A Cooking Birthday Party for Kids

Imagine throwing a birthday party for your little one, where little elvesbento box birthday party come and do all the work… well sort of.  That is the idea of the cooking birthday party for kids. You’ve got the cooking and entertainment all in one and you’re not doing the work! #winning

Well there is a little bit more to it than that I suppose, I’ve taught a lot of kids cooking classes, so I have a few things to say about it. First of all, there’s no shame in going to a professional.  The Culinary Center of Kansas City in Overland Park is the big daddy in the kids cooking game; Whole Foods on 91st and Metcalf has a studio dedicated to classes and kids’ parties and A Thyme for Everything in Lee’s Summit has wonderful instructors! As someone who gets paid to routinely hand knives to kids while their parents catch up on Facebook and get some much needed downtime, I TOTALLY recommend hiring a chef if that’s what you’d like to do.

However if you’re game for a home birthday party that’s lots of fun and most of the action is done by little party goers then I have some ideas for you.

Pizza is obvious, but awesome.
Make a big batch of pizza dough. (I have a great recipe for you) Buy some toppings, and you are done.  Little ones need only top their pizzas with sauce and toppings and bigger kids can do all the chopping.

Tips:

  • Put pizza toppings in muffin tins for easy/cheap separation.
  • Invest in a roll of parchment paper so pizzas don’t stick to your pans.
  • Lettuce knives are safer than real knives!

Kids really love to decorate stuff.
Psssst.  If you make a bunch of cupcakes the kids will do the rest… really! You won’t even have to buy a cake! Set out a myriad of toppings, have kids mix together simple icing and the cake portion of the party is done. Decorate for fun or have “cupcake wars.”

Tip: If you’re having a contest give out silly awards instead of “best cupcake” award “most alien friendly” or “best use of icing in a weird application.” It’s just supposed to be a fun day.

Kids will (usually) eat salad they make.
No kidding.  If they get to make it together, make the dressing, have the peer pressure of other kids liking it your kid may actually want to eat a vegetable-based dish.  I’m totally serious.

Tip: Kid friendly dressings rule here, pick something they all know and love (I’m looking at you, ranch)

Don’t forget pasta or rice.
Everyone’s favorite starches make the kid party. Fried rice is delicious easy kid food and a customizable vehicle for veg…you are welcome. As for pasta how can you go wrong? Kids love to make meatballs and a great sauce is theirs to spice!

Need more crafts crafty mom?
May I suggest aprons? Matching aprons for kid and doll even? Less hardcore, how about decorate your own paper chef hat? Or even make your own cookbook (crayons and writing down the recipe you just made are all that’s required) check it out, now your party favor is done, too!

Tips:

  • Limit your menu to one or two things, kids want to go in depth and will have more fun with time to be creative.
  • Print out recipes so kids can refer back to them.  Everybody learns differently, help out the visual and tactile learners by giving them something to look at.
  • Show them what they’re going to do.  Demonstrate, and answer questions. They’ve all seen food tv, it will be cool I promise!
  • I tell all the kids that cleaning up is part of being a chef, make them help you mama you deserve it! (Most important tip of the day)
rachelc
Rachel was born the same year the word "foodie" was officially added to the English language, and boy, did that turn out to be appropriate. A reformed junk food junkie and couch potato, she successfully lost 100 pounds through healthy lifestyle changes, including cooking and eating fresh whole foods. Her cooking classes focus on delicious whole food recipes. She is the owner of the wellness business "This One Bite" and shares healthy recipes and kitchen adventures at ThisOneBite.com. Because that just left too much time on her hands (ha!), Rachel also operates a bakery business, Lucca Bakery, that can be found at farmers markets throughout the season. Rachel is a lifelong learner and has several degrees, certification from the Mayo Clinic and has studied cooking around the world including Le Cordon Bleu Paris. She loves to travel, and brings experiences from over 30 countries to her culinary creations. Luckily, she also has a tall, dark and handsome husband and a couple of adorable kids who never mind licking the bowl.