We think you're near Los Angeles

Currently in Los Angeles

Location: Los Angeles Current temperature: 46°F: Current condition: Clear See Extended Forecast

Single mom families cooking: Child-friendly recipes

Single moms enjoy cooking with their children, They also realize that their children have to learn to prepare meals on their own. Single moms take the time to teach their children how to prepare a menu and a shopping list. These moms also know the value of teaching their children couponing and budgeting, as well as grocery shopping. Teaching important life skills such as these is important, and easy to pull off in Bangor.

What a child can do while preparing meals is dependent on his or her age and skill level. Some may be too young to use a sharp knife or the stove. Others may be able to prepare an entire meal.

The recipes below will be a breaze for children of the right skills level to do. It is up to mom to decide what each of her children can easily accomplish. With guidance from mom, children can learn to prepare meals on their own.

Advertisement

Older Children/Can Cook Meals on Their Own:

When a child is old enough to cook on their own, the only decision left for mom is whether or not to allow them this privelege when mom is not at home. Older teens should be able to handle this. Possibly younger teens.

A quick breakfast an older child can make is scrambled eggs with add-ins. Show them how to do this once, then let them experiment. To begin, scramble eggs and milk in a bowl. Dice some type of precooked meat and vegetable. Begin cooking the eggs, adding the meat and vegetables after about 30 seconds. When done, turn off the burner and add a sprinkling of cheese to melt.

Older children can also help mom by preparing school lunches for themselves and their younger siblings when mom is working or has other tasks to accomplish.

Middle Children/Can Cook Meals with Mom Nearby:

These children are learning new skills all of the time. They have a handle cutting, and can cook with mom nearby. They might also be trusted with helping younger siblings to learn the basic skills of preparing foods for eating.

Children in this age group will be learning more about measurements, and should be able to at least use a slow cooker or microwave with mom nearby. The older children in this category are also learning to use the stove and oven.

Children of this age are expert sandwich makers. Allow them free reign with the ingredients in your refrigerator, and they will come up with something interesting.

Small Children/Can Help Mom to Prepare Food:

Small children need mom next to them, teaching them the beginning stages of meal prep. Measurements and beginning reading skills are often taught as these children get a little older, and they are able to feel like valued members of the household. They can also set the table when helping to prepare meals.

Have young children use a butter knife to cut small a banana into slices. Give them an open yogurt container, a bowl and a wooden spoon. Instruct them to mix the banana into the yogurt in the bowl, then to dish up the treat onto a plate for each person who is hungry.

To find recipes to aid you in teaching your children to cook, visit the Frugal Recipes blog. It is packed full of recipes.

Do you have a topic that you would like to see covered here? Contact Shannon at shannonlbuck@gmail.com with your ideas or leave a comment below.

By

Bangor Single Mom Examiner

Shannon L. Buck, author of blogs dealing with living frugally, losing weight and running a freelance business, is a single mother of two. As a...

Don't miss...