One of the great benefits of summertime, is the wide variety of fresh and nutritious produce that is in season. From juicy strawberries to colorful melons, there are so many fun fruits and vegetables to enjoy with the little ones in your care! And, inviting children to be a part of the cooking process is a great way to support early development while getting little ones excited about eating healthy meals!
Participating in the process of cooking is good for children’s health, development, and overall well-being. In an article for the National Head Start Association, pediatrician Dr. Nimali Fernando describes three key benefits of cooking with young children:
When children take part in cooking, they contribute to tasks like measuring, pouring, and mixing the ingredients. Accomplishing these tasks and successfully making a recipe helps children to build new skills and gain confidence in themselves.
The kitchen is full of learning opportunities, and cooking encourages children to practice their science, math, language, and motor skills–all in one activity! While cooking together, invite children to help measure and count ingredients as you explain some of the science behind the way foods change when they are cooked! Asking children to help with chopping, scooping, and pouring gives them the opportunity to build their fine motor skills.
When little ones are involved in preparing healthy, fresh, and nutritious food, they are more likely to be interested in eating it. Cooking together inspires children to be curious about a variety of different food items, and it makes mealtimes more fun!
image & recipe from
Raising Veggie Lovers
July and August are peak season for melons – which makes this watermelon pizza recipe a perfect treat to enjoy during the summer!
All you will need is a large watermelon, whipped cream or Cool Whip, honey (omit if serving to infants), and small pieces of fruit. One of the best things about this recipe is that the “pizza” can be topped with any fruits that you have available, such as berries, kiwis, sliced grapes, cherries, bananas, and more!
Start by cutting a large circular piece from the wide part of the watermelon. Place the watermelon circle on a plate or other flat surface, and cut across the circle to divide the watermelon into triangle-shaped slices (like cutting a pizza or pie). Then, invite the children to help spread the whipped cream on their slices, and then place their favorite fruit toppings on top of the whipped cream.
image & recipe from
Yummy Toddler Food
This simple smoothie recipe uses just three ingredients: milk (or kefir), frozen diced mango, and avocados, which are in season during the month of July.
Little ones can help prepare the smoothies by measuring the milk, scooping the avocado from the peel, and placing all of the ingredients into the blender. All you have to do is blend the ingredients until there are no lumps, pour the smoothies into cups, and invite the children to enjoy a refreshing drink that is perfect for cooling off on a hot summer day!
image & recipe from Healthy Little Foodies
Summertime is berry season – which means raspberries are especially fresh this time of year! This healthy and kid-friendly cookie recipe has no added sugar and uses only a few healthy ingredients to make a perfect summer snack for young children. All you’ll need are: raisins, bananas, oats, cinnamon, and (of course!) raspberries.
Start by soaking the raisins in hot water for 10-15 minutes to soften them (this step should be completed by an adult). Next, mash the bananas to a puree consistency. This step is especially fun for little ones – invite them to use a wooden spoon to mash the bananas in a large bowl, or put them into a plastic bag so the children can use their hands to squish the bag of bananas! Once the banana is mashed, stir together the banana, oats, and cinnamon. Then add the raspberries and stir until the raspberries have broken down and are incorporated into the mixture. Finally, drain the raisins and mix them in too!
Once all the ingredients are blended, roll the cookies into balls, place them on a baking sheet, and bake for about 15 minutes at 350℉. Be sure to let the cookies cool for a few minutes before serving your tasty raspberry treats!
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