Kids can be great helpers in the kitchen

Summary

The kitchen is the perfect place to be together with your children. This is where the meals are made and, if your dining table is in the same room, it's where they are eaten, too. Giving children the opportunity to learn how to cook and prepare meals has amazing side effects. Believe it or not, you'll even find your picky kids are more willing to try something they've made themselves.

When my son was 7 years old, he still wouldn't eat salad. I had my children rotating through the kitchen every other day as my kitchen helpers, and when it became his day again, I decided it was time for him to make the salad. I showed him how to wash the lettuce and spin it (we have a salad spinner), I showed him how to cut veggies (yes, they can do it with close supervision!) and I showed him how to toss the salad with the dressing once it was time to serve it.

Sitting down at the table that night, my very proud son asked everyone if they liked HIS salad about 10 times! He ate two servings himself, and from that day forward, he's never been picky when it comes to salads. I call it "hands-on nutrition." This type of involvement helps to mold good habits and gives children an opportunity to exercise some personal responsibility over the food they consume — a big boon to their own personal nutrition when they go off to school and need to make decisions for themselves.

As many of you know, I have a Web site called Saving Dinner where I provide weekly menus, recipes and shopping lists for my subscribers. I can't tell you how many times I've received e-mails from subscribers needing assistance with some very basic cooking skills because they've never been taught how to cook. Or other ones e-mailing me and telling me how good they feel about themselves because they're starting to get how to put a meal together! It is so important that we equip our children with the skills they'll need for life. Motherhood is the only job I know of that you work hard to work yourself out of a job! We want to see our children succeed, and knowing how to cook is a basic life skill — it's essential.

So bring the kids into the kitchen this week — even the littlest ones can be good helpers! Make being together in the kitchen a part of your life together as a family. Think of the memories you'll make! And to get you started, here is a great family recipe that kids will love helping you to make.

CRUNCHY HONEY MUSTARD CHICKEN FINGERS

(Serves 4 hungry kids — double up for the rest of the family!)

4 small, boneless skinless chicken breast halves

1/4 cup honey, warmed

1/4 cup Dijon mustard

1 cup corn flakes, crushed

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Lightly grease a cookie sheet. In a small bowl, mix Dijon and warmed honey together till well mixed. Put crushed corn flakes in a separate bowl. Slice chicken into 3/4-inch strips. Dip in honey mustard mix. Then roll in crushed corn flakes and put on cookie sheet. Bake 10-15 minutes or until done.

Leanne Ely, a k a Dinner Diva, is the author of the best-selling "Saving Dinner" and "Saving Dinner the Low Carb Way" (Ballantine). What's for dinner? Go to www.savingdinner.com and find the solution!