Food News with Amanda Killelea

FOOD is the new rock and roll - or so we are led to believe from the number of television cookery programmes, cookery books and personality chefs.

And these days, food issues, from genetically modified crops to the diets of the rich and famous, are front page news on a near daily basis.

But despite its importance in modern society, many children aren't automatically taught about cooking, food hygiene and safe preparation at school.

So with the summer holidays well under way teaching youngsters to cook, healthily and in safety, is a great way to keep them entertained on a wet day.

Mums and dads can take inspiration from the latest government initiative "Cooking for Kids" to get their children cooking in the kitchen.

Cooking for Kids aims to teach basic cooking skills as part of the importance of healthy eating and is a component of the Government's Healthy Schools programme, which will involve pupils and schools during the summer holiday.

Celebrity chefs such as Antony Worrall-Thompson, Lesley Waters and Paul Martin will be visiting schools around the country in an effort to help children pick up top cooking tips and pointers for a healthier way of life. Ron Parker, chairman of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Information Bureau, said: "This is an excellent initiative which will encourage children to eat a balanced diet and get into the habit of eating five portions of fruit and veg a day.

"But as the programme is limited to 400 schools, we would like to see parents taking the programme to their own kitchens and involving their children in the day-to-day preparation of meals."

Belthorn Primary School pupils Danielle and Dominique Smith have already been getting to grips with the kitchen under the watchful eye of their mum, Susan.

She said: "The girls are taught cookery at school and I've made sure they have helped out in the kitchen from a young age. "They love cooking. Danielle, who is nine, helps me with almost everything in the kitchen. She can make her own toast and coffee and knows about the dangers of hot water and knives, and she can even use the microwave and knows not to put metal things in there.

"Even though Dominique is only five she is learning and helps out with the baking."

Here are some tips to make cooking more fun and exciting for children:

Shop for colour - take children shopping so they can choose from a wide variety of colourful produce.

Sweeten them up - children love sweet things and not all puddings are bad for them. Show them how to make carrot cake or fresh fruit salad from brightly coloured and unusually shaped fruits such as kiwi fruit, berries, citrus and star fruit.

Light up their favourites - if your children love a particular food, adopt a recipe with them to make it a healthy option. For example decorate pizza bases with vegetables such as peppers, mushrooms, courgettes and aubergines.

Fill a flan - teach children to make a quiche but fill it with leafy vegetables such as spinach and broccoli or mushrooms and leeks.

Make it safe - while cooking can be fun, it also has hidden dangers. Make sure children wash their hands before preparing food, teach them about the dangers of cross-contamination and not cooking food properly.

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