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3 Tips for Including Kids in Holiday Meals

By Liza Huber, Sage Spoonfuls December 13, 2011

The holidays are an exciting time for everyone, especially young kids.  They love nothing more than being part of the festivities and helping out in the kitchen.  Here are my favorite low stress ways of including children in holiday meals.

1.  While you’re in the kitchen preparing the meal, a great way to keep your toddler or young child occupied while including them in the festivities at the same time is to have them decorate the place cards for the table.  Pre-cut the paper and write the guest’s name, then have your child decorate each place card.  It allows them to make a special contribution to the meal and add a unique touch of personality to the table setting!

2.  Allow your kids to have a little input into the holiday menu.  Ask them what they think would be a great side dish then let them help you make it.  You can prepare it together the day before the big meal so that it’s ready to go.  This way, you get to have a fun bonding time with your kids, they feel involved in the holiday meal and it doesn’t add any stress to an already stressful time.

3.  Young kids love to help in the kitchen.  My 4 year old, Royce, particularly loves getting ingredients out of the refrigerator for me.  Asking your child to help get food out of the refrigerator for you to prepare is a low stress and great way to include your child in the preparation.

Liza Huber has been both a busy working mom and a busy stay-at-home mom taking care of her 3 children. She has been making homemade baby food for many years and has seen the enormous benefits it has given her own children. This inspired her to create a system that gives moms all the tools they need to make fresh, healthy and delicious food for their babies. Drawing from her own experiences and the guidance of a leading pediatrician, she designed Sage Spoonfuls to fit the needs of all moms and their busy schedules.