COOKING WORKSHOP FOR CHILDREN “LITTLE SCHOOL OF HEALTHY TASTES”: Healthy snacks should be an important part of children’s diet
February 27, 2024
Events, Health, Project News
On Monday, February 5, 2024, at the Bistro Zdravo restaurant, we held a cooking workshop for a small group of children aged 6 to 11 called “Mala škola zdravih ukusa” (Little School of Healthy Tastes).
Our educator Ena Tešić, a nutritionist with a master’s degree and owner of the Nutrition Counseling Center “Veggae”, guided the children in preparing healthy snacks.
This was the second workshop organized by our organization for our youngest citizens and their parents.
WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT FOR US TO ORGANIZE THIS WORKSHOP?
Eating habits mirror the health of each individual throughout their life. From the beginning, diet has a significant impact on human growth, development, and the prevention of chronic diseases in adulthood. Children quickly start feeding themselves and choosing foods according to their needs. It is crucial to gradually educate them about proper dietary habits and food choices during this time.
Our goal was to organize a healthy cooking workshop where parents and children could participate together, enabling children to learn cooking skills, make healthy food choices, and spread the importance of healthy eating.
Currently, obesity is the most common disorder in children in the European region, with about 20% of children being overweight, and a third of them obese, at increased risk of various chronic diseases.
At our second children’s cooking workshop, we focused on making healthy savory snacks.
WHY ARE SNACKS AN IMPORTANT PART OF CHILDREN’S DIET?
Healthy snacks for children are foods that provide their bodies with the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients they need. In other words, healthy snacks are typically whole foods, not pre-packaged cookies, snacks, pastries, etc., which, while convenient, are usually less nutritious. This means more simple carbohydrates and sugars, and fewer fibers and proteins that actually satisfy a hungry body.
Incorporating three meals and two healthy snacks into a child’s daily diet helps them develop healthy eating habits that will last a lifetime. Ensuring a well-balanced and healthy diet helps children learn appropriate portion control, enjoy a variety of foods, including fruits and vegetables, and develop a healthy relationship with food. Children who learn these habits early are less likely to develop unhealthy eating habits such as eating out of boredom or based on emotional factors. They also learn to eat when hungry and stop when full, a skill many adults struggle with.
Without snacks, children are less likely to meet the recommended nutritional intake for maintaining a healthy diet. Adding two small snacks daily that include fruits, vegetables, or whole grains helps children fill nutritional gaps they may have missed during breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Developing healthy eating habits at an early age reduces the likelihood that children will develop diseases such as diabetes. Children who eat more fruits and vegetables and less junk food high in sugar are also more likely to have better dental hygiene. Children who maintain a healthy diet, including smart snack choices, are less likely to consume high-calorie, high-carbohydrate foods, and are more likely to maintain a healthy weight throughout their lives.
Now that we understand the significant benefits of healthy snacks, how can we encourage children to eat the fruits and vegetables their bodies need? Cooking workshops are a fun tool that increases children’s openness and willingness to try new foods, especially those they typically refuse to eat.
At the “Mala škola zdravih ukusa” workshop, children learned to make tortillas with hummus and vegetables, whole grain sandwiches with pea and carrot spread topped with fresh vegetables, and mini pizzas with tomato sauce and tofu cheese.
Our little chefs worked hard, using a few ingredients to create real masterpieces and creating a wonderful work atmosphere with plenty of fun and laughter!
During the workshop, children develop not only an awareness of healthy eating through practical food preparation but also improve fine motor skills, coordination, self-confidence, independence, and teamwork.
Parents, specifically mothers of the children, participated in the workshop. It is essential for parents to take time for their children and involve them in meal preparation and planning. Research has shown that children are more open to trying various foods they would otherwise refuse if they are given the opportunity to be part of the organization and preparation.
Also, this was a wonderful way to bond further with their children, where parents could support them at the workshop and try their dishes. The tasting session was the highlight of the workshop.
A big thank you to our educator Ena for the wonderful cooking workshop.
Of course, we thank all the parents who showed interest, enrolled their children, and came with them to our workshop.
We hope you were delighted with the new flavors and found new motivation for a healthier lifestyle, prioritizing the positive impact of healthy snacks on health.
See you at one of the upcoming VivaBiH events dedicated to our youngest citizens.
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