Do you wish your kids could help you out more in the kitchen? You’re not alone! Cooking with your kids can be a wonderful way to bond as a family and share your love for fresh, healthy food, but sometimes, it can be hard to find the time and patience to let your kids explore their culinary talents. That’s why we love National Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day. It’s a day to celebrate your kids’ creativity and let them take charge of the meal planning and preparation. You’ll be amazed by what they can whip up with some guidance and encouragement.

Cooking with your kids is not only fun, but it can also be educational. By showing them how to make healthy choices and balance their meals, you’ll empower them to take care of their own health and well-being as they grow.

If your kids aren’t quite old enough to take over the kitchen yet, but you still want to celebrate National Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day on September 13th, there are many ways to have some family fun while giving the younger ones a little taste of independence. To start, you can let them pack their own school lunches for the week. Keep it simple and slice up some fresh greenhouse grown veggies to pack with their favorite dip and a sandwich.

The best way to get your kids involved in the kitchen is to cook fresh, new recipes together. By cooking together as a family, your kids will appreciate each meal ー even if they tend to be a little picky. They’ll also pick up valuable skills like how to safely chop different ingredients, how to safely use the stove, and how to clean up. Plus, they can have a say in what recipes you choose and what ingredients you include in your menu. Take turns picking recipes, or choose meals based on a fun theme like “Eating Around the World” where you explore a different world cuisine every week.

There are so many different ways to show your kids that healthy eating can be a fun and rewarding activity. Every eating occasion ーbreakfast, lunch, dinner, and every snack in between ーis a chance for you to create new memories making delicious food together. The trick is to have the right ingredients on hand so that you can always offer high-quality, nutritious options. Pure Flavor® fresh snacking veggies come in convenient packs, are loaded with nutrients, and are so versatile that they can be added to any recipe for a boost of flavor.

If you’re ready for your kids to take over the kitchen, let’s explore some easy recipes packed with snacking veggies that they can help make for National Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day.

Simple, Healthy Recipes For Kids

Mini Sweet Pepper Tarts

If you’re looking for a kid-friendly recipe that is easy to make and full of flavor, you’ll love these Mini Sweet Pepper Tarts. Aurora Bites Mini Sweet Peppers are the star of the show in this creamy, cheesy, flaky tart recipe. Kids love them because they have little to no seeds, so they’re quick to prepare, dip, or add to any dish. These sweet and crunchy mini peppers perfectly complement ingredients like garlic, paprika, sausage, feta, and oregano, creating the perfect balance of sweet, spicy, savory, and creamy!

Mini Cheeseburger Bites

Here’s a fun take on a family favorite that’s sure to be a regular item on your menu from now on: Mini Cheeseburger Bites made with Juno® Bites Red Grape Tomatoes. It’s a two-bite cheeseburger loaded with bacon, pickle, lettuce and tomato ー what’s not to love? Before you get started, there’s one important thing you should know: once your kids taste these super sweet snacking tomatoes, they’ll eat them by the handful! Make sure you buy an extra pack to reserve just for snacking. Your kids will have a blast making and eating these mini cheeseburger bites, which are perfect for parties, snacks, or lunches.

Easy Chickpea Salad

You know it’s a great recipe for kids when “easy” is in the name! Easy Chickpea Salad is a fresh and healthy salad that you can make in 15 minutes with just a few flavorful ingredients. The best part of this recipe is that it’s made with Uno Bites™ Nano Cucumbers, microscopic cucumbers with a super crunch that kids love. This salad  may be simple, but it’s healthy and so refreshing with Mediterranean flavors from chickpeas, tomatoes, feta cheese, and a lemon dill dressing.

For more inspiration to help you celebrate National Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day, check out more of our fresh recipes and don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter.