Do you know about Uncle Ben’s Ben’s Beginners International Cook With Your Kids Day Program? Last week, I joined ET Canada host and dad Rick Campanelli to cook with a very sweet kid (see my mini-chef below – she was an uber helpful cook) to try out a very kid-friendly recipe and learn more about the Ben’s Beginners program…
Uncle Ben’s Ben’s Beginners International Cook With Your Kids Day Program
The Ben’s Beginner’s mission is to get kids to cook as well as they can read and write. Why? Because when kids learn to cook, they develop healthier eating habits that last a lifetime.
Plus, kids in the kitchen learn life skills. Like math and measurements. Science (action/reaction). Reading (following a recipe). Decision-making skills (do you want red peppers or not). Creativity (what other ingredients do you want to include?).
Both of my bestselling books have kid-friendly recipes in them because I am a huge fan of cooking with kids. Not only is it an opportunity to connect with your kids…it encourages them to make good food choices. And also, if you have a picky eater…they can contribute to what they will eat in a meal (making your dinner prep a little easier). Plus, I think when a kid cooks with you, they grow an appreciation for how much time and effort goes into a meal. When you just serve dinner – it’s passive on their part – they just eat and go. But when you include them in the prep and cooking – it’s active participation in the meal – making them present in the process.
Visit beginners.unclebens.ca for interactive cooking lessons for kids (where they can “practice” kitchen skills like peeling and chopping) and also for some easy recipes. Chopping was always something I was a bit leary letting the kids do…so I like that they can “practice” through this game-based tool.
Take a photo of your delicious meal, tagging it #LookWhatWeMade, and you could have a chance to win 1 of 3 prizes of $10,000CAD in RESPs* (full contest details on the beginners link above).
My mini-chef and I made Cheesy Rainbow Rice with Ground Beef (go print that recipe – it is good). Rick coached my mini-chef through ingredients and best practices for peeling and chopping. Our rainbow rice was easy, kid-friendly, and quick to cook. I recommend!
Disclosure: This post is brought to you by Uncle Ben’s. And the rainbow rice was seriously a kid-friendly recipe! As always, opinions are my own. 🙂
What a fun program. Kids are open to trying foods that they normally won’t, when they cook it themselves.
I am trying to teach my son how to cook. He’s old enough to learn and also be able to do most of it himself. I’m really excited to see what he can come up with.
This is such an important campaign. I think it is so important for kids to learn to cook. Mine know how to make the basics.
What a great contest from Uncle Ben’s. My daughter enjoys helping out in the kitchen.
I love using Uncle Ben’s and my youngest has tried some of the recipes on their site. It’s great that she has taken an interest in learning to cook.
I think it is so important to teach your kids to cook. This dish looks delicious. Uncle Bens Rice is our favorite.
Patience… LOL. that is my biggest piece of advice. There are some things I can’t do with them, at all… ha! But, that being said, I love having them in the kitchen with me.
My daughters love to help me cook/bake. I should get more of this rice and teach them how to cook with it. I love this whole idea! It’s fun to cook with kids!
This is such a great campaign. I think it is so important for kids to learn to cook. My son cooks with me all the time!
I love this! I need to cook more with my children. Sometimes I get impatient in the kitchen with my kids, and I need to chill out, lol.
I love having my kids in the kitchen with me!!! What a great program from Uncle Ben’s, i love to see kids encouraged to learn.
What a wonderful initiative for kids– I really believe that any time that we get our kids in the kitchen and encourage them to take ownership over the food they put into their bellies they are likely to make healthier choices. Also we LOVE Uncle Ben’s!
I love the idea of getting kids cooking healthy!! So great for Uncle Bens to do this 🙂