Why Kids Should Learn Cooking Early

“If kids are much more involved in food preparation, then they truly get encouraged to eat more, which promotes good nutrition, plus they learn cooking early which is a very important life skill.” This is what Llena Tan-Arcena, the Culinary Services Manager of San Miguel Pure Foods told us when they hosted this year’s Kids Kitchen Camp held at the Makati Diamon Residences (MDR).

I couldn’t agree more. Teaching kids to cook early is teaching them different kinds of disciplines in life such as hygiene, patience and sense of accomplishment. Whether your child is a girl or a boy, he or she will benefit when she gets to appreciate the art in cooking dishes, may it be in feeding others or just to enjoy food as a passionate eater.

Fortunately, my young girls are interested in cooking as well. Whenever I have time to teach them in the kitchen, I try to teach them the basics such as paring ingredients or frying and sometimes, baking. At the Kids Kitchen Camp, the kids were taught how to prepare 5 kid-friendly recipes using San Miguel Purefoods products. I was glad that my youngest get to learn these recipes as I haven’t taught her all these yet (ingredients and procedures below).

It was a fun day of cooking as the kids were able to socialize together while the chefs from San Migue Pure Foods (SMPF) Culinary Center taught them how to do each dishes step by step. They let the kids handle the ingredients, pour, mix and do simple cooking and we saw how the kids got super engaged with what they are doing. Since my youngest is the oldest amongst the kids, she was sort of the “Ate” of the group. I think she enjoyed the whole activity. Actually, I didn’t hear even a single kid in their batch who complained a bit.

After they finished a single dish, they let the moms taste their finished products. With all the 5 dishes they prepared, we were all full even before the class ended.

Recipe For Nachos Afritada

Ingredients:
1 (150g) pack nacho chips
1 (150g) can PUREFOODS Chicken Afritada
1 (100g) pc tomato
1/2 cup shredded lettuce
1/4 cup grated MAGNOLIA Cheddar Cheese
Procedure:
Layer nachos, chicken afritada, tomatoes, lettuce, and cheese in a serving dish.
Makes 5 servings.

Recipe For Pulled Pork Tacos

Ingredients:
1 (12) pc pack taco shells
1 (100g) head lettuce shredded
1 (100g) pc onion, chopped
3 (130g) pc tomatoes, diced
1 (210) g can PUREFOODS PULLED PORK BBQ PINOY STYLE, heat thru microwave or pan
1 (120g) pack MAGNOLIA CHEEZEE SQUEEZE
Procedure:
1. Fill tacos with lettuce, tomatoes and pulled pork.
2. Drizzle with cheese.
Makes 12 servings.

Recipe For Flower Pot Cakes

Ingredients:
1 (550 g) pack MAGNOLIA DEVIL’S FOOD CAKE, baked according to package directions
1 (220g) pack LA PACITA GRAHAM CRACKERS
Frosting:
1 (225g) pack, MAGNOLIA CREAM CHEESE
2 (250 ml each) pack MAGNOLIA ALL PURPOSE CREAM, chilled
1 cup powdered sugar
Decor:
2 cups candied chocolate rocks
72 pc assorted gum-paste flowers
48 pc assorted gum-paste leaves

Procedure:
1. Crumble cake to look like soil. Set aside.
2. Crush graham crackers with a mortar and pestle. Set aside.
3. Frosting: In a bowl, whisk cream cheese and ceam together. Slowly add powdered sugar.
4. Assembly: Place cake soil in 6 flower pots. Cover with cream cheese frosting. Top with graham crackers, then garish with gum-paste flowers and leaves.
Makes 6 pots.

It was such a fruitful day for all of us. The kids learned so much, our tummies fully satisfied, and we all get to go home a bag full of products from San Miguel Pure Foods products. I hope SMPF will continue this activity every year, to encourage more young kids and parents to get into cooking as they bond together, and get to meet new friends too!