Bring the Kids Into the Kitchen

Kids love to help out in the kitchen, but they don’t want to only watch. They want to get involved. To kids, cooking is like an edible art project. It’s fun for them to help with food preparation, but it’s more than that. Making their own food helps children develop confidence in the kitchen. It can also turn fussy eaters into kids willing to try new foods. Bringing the kids into the kitchen will help them develop skills for a lifetime.

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Here are some fun and tasty sandwich ideas to get you and your kids started.

Inside-out Sandwich

You will need a slice of ham luncheon meat, one slice of Swiss cheese, 1/4 teaspoon mustard and one soft Italian breadstick.

Lay the ham slice on a paper plate. Spread with mustard. Center the cheese over the ham. Place a breadstick at one end of the cheese-ham stack and roll up. Secure with a toothpick. Place on the paper plate with the seam side down. Cover loosely with a paper towel and  microwave on high for 20 to 25 seconds until cheese is melted. Let stand one minute. Remove the toothpick before serving. 

Mini Cracker Sandwiches

12 round crackers like Ritz or other similar crackers

2 tablespoons mayonnaise or Miracle Whip

2 slices favorite cheese

2 slices turkey or other favorite deli meat

1 large plum tomato, cut into 6 slices

1/4 medium cucumber, peeled, cut into 6 slices

Spread crackers evenly with mayonnaise or dressing. Cut 3 small circles from each of the cheese singles and bologna slices to fit onto the crackers. Place 1 circle of cheese and 1 bologna circle on each of 6 of the crackers; cover each with 1 tomato slice and 1 cucumber slice. Top each with second cracker to make sandwich.

Turkey Twirl 

1 10-inch flour tortilla

1 to 2 tablespoons mayonnaise

3 ounces thinly sliced cooked turkey

3 ounces thinly sliced cheese

2 tablespoons shredded carrot

Spread mayonnaise on tortilla. Layer turkey, cheese, and carrot on top of tortilla. Roll up.

Peanut Butter Pinwheels 

Spread peanut butter (chunky or smooth) and a little bit of honey on a fresh flour tortilla.

Sprinkle with granola and roll up the tortilla. Slice into bite-size pinwheels.

Now that you have the kids’ attention, let them help you create a new and family tradition, too. Designate a special plate, one different from your everyday dishes, to use to serve dinner to a person celebrating a special event. Celebrate a birthday, a good report card, completion of a project or presentation or any other special milestone by serving dinner on this special plate.