A few years ago, I connected with Katie Kimball, the founder of Kitchen Stewardship and creator of the Kids Cook Real Food eCourse. I was writing a story for one of my clients, FIRST for Women magazine, about women who have food-based businesses and she pitched me her story.
She explained that when her oldest son had to do a how-to demonstration in school and he chose to make guacamole, she realized it was the only food she had ever taught him how to make.
Katie had no professional experience as a chef but she was passionate about teaching kids how to eat real food, avoid processed foods, and teach them a life skill that would improve their lives forever.
At that point, I had been blogging for about a year, and not only was it clear that our missions aligned, but I was so passionate about all the work she was doing that I wanted to learn more.
While my kids cook with me a lot, this summer, I decided to bring them in to try Katie’s Kids Cook Real Food eCourse—here’s my honest review.
In this blog post, I’ll be covering…
- What is the Kids Cook Real Food eCourse?
- What ages the course is designed for, what your kids will learn, and what you’ll get.
- My honest review of the course and why my kids loved it.
But first, let’s talk about why teaching kids how to cook is so important for them and your entire family.
BENEFITS OF KIDS’ COOKING CLASSES
Teaching kids how to cook and eat real food is more important than ever especially because 1/3 of children are overweight or obese and rates show no signs of slowing down.
Rates of type-2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease—conditions previously only see in adults—are on the rise too.
Of course, whether your kids are overweight or stick thin, teaching them how to cook is one of the best things you can do for their health.
Studies show eating real food can help boost gut health and children’s immunity, improve sleep, prevent depression and anxiety, and may improve symptoms of ADHD.
Cooking with your kids is a great way to encourage them—and empower them— to make healthy food choices, eat and prepare healthy meals, and have healthy eating habits that will last a lifetime.
In fact, a March 2019 study in the journal BMC Nutrition found that when kids felt confident in their cooking skills, they ate more fruits and vegetables and had healthier diets overall.
Another study showed that cooking classes for kids is associated with an increased consumption for fruits, vegetables and fiber, a greater willingness to try new foods, and more confidence in their ability to prepare foods.
Teaching kids how to cook also teaches math concepts, sparks creativity and builds strong family bonds.
WHAT IS THE KIDS COOK REAL FOOD ECOURSE?
If you have picky eaters (who doesn’t, right?!), struggle to get your kids to eat their vegetables and try new foods, and you want mealtimes to be less of a struggle and more enjoyable, getting your kids in the kitchen is one of the most effective ways to turn your finicky eaters into serious foodies.
If you’re trying to cut down on processed foods and get your kids to eat more real, whole foods, then the Kids Cook Real Food eCourse is for you.
But what if you don’t know your way around the kitchen or don’t cook a lot?
Or maybe you have some basic cooking skills but you need a boost of confidence yourself to teach your kids how to cook.
Fortunately, the Kids Cook Real Food eCourse is designed for any parent, whether you can whip up a 5-course dinner in no time at all, or the only thing you know how to do is boil water for pasta.
This course is designed to build connection, confidence, and creativity in the kitchen for both you and your kids.
Here are some quick details about the course:
- 8 weeks of classes; 5 videos each
- 3 age levels (see below)
- All class levels work to make one meal or snack.
- 30+ basic cooking skills
- 45+ videos including bonuses like Foundations 101 videos and PDFs
- 250+ pages of course material
- A recipe eBooklet with kid-friendly recipes.
- Substitutions for kids with food allergies and/or dietary restrictions.
- 2 Membership levels; The VIP level has additional bonuses, like a hospitality class, extension recipe eBooklet, exclusive Facebook support group, full-length recipe eBooks, and more.
- Printable supply and grocery shopping lists
- Troubleshooting FAQs and resources
- 30-day money-back guarantee
The course’s units are organized by:
Introduction to the class and what you need to know to prepare.
Adult Guide videos and PDFs: review these before you work on the modules with your kids. In this section, Katie talks about the course’s basic philosophy, the easy 3-step teaching process, tips for working with multiple age groups, and how to encourage kids and make the class a positive experience for everyone.
All Kid videos are for all ages to watch. These include lessons on getting started in the kitchen and how to wash produce, for example.
Foundations 101 videos for each level teach kids about measuring and stirring.
Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced levels each include 8 videos lesson plans and recipes.
Additionally, each level includes a “daily nugget” which are cooking phrases for kids to learn about real food.
You can also print out the daily nugget flashcard so you can talk about them at the dinner table or throughout the week.
At the end of each lesson, there are also extension recipes so your kids can get more practice and further sharpen their skills throughout the week.
WHAT AGES ARE THESE KIDS’ COOKING CLASSES FOR?
If you’re unsure if the Kids Cook Real Food eCourse is appropriate for your kids’ ages, the good news is that it’s designed for all ages and skill levels.
In fact, Katie even provides a curriculum map, that helps you check off the skills your kids already have so you can figure out what level is right for them.
The beginner level, which is typically for kids ages 2 to 5, is about connection and encouraging you and your kids to spend quality time together in the kitchen.
The intermediate level, which is for kids 6 and 7, is designed to build confidence and help you to gain trust with them with tasks like cutting with a sharp knife or using a hot stove.
The advanced level lessons, which are for kids 7 and up (teens included!), give kids the knowledge and skills they need to be creative in the kitchen.
WHAT COOKING SKILLS WILL MY KIDS LEARN?
When it comes to kids’ cooking classes, you want to make sure the one you purchase is comprehensive, age-appropriate and will guide you every step of the way.
