Miss Terry." You can tell she loves teaching kids about cooking as her enthusiasm is seen each week talking to kids about nutrition and healthy eating. She also had two wonderful assistants who helped out with Graci's classes, Amanda Babonas and McKenna Lalomia.

Each week the children learned about the five food groups and why we need to eat from each one. As a parent, getting my kids to eat healthy foods can sometimes be hard, but during these classes something magical happened. They are now eating foods they would never even try before.

Graci making cheese quesadillas in class.

The one rule Ms. Terry had is the kids have to try  at least one bite of the food they make. If they don’t want any more that’s ok, as long as they tried it. What’s funny is some of the kids said “Really...do I have to try it?” and by the end of the night they were asking for more food.

Each week, one of the kids at each table is picked to be the chef for the night. Being the chef is something all the kids love. The chef is in charge of cooking the meal. Graci was chef for two of the weeks meals, the Asian lettuce wraps and white chili. Both recipes were easy and prepared in less than 30 minutes.  

Graci practicing her
cooking skills at home.

The kids had to chop, cut and dice everything including the peppers and onions. The parents made sure they didn’t slice any fingers. The kids also measured all the ingredients using the measuring spoons and cups. Once everything was ready, the kids put it in the pan for Graci to cook. Once it was finished, everyone tried it.  The kids couldn’t get enough of it. They loved it.

Each week, the kids took home the recipe for the meal they made and for homework the kids had to make it for their family and share it with a friend. During the course of the five weeks, the kids were given cooking utensils to help in the kitchen. They received an apron, measuring spoons, apple corer slicer, potato peeler, pizza cutter and a cook book.

I highly recommend these classes.  Not only did we learn about nutrition and cooking, but I was able to spend quality time with each of my daughters and we met new friends. Now we have a quick, simple and healthy meals my daughters and I can make together at home. I also saw how my oldest daughter's cooking has taken off since this class two years ago. I call her "Chef Randi" because she is in the kitchen cooking all the time. I can see Graci will be the next chef in the family, now that she's learned the essentials of cooking and enjoys it.

There are several classes offered each year throughout Pinellas County. Kohl’s is a big sponsor of All Children’s and helps with this program, so it is free to families. To find out more about Kohl’s Cooks for Kids go to www.hopkinsallchildrens.org or to register for a class you can email achFit4Allkids@jhmi.edu.

Juicing as a family

The past few months our family started juicing. We thought this would help us get in our fruits and vegetables more and we would become healthier. Our girls ages 9 and 10, started out not really liking the juice, but my husband made them drink a little each day. The funny thing is now they aren’t complaining any more or holding their nose as they drink it. I guess after awhile their taste buds are use to it and it doesn’t bother them as much. Sometimes I will hear them say it had a little too much celery or it was too chunky, but they drink it.

I won’t say that it is easy to juice, because it does cost a little more money, especially if you buy organic produce. It also takes more time than just buying a readymade juice from the store. I think the benefits of juicing yourself fresh produce outweighs everything else.

My husband and I have a system we do almost every other day. I buy the produce. He washes, cuts and juices it. I clean the juicer and any dirty dishes. It’s not that bad when we do it that way. What’s nice is the girls like to help, especially grinding the fruits and vegetables up in the juicer.  

We aren’t experts at juicing. We are starting out slow. We usually only drink it in the morning. We drink a small amount about 4 oz to 6 oz. We try and make enough juice for two mornings. I read you should try and drink the juice right away, but we try and save time by making it for two days. I think we are still getting most of the nutrients. We even found a friend  who likes to take tons of leftover pulp for her animals.

I did some research and found buying organic fruits and vegetables are better for you. If you don’t want to buy organic produce, there is a list from the Environmental Working Group’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticide called the Dirty Dozen. The following are 12 fruits and vegetables known for large amounts of pesticide residue: apples, bell peppers, celery, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, grapes, nectarines, peaches, potatoes, snap peas, spinach and strawberries.  You want to try and buy organic versions of the Dirty Dozen.

