3 simple meal ideas you can cook
with your kids

Looking for a fun, appealing activity to do with your kids? Here are a few simple meal ideas you can cook with them. In addition to having a real feast, you'll also be spending quality time with your family!

One-of-a-kind tacos

This meal idea combines two dishes that your kids probably love: tacos and pizza. You'll need ground beef, canned bean puree, one pack of taco seasoning, cheese, your kids' favourite veggies (tomatoes, scallions, bell peppers, olives, corn, etc.), sour cream, a jar of salsa, and the flatbread of your choice (pita, naan, or a traditional pizza crust). When it comes to quantities, go with your own preferences and the size of your pizza. In a pan, cook the meat with the seasoning by following the instructions on the packet. While the meat cooks, you can cut the vegetables into small pieces and ask the kids to grate some cheese. Then heat the bean puree in the microwave for one minute before spreading it evenly on your bread.

It's now time for kids to put together the pizza! You can suggest that they spread the meat on the pizza, add the veggies of their choice, and then top with the cheese. Cooking time will depend on the bread you picked but, in most cases, 15 to 20 minutes should do it. When it's time to serve, add a dollop of sour cream and salsa on each individual serving!

A new twist on lasagna… bites!

If you want to keep it simple, this meal is hard to beat. You'll need a muffin tray, a jar of tomato sauce (of your choice), mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese, Italian seasoning, and a pack of frozen wonton wrappers. Start by greasing the muffin tray and add two wonton wrappers at the bottom of each serving. Now it's time to get the kids involved! Suggest they add a spoonful of tomato sauce (or your homemade spaghetti sauce), a spoonful of ricotta cheese, and a generous pinch of mozzarella in each serving. To get the layers of a lasagna, add another wonton wrapper on top, a spoonful of sauce, ricotta, and another pinch of mozzarella. Add the Italian seasoning and you're all set! Bake in the oven at 375°F for 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes before serving. If you want to personalize this recipe even more, ask your kids to add their favourite veggies in each layer.

Spaghetti squash for a nutritious meal that's fun to cook

If you've never tasted spaghetti squash before, better be warned: you're probably going to love it. For this recipe, you'll need one spaghetti squash, cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, and parmesan), and the pasta sauce of your choice. Don't be afraid to get creative! Start by preheating the oven to 400°F, slice the squash in two (lengthwise) and remove the seeds with a spoon. Place both halves flesh side up on a baking sheet and cover with a drizzle of olive oil, salt, and pepper.

While the squash cooks (about 40 minutes), ask your kids to grate the cheese. Once out of the oven, let the squash cool. When that's done, ask your kids to scrape the inside of the squash with a fork in order to get spaghetti “noodles”. We guarantee your children will love this step! Once you have your spaghetti “noodles”, add the sauce in the squash and cover with cheese. Bake in the oven until the cheese is melted and golden. To serve, you can empty the contents onto a large platter or eat directly from the squash. Bon appétit!

Cooking with your kids can be a very fun experience! Don't hesitate to ask them how they'd like to be involved. They might surprise you with their abilities of a chef in the making!

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