Food and Cooking for Kids
Food connects us to farms, cultures, history and science. These lessons explore where our food comes from, how bread and chocolate are made, what fermentation does, how to read labels and stay safe in the kitchen, with ideas to try at home under adult supervision.
All 54 Food and Cooking topics
Where Food Comes From
Our food comes from plants and animals.
From Farm to Table
Food travels from farms to factories or markets, then to shops and finally your table.
Bread Making
Bread is made from flour, water, yeast and salt.
Dairy Foods
Dairy foods like milk, cheese, butter and yoghurt come from animal milk.
Fruits
Fruits grow from flowers and contain seeds.
Vegetables
Vegetables can be roots (carrots), leaves (spinach), flowers (broccoli) or stems (celery).
Spices
Spices come from seeds, roots, bark or fruits of plants, like pepper, cinnamon, turmeric and cumin.
Rice Around the World
Rice is a staple food for billions of people.
Pasta and Noodles
Pasta from Italy and noodles from Asia are made from flour dough.
Chocolate
Chocolate is made from cacao beans that are fermented, dried, roasted and ground.
Tea
Tea is made from the leaves of the tea plant.
Honey
Bees make honey from flower nectar and store it in honeycomb.
Eggs
Eggs are packed with protein and nutrients.
Fish and Seafood
Fish and seafood give protein and healthy fats called omega-3, which are good for the brain and heart.
Food Safety
Wash hands before cooking, keep raw meat away from other foods, cook food thoroughly and store leftovers in the fridge.
Reading Food Labels
Food labels list ingredients from most to least, plus nutrition facts like energy, sugar, salt and fat.
Fermentation
Fermentation is when tiny organisms such as bacteria or yeast change food.
Ways of Cooking
Foods can be boiled, steamed, baked, fried or grilled.
Measuring Ingredients
Cooking and baking need accurate measuring with scales, cups and spoons.
Kitchen Safety
In the kitchen, ask an adult before using knives or hot stoves, turn pot handles inward, use oven gloves and wipe up spills quickly.
Street Food
Street food is cooked and sold at stalls and carts.
Festival Foods
Festivals have special foods: sweets at Diwali, mooncakes at Mid-Autumn Festival, turkey at Thanksgiving and dates at Ramadan iftar.
Vegetarian Diets
Vegetarians don't eat meat.
The History of Pizza
Pizza began in Naples, Italy, as a simple flatbread with toppings.
Food Waste
About one third of the world's food is wasted.
Sushi
Sushi is a Japanese dish made with vinegared rice combined with fish, vegetables or other fillings.
Curry
Curry is a dish that uses a sauce made from spices, herbs and often vegetables, meat or lentils.
Tacos
A taco is a folded or rolled tortilla filled with ingredients such as meat, beans, vegetables and salsa.
Dumplings
Dumplings are small parcels of dough wrapped around a filling and then boiled, steamed or fried.
Bagels
A bagel is a round bread roll with a hole in the middle.
Croissants
A croissant is a flaky pastry made from layers of dough and butter, folded many times before baking.
Porridge
Porridge is a warm dish made by cooking oats or other grains in water or milk.
Soup
Soup is a liquid food made by cooking ingredients such as vegetables, meat or beans in water or stock.
Salad
A salad is a dish of mixed raw or cooked vegetables, often served cold.
Pickles
Pickles are vegetables or fruit preserved in vinegar or brine, which gives them a sharp, tangy flavour.
Yoghurt
Yoghurt is made by fermenting milk with helpful bacteria.
Cheese Making
Cheese is made by coagulating milk, separating the solid curds from the liquid whey and then ageing the curds.
Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds are small, nutritious foods that provide healthy fats, protein and fibre.
Beans and Lentils
Beans and lentils are plant foods rich in protein and fibre.
Potatoes
Potatoes are a starchy vegetable that grow underground.
Corn
Corn, also called maize, is a cereal grain that grows on tall plants.
Oats
Oats are a cereal grain that is rich in fibre and often eaten as porridge or in muesli.
Coconut
A coconut is the large seed of the coconut palm, with a hard shell, white flesh and a liquid inside.
Mangoes
Mangoes are sweet tropical fruits with a large stone in the middle.
Apples
Apples are crunchy fruits that grow on trees and come in many colours and flavours.
Bananas
Bananas are long, sweet fruits that grow in large bunches on tropical plants.
Berries
Berries are small, juicy fruits such as blueberries, raspberries and strawberries.
Citrus Fruit
Citrus fruits, such as oranges, lemons and limes, have a thick peel and juicy segments.
Herbs
Herbs are the leaves or stems of plants used to flavour food.
Garlic and Onions
Garlic and onions are members of the allium family of plants.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is a healthy oil pressed from olives.
Salt
Salt is a mineral made of sodium and chlorine.
Sugar Cane
Sugar cane is a tall grass whose stalks contain sweet juice.
Ice Cream
Ice cream is a frozen dessert made from milk or cream, sugar and flavourings.
Frequently asked questions about Food and Cooking
Can children help with cooking?
Yes. Children can wash vegetables, measure ingredients, stir, spread and mix safely with an adult supervising. Cooking builds maths, reading and independence.
How can I cook more healthily?
Use plenty of vegetables and fruit, choose wholegrain carbohydrates, pick lean proteins, steam or bake instead of frying and limit sugar and salt.
Why do we need food safety rules?
Germs can grow quickly in food that is not handled, stored or cooked correctly. Good hygiene protects everyone from food poisoning.