Cooking with your Kids and Money Management

One of the best ways to teach kids to eat healthy is by using good cookbooks for kids that have great recipes. You can teach your children how to prepare meals and snacks that are healthy and wholesome, not only for your family, but for theirs as well.

But, did you ever stop and think that cooking with your kids is a great way to help teach them money management skills?

When you are going through the cookbook with your kids, take a moment to look at some of the ingredients that the recipes call for. Sometimes children's cookbooks can be a little simplified with ingredients, and that's alright.

When you are preparing to cook with your kids, chances are you will need to pick up a few extra items at the grocery store for your meal. So, here are a couple of thoughts to try and help them understand what choices they have when making purchases in the grocery store.

First, try to establish a budget for your meal or grocery trip. If your kids see that you have a certain amount of money to spend at the grocery, they will understand that food purchases aren't limitless. Consideration must be given to each item, and it needs to be established as a "need" or a "want".

Secondly, show them how the different sizes of items compare in price. Sometimes you can buy a larger can or box of a particular item and it will be cheaper per ounce or quantity. But, if you aren't going to use it all before it expires, then you could waste a lot of it. Great lesson here on "waste not, want not".

Lastly, let your kids pay the cashier. Help them to count out the money so that they can see what it takes to prepare a meal. This will let them see that more goes into each meal than just a few moments in the kitchen.

These are just a few ideas on how to share money management skills with your kids while cooking with them. Cookbooks for kids can be so much more than just recipes!

Kid's Cookbook Terms

Here is a great cookbook for kids list of simple terms for the kitchen. This is a nice list to begin with when teaching your child how to cook. Sometimes the terms in cookbooks can be a little overwhelming for kids, so hopefully these will help make cooking and cookbooks fun for your child.

BAKE: to cook in an oven preheated according to recipe.

BATTER: a mixture of liquid, flour and other ingredients that can vary in consistency.

BEAT: to mix two or more ingredients together, usually in a circular motion, until smooth.

BOIL: to cook a liquid in a saucepan usually on the stove until bubbles rise and break the surface and steam usually rises from surface.

BROIL: to cook under the top element in an oven.

BROWN: to fry, broil or bake food to deepen it's natural surface color but not cooking it.

CHILL: to refrigerate until cold.

CHOP: to cut food into small pieces.

COMBINE: to mix two or more ingredients together.

CREAM: to make soft, smooth and creamy by beating.

CUT IN: to combine solid fat with dry ingredients using a fork, pastry blender or knives until mixture is crumbly.

DICE: to cut food into small cube like pieces.

DOUBLING: to double a recipe - use twice the amount of all ingredients to make twice the size of the recipe.

DRAIN: to strain away unwanted liquid.

DRIZZLE: to dribble drops of icing or chocolate over food in a random pattern.

DROP: to scoop dough with a spoon, making rounded or heaping piles.

FOLD: to gently mix ingredients by using a spatula and moving food from center and lifting towards edge of bowl turning bowl as you go.

GARNISH: to decorate food with edible items like sliced fruit or herbs.

GREASE: to rub the inside of baking pans with butter, margarine or baking sprays to prevent from sticking.

GREASE & FLOUR: After greasing your baking pan adding flour to lightly coat the pan.

HALVING: to reduce the amount of all ingredients in a recipe to make only half the recipe.

KNEAD: to work dough into a smooth texture by pressing and folding with the heels of your hands.

LET STAND: to let baked goods cool down on a wire rack or hot pad wile it's still baking.

MASH: to squash foods with a fork or potato masher.

MELT: to heat a solid food until it turns to liquid.

PREHEAT: to prepare oven to correct temperature prior to baking.

PROCESS: to mix or cut up in a food processor or blender.

ROLL OUT: to lightly roll dough with rolling pin to required thickness as per recipe.

ROUNDED TSP/TBSP: to mound ingredients or dough slightly in a teaspoon or tablespoon.

RUB IN: to mix fat with flour using fingers until mixture has the texture of crumbs.

SCRAPE: to use a rubber spatula to remove as much of the mixture as possible from a bowl or saucepan.

SHAPE: to use hands to roll or mold dough into balls, rolls or other forms.

SIMMER: to cook liquids over very low heat.

SIEVE: to remove lumps from flour or icing sugar by pushing through a sieve.

SLICE: to cut food into thin sections using a sharp knife.

TOAST: to brown lightly in a toaster or frying pan or under broiler.

TOSS: to mix salad ingredients lightly.

These are just a few cookbook for kids terms that will help your child understand and learn simple kitchen cooking terminology. For more simple cooking for beginners ideas and recipes, take a look at the Cooking for Beginner's Cookbook.