Cooking with Your Kids a Simple Recipe for Kids: Vegetable Hummus Wraps

Cooking is a vital skill that all humans should learn. Kids, being miniature humans, should learn it too. Cooking with young kids does not need to be challenging. Even young toddlers can participate in cooking with their parents or teachers. Here is a very simple hummus wrap recipe that you can prepare with your kids.

Parent and child cooking a healthy meal together

Can Kids Cook?

Very young kids may require a special cooking set to make sure it is safe for them to prepare the veggies. However, older kids can be taught about the importance of safety in the kitchen and slowly trusted to use real kitchen tools. I recommend teaching through direct instruction about kitchen safety when you are not preparing food so they are not distracted and eager to begin cooking. Then reinforce safety practices as you begin to cook with your kids. Remember that for hundreds of years, young kids helped with tasks like preparing bread and stew. This is not beyond your child. I know some parents with easily distracted kids worry about safety in cooking with kids. But often these kids are the ones who need these hands-on tasks the most. If this is a worry that you have, try your best to eliminate any other sounds in the kitchen and start with small tasks like helping to ice a cake before building up to cooking with knives and stovetops.

Simple Recipe for Kids: Vegetable Hummus Wraps

Ingredients:

• Whole-grain tortillas or wraps

• Hummus (store-bought or homemade)

• Assorted fresh vegetables (such as cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, bell pepper strips, and shredded carrots)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Vegetables:

• Wash and slice the vegetables into thin, easy-to-handle strips. You can let the kids assist in the preparation, promoting hands-on involvement.

1. Spread Hummus:

• Lay out the whole-grain tortillas or wraps. Have the kids spread a generous layer of hummus onto each tortilla, leaving a small border around the edges.

1. Add Vegetables:

• Allow the kids to place a variety of colorful vegetable strips along the center of each tortilla. If working with a class, have a spread out from which they can choose.

1. Wrap It Up:

• Show the kids how to fold the sides of the tortilla over the vegetables and roll it up from the bottom, creating a delicious vegetable hummus wrap.

1. Slice and Serve:

• Carefully slice the wraps into smaller, bite-sized pieces. Serve them on a platter for a heart-healthy and visually appealing snack.

Nutritional Benefits:

• Whole-grain tortillas provide fiber for heart health.

• Hummus offers plant-based protein and healthy fats.

• Colorful vegetables deliver a range of vitamins and antioxidants.

Educational Elements:

• Discuss the importance of whole grains for heart health.

• Talk about the nutritional benefits of chickpeas, the main ingredient in hummus.

• Explore the concept of a balanced meal with a variety of colorful vegetables.

This recipe not only encourages healthy eating but also introduces kids to a variety of colorful vegetables and the concept of making balanced food choices. Enjoy these tasty vegetable hummus wraps as a heart-healthy snack or light meal! Have fun cooking with your kids!