We have a new series on Austin Moms Blog called, SUNDAY SPOTLIGHT, where we will be featuring one of our loyal readers and a post of their choosing. This is written BY READERS, FOR READERS! Are you interested in guest blogging for AMB? Email us at [email protected]!

To kick things off, we have fellow mom and AMB follower, Ashley Gutierrez!

Ashley Gutierrez is a wife, and mommy to two wonderful boys. She is a stay at home mom and Nanny. She loves to cook, and spend her free time exploring Austin with her family.

As moms, it is always our top priority to take care of our families, and if you are like me food is a large part of that. I am a mama to two boys, ages 7 years old and 15 months. My 7 year old is one of the pickiest eaters I’ve ever encountered, and my baby will eat whatever you put in front of him!

When we found out we were expecting our second child we knew we wanted to drastically change how we eat as a family so that our little guy would get the best nutrition right from the start. I knew this would be hardest on our oldest son because he is so particular with food. Slowly but surely we switched our family over to a clean eating diet of minimally processed and Organic foods.

After lots of research, and trial and error, I discovered the simplest and quickest way to get my kids to eat healthier was to include them in the process of cooking. I know it can be daunting to have the kids cooking with you, but there is something about making food themselves that inspires healthier choices and the willingness to try new foods. They may not always decide that they like the food you cooked together, but they will try it, and that’s half the battle!

I’m going to provide you with a few tips on cooking with your kiddos, and share a fun recipe that my son and I created together for a yummy summer salad.

Tips to Cooking With Kids

1. Safety first! Always keep dangerous utensils out of children’s reach and make sure everyone washes their hands.
2. Keep in mind their age and ability level, but don’t be afraid to let them try something you may think is a little beyond their skill set.
3. Make it fun! Talk about the ingredients as you’re working together. Play some music. Get a little messy!
4. Include siblings that are too young to actually cook by placing them in the kitchen with you in a safe place. We put our baby in his highchair and he loves to be a part of the action!
5. Relax! Cooking with kids can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be “Pinterest perfect”. It will inspire your little one to eat healthier, and try new foods. It’s also a great bonding experience. Embrace the chaos.

Recipe: Seth’s Sweet Summer Salad

You’ll need:
1 Cucumber
1 Package of Strawberries
1 Bunch of Fresh Basil
2 Tsp Lemon Juice
Shredded cheese of choice if desired
Step 1: Place cucumber, strawberries and basil into a strainer and rinse thoroughly. (This is easy for kiddos to do if you give them a stepladder)

Step 2: Chop cucumber, strawberries and basil.

Step 3: Place items into a mixing bowl.

Step 4: Add 2 Tsp of Lemon Juice to bowl and mix. Garnish with cheese. Enjoy!

From salads to soups, to dinners and desserts, there are so many things you can cook while including your kiddos. Who knows you may be raising Austin’s next great chef!

What’s your favorite thing to cook with your kids?