15 Fun Food Ideas Your Kids Can Make on Their Own
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If your kids are old enough to boast entry-level kitchen skills, give them a challenge that's a step (or two) beyond slice-and-bake cookies. These 15 easy recipes were all selected with young chefs in mind, and some don't even require the oven or stove. From grab-and-go snacks to full-on family dinner ideas, there's plenty to choose from, and there's no better time than the start of a new school year to offer up some new responsibilities. Let the culinary capers begin! Source: Thinkstock
Cheesy Chicken Taquitos
The most fun part about these cheesy chicken taquitos from Weelicious's Catherine McCord? Rolling 'em up! Source: Weelicious
Whole-Wheat Pizza Hand Pockets
Take a break from delivery with these healthier alternatives. Kids will love rolling and shaping their own pizza pockets. Source: Food Network Kitchen
Creamy Chicken Pasta
You won't believe how quickly this riff on creamy chicken alfredo comes together (or that your kids can do it all on their own!). Source: Flickr user mealmakeovermoms
Easy Pizza Roll
Blogger Kim of Makin' It Mo' Better shares the pizza roll recipe that her 10-year-old daughter has mastered. Source: Flickr user reid-bee
Summer Quinoa Fruit Salad
Here's one that even little kids can master — just cook up a batch of quinoa in advance and let them combine the ingredients. Paired with yogurt and fruit, the superfood makes for a healthy and wholesome Summer fruit salad. Source: NurturMe
Five-Ingredient Pasta Salad
Everything they need to make Gimme Some Oven's simple salad is probably already in your pantry and fridge. Source: Gimme Some Oven
Roasted Turkey and Basil Cream Cheese Pinwheel Sandwiches
They'll wow the rest of the lunchroom crowd with these roasted turkey and basil cream cheese pinwheel sandwiches. They're as much fun to make as they are to eat. Source: Food Network Kitchen
Broccoli Crunch Salad
Amanda Haas's broccoli crunch salad requires just two steps — steaming the broccoli, and mixing it all up! Source: Real Family Food
Puffed Rice Snowballs
If they like Rice Krispies treats, they'll love Food Network Kitchen's puffed rice snowballs. Parents will love that flaxseeds and sunflower seeds find a place alongside the mini marshmallows! Source: Food Network Kitchen
Oatmeal Cookie Smoothie
Food Network Kitchen's oatmeal cookie smoothie makes a great on-the-go snack for those busy days of being back in school. Source: Food Network Kitchen
Pasta Salad Skewers
Kids love food-on-a-stick. These pasta salad skewers are light and easy to make (added bonus if you can use basil from a backyard herb garden!). Source: Cooking With My Kid
No-Bake Granola Bars
Kids can stir, measure, mix, and press these no-bake granola bars into shape. Just pop the chewy bars — full of toasted oats, nuts, coconut, raisins, cinnamon, and molasses — into the fridge for a bit to let them set, and you'll be snacking healthfully in no time. Source: Kitchen Simplicity
Awesome Asian Salad
Skip the oven! The Little Earthlings Blog's Asian salad is fun for kids to put together and makes a great Summer lunch or light dinner. Source: Flickr user merelymel
Tangy Shrimp and Mango Salad
Switch things up tonight with a light, fresh shrimp and mango salad — your kids will love whisking the dressing together and tossing in colorful slices of fruit. Source: Flickr user s-awan
Healthy Chicken Pot Popovers
Chicken pot pie gets a bad rap for its creamy, rich composition. But these lightened-up chicken pot popovers are a kid-friendly and grown-up-friendly spin on the old-school classic. Source: Food Network Kitchen