Teaching Importance of Washing + Berry Parfait Recipe

The Seasoned Kids

Lesson 1: Teaching Importance of Washing

Since we started showing our kids cooking in the kitchen, we hear two questions very often:

1. How do you start getting your kids involved with you?
2. How do you get your kids to eat so well?

To us, these two questions go hand in hand. You get your kids eating well by offering them a variety of dishes, flavors, and colors from the very beginning and allowing them to explore food on their own in the kitchen. One of the first lessons our girls learned was that you have to wash off fruit and vegetables.

Using a learning tower, our girls can easily reach the sink. Skibbles, our oldest daughter, knows automatically that before she can eat fruit or vegetables that we have to wash them.  It’s a great routine to get your kids into doing and very quickly they will be able to take over the task of doing this for you. Parenting is all about delegating tasks to your kids, saving you time.

Why should you wash your fruits and vegetables? 

Because we all know the kids are going to ask WHY?

• By washing, you are removing dirt and residual pesticides.
  • While you aren’t going to be able to remove all pesticides, especially if you aren’t using organic produce, you will be washing off a good amount, so that’s let’s chemicals going into your families’ bodies
• Remove any bacteria to avoid cross-contamination
  • Even if you aren’t using the skin on the produce you are cutting, you should still wash the outside first so that any dirt or bacteria isn’t transferred to the parts you are eating

Tips for teaching great washing technique

• Mix a few tablespoons of apple cider (we like this one) or white vinegar with a bowl of running water.
• Swish the water around the produce for a few seconds
• Then run produce under cool running water to wash away any of the vinegar, dirt, and bacteria
• Use immediately or pat dry and store in the refrigerator immediately

•  If washing produce, such as potatoes, watermelons, or lemons, use a scrubbing brush under running water.  [[This is the scrubbing brush we use in the photos below]]
• If your child cannot reach a bowl in the bottom of your sink, turn a large container or bowl, upside down, underneath of the bowl with the produce
• Never use dish soap or any other cleaning products not intended for food consumption when washing produce
• Regardless if you purchase organic produce or not, you should always wash them

If you have a baby or very young toddler, like us, don’t be surprised if they just want to taste test!

Recipe Time!

After washing your fresh berries, let your littles make this easy Berry Parfait all by themselves! Simply layer granola, berries, and yogurt! They can do this all by themselves if you don’t cut strawberries, or may need a little help you do!

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Teaching Importance of Washing + Berry Parfait Recipe

Author: Larisha Campbell

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp Granola
• 1/2 Cup Greek Yogurt
• Handful of Freshly Washed Berries cut if desired

Instructions

1. In a small cup or bowl, add half the granola.
2. Add half the yogurt on top of the granola.
3. Add half the berries to the top of the yogurt.
4. Repeat Steps 1-3.
5. Serve!

This post is the first in our “The Seasoned Kids”, kid’s cooking series. Learn more about The Seasoned Kids here.

Funny Blooper Time! 

Each week, we’ll share at least one funny blooper that happened during our shoot!  This week, while we were trying to shoot, the baby kept eating one bite from each strawberry and throwing them back in the bowl!

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