Meal planning can be a fun and educational activity for families, especially when kids get involved! Using meal planning apps not only simplifies your weekly meals but also offers a great platform for kids to learn about food, nutrition, and teamwork. Here are three practical examples of using meal planning apps that include kids:
In this activity, you can turn your meal planning into a treasure hunt! Using a meal planning app, create a family recipe list that includes favorite dishes from each family member.
Start by opening the app and selecting a ‘Favorites’ section where everyone can suggest their go-to meals. Let the kids help research recipes together by exploring the app’s database. Once you have a list, have a family meeting to vote on which recipes to include for the week. The kids can even help organize the ingredients needed for each meal, which can be a fun way to teach them about grocery shopping.
For example, if your family loves tacos, chicken stir-fry, and spaghetti, each member can add their favorite toppings or sides. The kids can also draw or write out a shopping list based on the chosen recipes. This not only engages them but also makes them feel like they have a say in family meals!
Notes: You can use apps like Paprika or Yummly that allow you to save and categorize recipes easily.
Turn your meal planning into a fun cooking challenge where kids can showcase their culinary skills! Choose a meal planning app that allows you to schedule meals for the week.
Each week, assign a day where one of the kids gets to pick a recipe and take charge of the cooking (with adult supervision, of course!). Use the app to help them research recipes that fit a theme, such as “Meatless Mondays” or “Taco Tuesdays.” They can use the app’s features to add the chosen recipe to the weekly planner and create a shopping list for the ingredients they’ll need.
For instance, if your child decides to go with a meatless black bean burger, they can look up the recipe, then add ingredients like black beans, breadcrumbs, and spices to the shopping list. After cooking, have a family taste test to celebrate their efforts!
Notes: Consider using apps like Mealime or Plan to Eat, which are great for meal planning and have user-friendly interfaces for kids.
Using a meal planning app, you can create a weekly food journal that includes your kids in documenting meals and their experiences with food. This can be done using an app that allows for note-taking and photo uploads.
Start each week by planning meals together and assigning each meal to a day in the app. After each meal, encourage the kids to write a short review or draw a picture of what they liked about it. For example, after a homemade pizza night, they could note how much fun it was to choose toppings and how delicious the pizza turned out.
At the end of the week, you can review the food journal together, discussing what everyone enjoyed and what they might want to try again. This practice not only engages kids in meal planning but also helps them develop their writing and reflection skills.
Notes: Apps like MyFitnessPal or even simple note-taking apps can be adapted for this purpose.