Hey everyone! Ever noticed how kids experience food with their whole bodies? It's not just about taste; it's a full-blown sensory adventure! Think about it – the satisfying crunch of an apple, the zingy smell of lemon, or the squishiness of a cooked tomato. It’s these experiences that shape how kids feel about food, turning it into either a ‘yuck’ or a ‘yum’ moment.
As parents and caregivers, we’ve got a super cool opportunity to enhance these sensory experiences. How? By being descriptive! Next time you’re in the kitchen, try saying things like, ‘Doesn't this orange smell amazing?’ or ‘Listen to the snap of this carrot!’ Let’s give our little ones a vocabulary to explore the sensory world of food. Think wet, dry, crunchy, mushy, chewy – it’s like a whole new language they can learn through cooking!
We can ask questions too! ‘Can you feel the lumps in this mashed potato?’, ‘Is this juice icy cold?’. Encourage them to really tune into their senses. It's a fun, educational way to get them involved with what they eat.
Why is this important? Because when kids engage with food using all of their senses, they create positive associations, making them more likely to embrace new and healthy foods. It’s all about making nutritious eating a playful, exciting experience, not a chore! This is why we're so excited about the app, koalacook: Get kids enjoying creative and nutritious cooking. It provides so many ways to get kids into creative cooking and trying new things, that you will have a whole new world of happy food moments and wonderful memories with your children. Get ready to turn your kitchen into a sensory lab, where delicious discoveries are always on the menu!
Happy cooking (and sensing) everyone!