How to Make a Good Meal for Your Family (for Kids)

Last Updated: December 6, 2021 References

So you want to prepare a tasty meal for your family to enjoy. To get you started, here are a few basic steps! One or more courses, such as a main course and a dessert, can make up a meal. This article will teach you how to prepare and cook a delicious dinner for your family, as well as how to keep yourself safe in the kitchen.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:
Kitchen Safety

1
Wash your hands. Hands are frequently used to spread germs. Hand washing is essential for food safety and should be completed before handling any food or appliance. Simply recall what you've been touching and inquire if you'd like it in their food. Before cooking, wash your hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds.^{[1]
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2
Educate yourself about cross-contamination. When cooking, do not cross contaminate. This means, for example, cutting meat, then chopping vegetables. This might seem okay to do since all the food is going into the same pot, but this can cause serious germs such as e-coli when the food is eaten.^{[2]
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- When handling meat, wear a pair of disposable gloves. Don't touch anything else with these gloves on. Once your finished handling the meat, throw the gloves away.
3
Get adult permission. Always ask an adult before cooking anything--especially before using appliances, such as the oven and stove. This might seem obvious, but as you cook more often, you might get more comfortable and independent in the kitchen, you may forget to ask at times.^{[3]
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4
Use oven-mitts. Attempting to handle hot plates, pots, or appliances can result in burns or food spillage. Use oven mitts, or a potholder to take items out of the oven.^{[4]
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- Don't use towels to take things out of the oven. Since ovens are often at very high temperatures, the towel could catch on fire from just touching the oven rack.
5
Clean as you go. Cleaning spills and messes as you go will prevent slips and falls. Plus, it makes it easier to have a clean kitchen at the end. Remember Your ABCs: 'Always Be Cleaning'.^{[5]
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- This means putting away seasonings and ingredients where you got them from, instead of leaving them out and having more to clean later on.
6
Understand other basics of being in the kitchen.
- Avoid burns.
- Don't forget to wash your hands.
- Use different chopping boards for raw meat, fruits, and vegetables.
- Handle hot dishes with care.
- Have a fire extinguisher and know how to use it.
- Don't place food on the stove/in the microwave and leave. Basically, keep an eye on whatever you're cooking.
- Always have an adult near to help if an emergency occurs or help is needed.
- Tie back long hair and never wear loose clothing around the stove.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:
Cooking

1
Think about appliances and ingredients. A salad may eliminate the need for the stove, which may be safer for some children. Before choosing a meal to prepare, make sure you have all of the necessary equipment and ingredients. Otherwise, you might find yourself halfway through the salad without a tomato.^{[6]
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2
Choose a meal to prepare and prepare a recipe for it. Find an easy recipe you'd like to make in one of your parent's cookbooks or on the internet. Make sure it isn't too challenging. You may require assistance from your parents. There are numerous recipes and how-to articles available on the internet. If you're new to cooking, try looking up recipes on YouTube; it'll help you see how all the steps are done and how everything should look during the cooking process. You can also inquire about permission. Here are some meal ideas:^{[7]
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- A Caesar, chicken salad, or a simple salad
- Tortilla pizza
- Spaghetti or pasta
- A soup or stew
- Grilled cheese sandwich
- (Whole wheat) pizza bagels
3
Ensure that your meal is well-balanced. Cook a meal that includes a variety of foods rather than just starchy foods, meat, or vegetables; your family will enjoy a meal that includes a variety of foods! Protein, carbohydrates, vegetables, and fat are the four main components of a well-balanced meal.^{[8]
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- Divide your dish into equal parts lean protein, complex carbohydrates, and fibrous vegetables to make a healthy meal.
4
Understand the distinctions between tsp and tbsp. When measuring salt, pepper, or any other spice, it can be quite large. If you use too much, your meal may be ruined. "tsp" stands for teaspoon, and "tbsp" stands for tablespoon. The main difference between the two spoons is their size. In some recipes, especially those found online, a tablespoon is written with a capital T and a teaspoon is written with a lower case t.
5
Follow the meal's instructions to the letter. Before you start, read through all of the ingredients and instructions to ensure that you understand everything and that you don't make a mistake that will ruin your meal. Remember that you are more important than the meal, so if you are hesitant to touch a hot pot or the oven, don't be afraid to ask a parent/guardian for help. Alternatively, if you're an older child, conduct internet searches to gain a better understanding of concepts. ^{[9]
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- If you notice that the food is not looking as it should while preparing the dish, consult with someone who is familiar with the situation, or taste a little and either remove it from the heat if it tastes cooked, or leave it on for a little longer if it tastes raw.
6
Prepare the ingredients ahead of time. If you're not sure how long the cooking will take, prepare the ingredients ahead of time, such as vegetables, spices, and oil. Once the heat is turned on, the ingredients must be ready; otherwise, the power can be left on until the ingredients are washed, peeled, chopped, and so on. You also don't want to burn any of the ingredients that are already on the heat source.^{[10]
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- If you're making a dish that calls for spices to be added to hot oil, make sure they don't sit there for too long. Allowing it to cook until it turns dark brown or black is not a good idea because it indicates that it has been burned. If you don't want it to burn, add the next ingredient or some water. If you're cooking with a lot of water, be cautious.
7
Keep an option if you know how to prepare a specific dish but haven't done so yet. This is useful just in case something goes wrong with what you're planning.^{[11]
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- When potatoes are cooked after boiling or simply fried until brown, they are delicious. If you're in a pinch, it might work as a quick fix.
- Make a straightforward dessert. Make a fruit salad by chopping up a few fruits. It's nutritious, and the more colorful the fruit bowl, the more nutritious it will be. You can garnish with mint leaves, lemon juice, or chocolate sauce, depending on what you have on hand.
8
If you're not sure how long the cooking will take, prepare the ingredients ahead of time, such as vegetables, spices, and oil. Once the heat is turned on, the ingredients must be ready; otherwise, the power can be left on until the ingredients are washed, peeled, chopped, and so on. You also don't want to burn any of the ingredients that are already on the heat source.^{[12]
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- If you're making a dish that calls for spices to be added to hot oil, make sure they don't sit there for too long. Allowing it to cook until it turns dark brown or black is not a good idea because it indicates that it has been burned. If you don't want it to burn, add the next ingredient or some water. If you're cooking with a lot of water, be cautious.
9
After you've finished cooking, proudly serve your family the meal and inquire about their opinions. They will most likely appreciate it and thank you for being so considerate! When food is prepared by someone else, it always tastes better.^{[13]
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Community Q&A

Question

What do I do if I need help to do this for my parents, but I'm the oldest child?

Community Answer

You can call a family member or friend if you have one that's older, or you could use resources like cookbooks and YouTube cooking channels to guide you. Just be careful!
Question

What if I can't find anything to cook?

Community Answer

You can find some great options online, or watch cooking shows to get ideas.

Warnings

If you are using an oven always get an adult to help, even if you want it to be a surprise, you could burn yourself

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Helpful 5 Not Helpful 3

Make you have all the proper ingredients before you start!

You should ask your family if they like all of the ingredients in the recipe before making it. You don't want to end up with a meal nobody likes!

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Helpful 2 Not Helpful 2
You may get burned by the oven or cut by a knife, so be careful!

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Acknowledge any allergies of family members before serving. You do not want to rush anyone to the emergency room for a dish you wanted to be a happy dinner night.

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Make sure you turn off the stove after you done.

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Try having parent, guardian, older sibling or older household member to help you.

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