Let them get their hands messy
Are your children picky eaters? Are you looking for ways to encourage them to eat more? It seems every parent goes through the challenge of dealing with their kids' eating habits. One solution is to get them involved in meal preparation. They'll enjoy getting their hands messy and at the end will be able to say, "I helped Mommy make this!" It makes children happy to know they were your "big helpers" for the day.

Cooking lessons teach responsibility and cleanliness
Kids learn about responsibility and cleanliness when they help out in the kitchen. It also shows them it takes a lot of time to prepare a meal, and that it doesn’t automatically prepare itself. If you’re not ready to have your kids help out in the kitchen, there are many other ways they can help. For example, setting the table, planting a vegetable garden or even grocery shopping. Have them plan menus for lunch or dinner the next day. If they choose the meal they are more likely to eat it.

Let your kids be responsible for preparing all the meals for that day. Kids enjoy being independent, and enjoy being responsible for a portion of household chores. Menu planning, making a list, shopping and cooking are wonderful learning activities for young children. They get to practice on planning a healthful meal, thinking ahead to plan the shopping list, writing and reading, money management. Give them a specific amount of money they can spend. If they go over they have to ask for the extra and figure out why they went over. Plus they are learning how to cook. Kids love being in charge of family meals one day a week. And they learn to prepare specialty dishes.