By Warwick Marshall
© ChildForum
As a responsible teacher, carer or parent you role model and pass on good nutritional dietary habits... don’t you? Well…, in front of the children anyway! But does this mean leaving a wonderful learning opportunity consigned to the pantry? It probably means making a rule to keep baking and such to a rare and wonderful treat, say perhaps once a week at the most or only on birthdays.
Baking with children offers fun, social and yummy learning opportunities - and it can be nutritional and delicious too.
Unfortunately research puts a flop on our pancakes causing some of us to shelve our baking trays. Otago University’s ‘Non-essential (NEEDNT) Food List’ (2012) identified 49 types of foods to minimise or eliminate from our diets to protect ourselves and the population from obesity. And, of course, our baking treats such as cakes and muffins are categorised as ‘should be avoided’.
But wait…, what’s that…? Is it a spa bath for smurfs…? A new Bayblade stadium…? No! Slower than a rice cooker…, bigger than a crockpot…, rounder than a sandwich toaster…, it’s the slow cooker! Regardless of home or centre setting, ‘slow cooking’ with children offers similar learning opportunities as baking but with the added bonuses of producing nutritious meals and bringing the ‘oven’ out to the children.
Keep it simple and use the slow cooker sachets from the supermarket or let your creative juices flow and simmer fourth.
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