In case you want to form healthy-eating habits
If you are the kind of person that often struggles with what to buy for your little one as a present, then don’t despair! You are not alone. After all, what we all want is the best toy for our kids. We want a present that will not only impress but will add some value as well. And can you think of anything more valuable than our health? I am sure you can’t because there is certainly not. But it would be a good idea to explain this to your child as well. And the earlier, the better.
So, what we all have agreed upon so far is that the most valuable thing in the world is health. But how do we take care of our health? What can we do about it? Well, quite a few factors can influence our health, but the most important one is food. Without a doubt, the food that we eat can make us either healthy or sick. As Hippocrates said more than 2 400 years ago: “Let your food be your medicine, and your medicine be your food”.
The best toy for your kid
So, are you still wondering what the best toy for your kid could be? OK, I’ll tell you what it is right now! A play kitchen! Yes, a play kitchen because healthy eating means homemade food. And cooking homemade food requires both desire and skills. By giving your child a play kitchen you will provoke an interest in cooking. Once your kid sees that cooking can be a fun activity, you can continue by discussing healthy and unhealthy foods. Choosing what goes into your body is really important and should start as early as your child starts to show food preferences. This usually happens at the age of 3. This would be the best time to equip your child’s bedroom with a play kitchen. Of course, if your child is now older than 3, then you should not by any means give up the idea. Better late than never.
Why and how to use the best toy for your kid?
You may now be wondering why I should buy a play kitchen, why should my child know how to cook homemade food? Now that there are so many restaurants that offer healthy food, why is it necessary to bother cooking it? Well, while it may be true that there are a lot of options to eat out (with more and more healthy food restaurants opening), I doubt that you can do it every day. Even if you are a millionaire, you will (want from time to time) to have dinner at home. Whether you consider eating out or ordering takeaway, have in mind that homemade food will always be the better option. Here are the resons why:
Homemade food is of better quality
Although your favorite restaurant may have excellent reviews, you can never be sure about the freshness and quality of the ingredients. For example, you can’t see the broccoli that they blended in your soup. It could be yellowish and more than a week old. Who knows? Moreover, you can’t be sure whether the hygiene in the restaurant kitchen is top-notch. Did they wash the vegetables as well as you do at home? If you have cooked these dishes by yourself, then you wouldn’t be wondering now.
Homemade food is cheaper
A homemade dish could be much cheaper than buying it from a restaurant or takeaway. Yes, you indeed need some time to do it, but you will both save some money and be sure of the quality of the food that will go into your body. Even if you are not on a tight budget, why not save some bucks? After all, a saved dollar is an earned dollar.
Homemade food tastes better
I don’t know if you generally cook at home, but if you do, then you will have noticed that homemade food tastes better than ready-made food. No, it’s not our imagination. It really does. When you cook your food with a pinch of love, it will undoubtedly taste better. This food is special because it is cooked for your loved ones and not for whoever comes into the restaurant.
If I have managed to convince you that healthy homemade food is the best possible food for your family, then you should try to convince your children as well. So, when they grow up and have a family of their own, they will cook healthy homemade food for them. Here’s what you can do:
So, what should you do if you want the best toy for your kid?
Choose a play kitchen
Choose a play kitchen that will suit your interior (both regarding size and color). There is such a great variety on offer, that you may be spoilt for choice. If you only want to emphasize healthy cooking, then choose kitchens without washing machines and appliances that have nothing to do with cooking. If you want to teach your child how to do the laundry, tidy the house, etc, there are some good options as well.
Buy and install the play kitchen
Buy and install the play kitchen. Then spend some time with your child while exploring together the oven, the stove tops, the fridge, etc. Talk about the different appliances and what dishes your little one can cook there. If your kid is intrigued, then they will probably start asking questions. If not, you do it. For example, “What would you cook for me tonight?”Or “Would you like to cook something together?’ Continue until your child feels more comfortable with their new toy. That may take a few days.
Talk about cooking healthy food
After your little one starts spending more and more time in their kitchen, it may be time to start talking about healthy and unhealthy food. Start by explaining that the chief function of food is not only to satisfy our hunger but also to keep us healthy. Then, point out that not all food we see in supermarkets and restaurants is healthy. That means that kids must learn which food is good for them and which is not.
At this point, it might be a good idea to mention some healthy foods, for example, fruits. Ask your little one to tell you all the different kinds of fruits they know. If this is a difficult task, then you must give a helping hand. Talk about several popular fruits and how they make our body feel better by boosting our energy. Then, talk about which fruit you would like to eat today, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, etc. Think about an easy recipe with fruit you could make in the play kitchen, for instance, mini fruit salads, etc.
Keep on talking about healthy food as well as recipes day after day. If you are stuck for ideas, I mean simple and easy recipes that you can cook together, then have a look at this cookbook. It is for all super kids who eat super foods and can cook all the 50 recipes that are included.
From time to time, talk about how you feel when eating only healthy homemade food. Hopefully, your kid will start spending more time in the kitchen, forming healthy habits and developing cooking skills. And you will be happy that this play kitchen is indeed the best toy for your kid.
Alternative options for the best toy for your kid
If you are still not convinced that a play kitchen would be the best toy for your kid, then have a look at the best educational games for kids.