The Kids Cook Monday is a project of The Monday Campaigns. The Monday Campaigns is in association with the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Syracuse Newhouse School of Public Communications. I found this site while looking at my affiliate site www.Grandparents.com – and was so excited that it supports my philosophy and what I have been blogging about for the past three years – ie cooking with kids makes for healthier happier families.
Look what they say on their site:
“The Kids Cook Monday initiative encourages families to set aside the first night of every week for cooking and eating together as a family. The Kids Cook Monday provides examples of family friendly recipes and video demonstrations along with a free starter family dinner toolkit- making it easy for families to cook and eat together every Monday.
When kids pitch in making meals, they’re empowered to consider the portions, the vitamins and the nutrients of what they’re eating. And since the family that cooks together eats together, parents can check in with their children during dinner.
Evidence links family dinners to healthier life choices:
- Research from Columbia University’s National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse suggests that kids who eat family dinners get better grades in school, develop communication schools and are less likely to try drugs.
- The American Dietetic Association found women who cook regularly consume a more nutritious diet than those who ate out often.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics found kids who ate dinner with their family regularly were less likely to be obese.
Cooking also reinforces skills to help kids succeed like math, teamwork and following instructions”
I agree 100%! ENJOY their recipe for your slow cooker!
Slow Cooker Chicken with Grapes
Ingredients:
- 2 tomatoes, chopped
- 1-2 cups cubed butternut squash
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 3 pounds skinless chicken thighs
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup halved seedless green grapes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 (10 ounce) box couscous
Directions:
Together: Combine the tomatoes, squash, onion, garlic, chickpeas and broth in a slow cooker.
Kid: Sprinkle the chicken with the cumin, cinnamon, salt and pepper
Adult: Place the seasoned chicken over the vegetables in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours.
Adult: Prepare the couscous according to package directions.
Together: When chicken has finished cooking, uncover, stir in the grapes and enjoy!
Serves 4
Best for ages 4-7
