I feel like this Summer went by pretty quickly. However, before my daughter starts kindergarten this year, I want to enjoy the warm summer days with her as much as possible. Speaking of summer activities, we love to grill as a family. Though it may feel scary at the beginning, your kid can be safely included in the process. Little M has learned the basic rules for grilling, the process, and which area is absolutely no for kids her age. If you are looking forward to making this a fun family activity (and eat some yummy grilled foods), check out these 6 tips for grilling with your kids.
And also, I am hosting a giveaway with IG Charcoal BBQ, where you can win a Charcoal BBQ with a Skewer set (valued at $948.97). So keep on reading till the end!!
Tips for Grilling with Kids:
These expert tips are contributed by Sugar Plum Founder Chef Neil Edley. Since he was a kid himself, he has been cooking and loves to share his passion for cooking with kids and adults alike.
Make Menu Planning a Family Affair
Kids love to be part of the things we do, so menu planning as a family makes the meal more meaningful to your kids. Children are also more apt to try new foods when it’s something they’ve helped plan and prepare. Let them browse online for fun recipes or bring out the old cookbooks!
Bring Up Your Own Little Sous Chefs
One of my favorite things to do as a kid was to be my mom’s little sous chef. She would tell me what I needed to do, teach me what I didn’t know, and really let me be part of the whole cooking process. Get your own kids involved by having them wash the veggies, help make the marinade for the meat, thread the kabobs, learn to season the meat and veggies, and begin doing some chopping and dicing with a kid-safe knife.
There’s no definitive time when a child is deemed ready to use a real knife—use your own judgment and gauge the readiness and maturity of your child. Then, they can practice by using a butter knife and a banana or a stick of butter.
Prep the Grill Together
As you know, grills get very hot! So teaching your child the potential dangers of being around a hot grill is crucial.
They need to know-
- how far to stand back from it when it’s on,
- what it can potentially do if you’re not careful and
- how to handle injuries associated to the grill.
While it’s still important to have an adult with a child around a grill at all times, they can be part of the initial set-up of the grill, where to put wood chips, charcoal, propane. It’s also important to explain how it all works to help you cook delicious foods. Once familiar with being around the grill while heated, they can help flip the burgers, rotate the veggies,
It’s the Perfect “Season” to Grill Together
Creating marinades and seasoning the meat and veggies before they go on the grill is one of the perfect jobs for kids. It’s a fairly easy, fun task for younger kids, and it helps them learn measurements and how different flavors and spices can work together to make some of their favorite foods yummy! In addition, developing a taste for different spices is super beneficial for their ever-changing and growing palate.
Editor’s note: I personally love Walden Farms’ dressings. Not only are these delicious, but they are also free from artificial flavors and dyes, made with real vegetables, fruit fibers, and ingredients. These have zero calories, zero net carbs, zero sugar, zero fat, and keto-friendly, gluten-free, kosher, no high fructose corn syrup, and most are vegan, dairy-free, and cholesterol-free.
Set a Fun and Festive Tablescape Together
Setting the table in a festive way for your family meal is half the fun. Let the kids lay out a tablecloth, the plates, and silverware, fill the glasses with water or lemonade and make homemade place cards with each family member’s name on them. Each step in the family meal process helps children develop a love and commitment to family mealtime. The more important you make it, the more important it will become as the traditions become permanent.
Suggested read: The Secret of Having a Fun Backyard Party with Your Child
Clean-up, Clean-up, Everybody Clean-up!
While not as fun as cooking, cleaning up is an important part of the cooking process. Teach your kids young that cleaning up is a family event, and they’ll grow up knowing it’s just something you do together. They can help with washing, drying, and putting away dishes. Be creative, and don’t be afraid to make this part of the process fun!
Charcoal BBQ with a Skewer set Giveaway!!! *CLOSED*
Now for the giveaway. This giveaway is sponsored by IG Charcoal BBQ. 1 lucky winner will win 1 IG Matte Black Edition Barbeque (valued at $899.98) and 1 set of Stainless Steel Persian Style Skewers (valued at $48.99).
Here are the official rules for the giveaway.
- It will run till Sept 30th (USA only)
- The prizes are 1 grill and 1 skewer set.
- There will be 1 winner.
- The sponsor is responsible to send the gifts to the winner.
This giveaway is in no way endorsed, affiliated, or associated with Facebook, Twitter, or any other Social Media Networking Site. This Giveaway is valid to continental United States residents only. Entrants must be 18+ years of age to enter. This giveaway event starts on August 10th, 2021, at 23:45 (EST). It will run for a month and end on September 30th, 2021, at 23:45 (EST).
The winner will have 48 hours to email their information back to wasifa (at)sifascorner (dot) com, or a new winner will be drawn, you may want to put this email address as safe as it could go to the spam folder. The giveaway is not valid where prohibited!
By entering, you are authorizing us to collect the information on the form. This information is used to contact the winner and will be shared with IG Charcoal BBQ.
No purchase is necessary, Void where prohibited by law, and the number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Winners are chosen randomly by the Giveaway Tools program. If you take an entry, you must stay subscribed for the entire contest, or you will be disqualified.
We hope you can have a great time grilling with your kids by following the top tips!
And also, best of luck for the giveaway!
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