Thanksgiving fun for kids- kids can help cook and learn about seasonal foods

Get kids involved in Thanksgiving planning and cooking

Most young children enjoy being a 'helper' and its a fun way to spend time together. They also enjoy cooking and will be proud to share the healthy dish they helped prepare for Thanksgiving.

As you prepare for Thanksgiving you can use this time to get kids involved and teach them about new foods and healthy eating.

You can teach them about the food groups with our colorful food group printable, show them the new My Plate , or read about healthy foods that were available to the early American settlers.

It can also be fun to discuss the seasonal and local food that was eaten at the first Thanksgiving, print some of our Thanksgiving nutrition activity pages, and for a special treat take an interactive online Plimouth Plantation tour and learn about the very first Thanksgiving together!

There are plenty of fun ways to get kids involved with preparation and cooking for Thanksgiving

Kids can:

• Help come up with the menu
• Find items on the grocery list
• Find different colored seasonal vegetables
• Wash vegetables and fruits
• Help measure and mix ingredients or cook a recipe together
• Add fresh fruits and vegetables to platters
• Help set the table
• Make cute decorations- try this idea: trace your child's hand on colored paper and help them write notes of thanks to each guest, hang the colored hands with ribbon or yarn on chairs.
• Fun bilingual Thanksgiving activities for kids
• See our Kids Cooking printables and visit The Kids Cook Monday for great recipes to make with kids!

Guide to Cooking with Kids (Spanish)

Food Groups Grocery List (Spanish)

Kids Cooking Vocabulary (Spanish)

Food Safety Tips for Kids (Spanish)

You may also be interested in:

A Little About Portion Control- from our healthy family food guide

Myth or Fact Thanksgiving Quiz- from Plimoth Plantation

Thanksgiving Food History - We're Missing the Seafood by Cape Cod Today

Meatless Monday Thanksgiving Project- Great main course vegetarian recipes, vegetables side dishes, and desserts!

Food List source: Newton KS Public Schools Wayback Machine Archives