Fun Stuff For Little Chefs

If your little one likes to cook, encourage him or her.It's a well known fact that kids who help out at mealtime have healthier diets and know the difference between good and bad foods.It's easy to entice them ,thanks to some neat kitchen oriented stuff out there. Kids love coloring books and simple word games.They also like to nosh too. A new coloring book combines the two in a fun and informative way.The New York Daily News featured the coloring/ activity book ,developed by Andre Huesten Mack, owner and founder of Mouton Noir Wines.His mentor was none other than them famed Chicago chef, Charlie Trotter.Chef Trotter frequently invited school children into his kitchen for educational three course meals.Mack also believes this, hence the book.It featues coloring book images of some of the current greats like Anthony Bourdain.Tom Coliccjio and the lesser known Eric Ripert of Le Bernadin and April Bloomfield of the famed The Spotted Pig.The games are fun.There is a word search featuring nothing but mushroom types and a scramble word with only fish. Once you've got your future foodie's hooked, it's time to give them the tolls to start.There is a great company named Curious Chef that has kid versions of kitchen gear.This is one neat site.The sets are pricey however butvthey're worth it. Check out the six piece fruit and vegetable prep set for $24.99. It has everything from a melon baller to a cute pepper shaped corer.The pizza kit,,also $24.99, has a neat looking tomato shaped cutting board along with a slice server and a pizza cutter. For parents worried about stains there are aprons to protect clothing as well as oven mitts to prevent burns and even toques to cover little heads.One of the best aspects of the company is the way it divides up the level of experience from apprentice chef for beginners to sous and expert chef.The company also believes in healthy eating so they have nuritious and even sophisticated recipes.Their hip pity hop pear bunny is adorable and it actually would make a neat dessert any time of the year.There is also a recipe for an asparagus and shrimp potato croquet, more suitable with a glass of champagne than with apple juice. Encourage your budding foodie's to explore the fun world of cooking. It's a great way of showing them how to not only eat healthy but create their own dishes and desserts. Start them off with Small Thyme Cooks and some cooking gear from Curious Chef to get them on the right culinary path.