While cooking with children is likely to be messy, it can also turn the kitchen into a new and exciting playground for children to interact with you and with each other. Not only is cooking fun, but when you are finished, your child will feel proud and accomplished.

While cooking can be very fun, it is important to follow these simple steps to keep your child, and your kitchen, safe. Remember, children are very observant, so try and teach by example. The kitchen can be a very fun place, but it can also be dangerous for a child that is unfamiliar with all that it holds. Remind your children when things might be hot, sharp or in other ways dangerous. But, most importantly, have fun!

Here is a child-friendly, healthy recipe to try at home. As a child it was one of my favorite foods to make with my family on the weekends. I can still remember the first time I got to pour the batter of this all time favorite onto the griddle.

Ingredients
1 cup flour (Try a mixture of rye, buckwheat, a little millet, and/or whole wheat flour in varying proportions depending on what you have around. If it is too grainy for your child, you can use more white flour.)
1 tbsp sugar (White or cane sugar is fine, although brown sugar is also nice.)
1 cup milk (You can use water or a mixture of both depending on your diet preferences. I have also used soy and almond milk successfully.)
2 eggs
2 tsp baking powder
dash of vanilla or almond extract

Fun Ingredients
bananas, walnuts, cinnamon, chocolate chips, berries, granola, apples, or just experiment with what you like.

Method

1. Turn on a frying pan to medium heat
2. Beat the eggs
3. Stir in the milk and vanilla/almond extract
4. Add in mashed bananas if preferred and stir
5. Slowly stir in flower, baking powder and sugar (and any other seasonings, such as cinnamon)- add more or less flour depending on how thin or thick you like your cakes- if you make them too thick, just add some more milk/water
6. If you do not have a non-stick pan (or if you do): I like to put a dime-sized amount of olive oil on the pan before each round of pancake batter is poured, and I spread the oil with the end of my spatula
7. You or your child can pour a spoonful onto the pan, as many that you want to fit. I remember my dad used to try to make my initials.
8. Very soon after you have poured is the time for chocolate chips, granola, apples, etc. I sprinkle them on top, let them heat for about 30 seconds, or until they start to bubble and flip. Adding these ingredients at the last minute allows you to fulfill potential "custom orders". I prefer to mix berries into the batter, although they tend to sink to the bottom. They can be added at the end, too.
9. Depending on how many you make, you may want to keep them in the oven on a cooking sheet on warm.

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Start eating better next week.

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