Since I am telling you the produce with the most pesticides, here’s EWG’s list of the 15 fruits and vegetables with the least amounts. The following are the Clean Fifteen: asparagus, avocados, cabbage, cantaloupe, cauliflower, corn, eggplant, grapefruit, kiwifruit, mangoes, onions, papayas, peas (frozen), pineapple and sweet potatoes.  (Click here for the list of dirty dozen and clean 15)

At first, I was a little apprehensive about buying organic because of the cost. I have been buying for the past few years organic milk and eggs, but wasn’t buying the fruits and vegetables. After reading several articles and books on juicing, I saw that in the long run it is better for my family.

You are probably wondering if we have seen any positive results. I will tell you that our energy levels are better. Usually in the afternoon we would be tired and ready for a nap and now we don’t feel as sluggish. I know in the past my numbers and my oldest daughter’s numbers were down significantly for cholesterol when we juiced. I plan on getting that checked again soon.

In today’s world of fast food and processed foods, at least I know my family is getting something healthy into our bodies. I am hoping we continue juicing and make this a lifestyle change.

Kid’s learning about nutrition a fun way!

I was so excited this week to take my ten year-old daughter, Randi to the Kohl’s Cooks for Kids class this week. We tried to get into the last session, but it filled up quickly. I can see why after attending the first class. If you haven’t heard about it, Kohl’s Cooks for Kids is a children’s nutrition and cooking course sponsored by Fit4AllKids at All Children’s Hospital. It is one night a week for five weeks. Parents attend with their child, so you learn together lessons about healthy eating. Parents are there to help and supervise, but the kids do all the work and cook the food. They clean up too!

Chef for the night!

Our class included four tables of parents and kids about 18 people. Our leader from Fit4KidsAllKids was Miss Terry and she was awesome! She got everyone involved and really explained to the children about the five food groups and why we need to eat from each one. As a parent, getting my kids to eat healthy foods can sometimes be hard. Both of my two daughters can be picky eaters. I do have to say they are doing better this year at trying more foods. My daughter Randi is actually eating salad. She wouldn’t touch it before.  The one rule Ms. Terry has is that she asks the kids to at least try one bite of the food they are making. If they don’t want any more that’s ok, as long as they tried it. What’s funny is some of the kids gave a look like “’Really...do I have to try it?” and by the end of the night they were asking for more food.

Anyway, each table picked a kid chef for the night. Randi was the chef for the night. She was so excited. This meant that she had to be in charge of the meal we were preparing. The meal we prepared was a healthy Mexican Bulgar and Chicken recipe. Buglar is a wheat grain that is high in fiber and low-fat. It is used like rice. The kids had to chop, slice and dice everything including the peppers and onions. The parents made sure they didn’t slice any fingers. They also had to measure the ingredients using the measuring spoons and cups. It was great seeing the kids work together to prepare this delicious meal.

After the ingredients were cut and measured, they were put in the pan.  My daughter carefully watched and stirred the food. She than served it to everyone to try. The kids couldn’t get enough of it. They loved it.

We all received the recipe to take home and try with the rest of our family. The homework for the class is to cook the recipe for your family and share it with a friend. The kids were also given a set of their own measuring spoons. 

My youngest daughter loved
it too! 

It was such a wonderful night because I was not only able to spend quality time with my daughter, but we were also able to take home some nutritional tips. Now we have a quick and simple meal that my daughter and I can make for the family.

My daughter made dinner for the family and her sister loved it. She almost liked the plate!

There are several classes offered each year throughout Pinellas County. Kohl’s is a big sponsor of All Children’s and helps with this program so it is free to families. To find out more about Kohl’s Cooks for Kids click here. If you would like a free cookbook click here. If you would like the chicken and bulgur recipe click here. If you are interested in the classes you can email Kohl's Cooks for Kids at Fit4Allkids@allkids.org. 

Enjoy!