The Kids Cook Real Food eCourse does just that and more—here’s what your kids will learn.
BEGINNER
- Carrying glass dishes to serve
- Spreading
- Peeling vegetables
- Slicing with a dull knife
- Dull knife cross hatch pattern
- Measuring ingredients using spoons and cups
- Blending spice mixes
- Soaking dry beans
- Careful pouring
- Making a salad
- Working with dough
- Peeling hard-boiled eggs
INTERMEDIATE
- Setting the table
- Making homemade salad dressings
- Introduction to sharp knives
- Cracking eggs
- Mixing simple recipes independently
- Cooking rice
- Stovetop safety
- Flipping pancakes
- Rolling dough
- Browning ground beef
ADVANCED
- Sautéing vegetables
- Using a small appliance such as a food processor
- Sharp knife skills, levels 1-4
- Crushing garlic
- Making bechamele sauce —yum!
- Oven safety
- Cooking eggs
- Steaming vegetables
- Cooking dry beans
- Washing the table
WHAT I LOVED ABOUT KIDS COOK REAL FOOD
There are so many reasons why I loved Katie’s course.
For starters, there’s so much information! Each class includes both videos and written materials so you can choose either one you prefer.
If you like having hard copies but you don’t want to print everything, you can also purchase the cooking class curriculum and the book of recipes.
There are also a ton of video tours to help you navigate the course and membership area, get started, train your kids in the kitchen, cope with the mess, have patience, and teach the lessons.
As a former teacher herself, Katie talks about developmental readiness skills and provides ways for you to re-direct your kids in the kitchen with positive, encouraging reminders to keep them safe and focused on the task at hand
She also offers a ton of information about teaching kids about food safety and good habits like washing your hands, pulling your hair up and keeping your hands away from your face, as well as tips for overcoming challenges, and ways to keep kids motivated and having fun.
Since Katie has kids in the kitchen with her while she teaches, the language is kid-friendly but there’s no fluff: there’s a wealth of information and repetition of the key kitchen and cooking terms and the difference between real and processed foods.
Another thing I loved about the course is that you won’t feel intimidated at all.
Katie is so relatable and down to earth—like one of your besties.
As you go through the modules, you’ll feel like she’s in the kitchen with you, guiding you every step of the way.
If you meal plan or are a type-A like me, you’ll love how easy Katie makes it to be prepared by having list of food and supplies for each class and a grocery list for the next class all in one place.
Yet if you don’t have the same vegetables she uses in the videos, you can easily use substitutions.
The course has everything you need to demonstrate, guide and coach your kids to cooking independence and everything you need to be successful.
ARE THE RECIPES KID-FRIENDLY?
The course also has a ton of kid-friendly recipes your kids will love to make and eat, such as:
- Ants on a log
- Homemade dinner rolls
- Homemade pizza
- Veggie Bean Burritos
- Tex Mex White Bean Dip
- Simple salads
- Egg fried rice
- Spaghetti squash lasagna
- Chickpea wraps
MY KIDS MADE A RECIPE TOTALLY ON THEIR OWN
My kids and I love cooking together, but since they’re still in elementary school, they need me to help and supervise.
When I told them that we were going to do one of the lessons in Katie’s course, and it was to make a recipe independently, however, they were surprised but at the same time, so excited.
They had to read the recipe in its entirety, ask questions, pull out the ingredients and organize them, and then measure, stir, and pour.
While I’m the one who usually reads the recipe and tells them what to do next, they were on their own to figure it out, while I stood nearby for support.
Not only did they learn cooking skills, but they learned how to be independent and work together in the kitchen.
While they may have disagreed a bit, surprisingly, they didn’t fight and loved every minute of the process.
WHY THE COURSE MAY NOT BE RIGHT FOR YOU
If you went to culinary school or work as a professional chef, you probably know enough about teaching kids how to cook so you don’t need this course.
Also, if you’re looking for a course that you can set your kids up with on their own, this isn’t the right one.
The course is designed for parents to empower their kids with the tools they need to be confident, independent and creative and build strong family bonds in the kitchen.
WHO IS KATIE KIMBALL?
Katie Kimball is a mom of 4 from Michigan, former elementary school teacher, and founder of KitchenStewardship.com.
Busy and stressed out, she was desperate for ways to stop feeling so overwhelmed and spend time enjoying her children.
Although she knew bringing her kids in the kitchen would slow her down and create some mess, she didn’t want to send them off to college without knowing how to prepare healthy meals—and be forced to rely on frozen dinners and processed foods.
In 2016, she launched the Kids Cook Real Food eCourse and continues to teach thousands of families her easy strategies and inspire kids with a love for cooking.
Learn more about Katie in this video:
HOW MUCH DOES THE KIDS COOK REAL FOOD E-COURSE COST?
There are two options:
VIP Level: $149.95 this is a good option if you have more than one child, or you want your kids to have access to more advanced lessons as they gain more skills and get older. The VIP level also grants you lifetime access, an exclusive Facebook support group, a special hospitality class and tons of extras.
One level: $49.95: 12 months only, no extras.
THE BOTTOM LINE
If you’re looking for an easy—yet comprehensive kids’ cooking class— that will guide you every step of the way, empower your kids to make healthy food choices, help them become confident, independent, and creative in the kitchen, allow your family to eat more real food, and build strong family bonds, I recommend the Kids Cook Real Food eCourse.
You can learn more about the course and sign up here.
Have questions? Leave me a comment or send me an email and I’ll get you the information you need.
