Author: Corrina Tough

Some of my favourite memories as a child are the picnics my family went on. I still get that feeling when I picnic with my own children, even if it’s in our own backyard!

Why not make it a whole learning experience? Cooking together is a great way to connect with your children, whilst they develop a sense of independence, knowledge of ingredients, math skills (measuring, volume, capacity) and science (how ingredients react).

If you have a green thumb you might collect ingredients from your vege patch and chook yard, which encourages children to understand the process of ingredients. 

Ruby thoroughly enjoys the whole event from cooking, to setting up the place where we eat the meal. Once we start eating, the conversation flows, so it is also a great way to encourage communication!

Here are some recipes designed with child chefs in mind.

 Zucchini Muffins

1 lge onion, finely chopped

3 rashers of bacon, finely chopped

150g (1 cup) self raising flour

125g (1 cup) grated tasty cheese

2 cups grated zucchini

4 eggs

125ml(1/2 cup) olive oil

Cracked pepper

 Pre heat oven to 200 c. Grease a 12 cup muffin tray. Fry onion and bacon together until golden. Combine flour, cheese and zucchini, then mix in eggs and oil to make a batter. Add onion mixture and stir well. Spoon into prepared muffin tin and bake  15mins or until puffed and golden.

 Mountain Wraps

Mountain bread or other flat bread

Variety of shredded and sliced ingredients

Lettuce

Carrots

Cheese

Coldmeat

Tomato

Cucumber

Allow children to assemble, roll up and eat.

Fruit Skewers

Cut a selection of fruit into manageable cubes, children thread onto skewers with an occasional marshmallow for a treat!

‘We find delight in the beauty and happiness…of children that makes the heart too big for the body’ [Ralph Waldo Emerson]