Modern-day mini chefs

Throughout this blog I've spoken about childhood memories regarding food, or how food related to children in the past. I think in modern society, children are becoming more and more involved in food, and increasingly encouraged to cook and be creative with food. This view is mainly from evidence in the media, such as a surge in young people's cooking shows, and the expansion of the internet providing a vast range of websites focused on children's cooking.

'Junior Ready Steady Cook' 

A special edition rather than a full series, 'Junior Ready Steady Cook' shows children with a passion for food, creating a meal from a small collection of ingredients purchased within a fixed budget. The show positively encourages children to spend less, and shows that full meals can be made from limited ingredients if they are imaginative and creative.
          

 'Junior Masterchef'

A much more extensive and competitive competition, 'Junior Masterchef' shows "Young hopefuls battle it out to become the best cook in the country" (as described by the BBC). The series demonstrates the discipline required in the adult world of cheffing, and shows the pressure involved in a career of professional cooking.
I've been unable to find video footage from a U.K version, but here is the promo for the Australian series.

 

The children show as much passion and flare as their adult counterparts, and they prove that a talent within cooking doesn't have to come with age. As one of the young contestants states, "People say that you have to be big to do good things but, you don't have to", and they certainly prove it!

Websites dedicated to making cooking fun

I have referenced some other blogs within this one which focus on cooking or eating with children, but there is a vast array of websites available which provide child friendly recipes, ideas for keeping cooking fun, and stores that sell cooking accessories and tools aimed at a child audience.

 http://littlechef-bigchef.co.uk/     'Littlechef-bigchef' sells cooking wear, equipment, and fun cooking ideas. The website aims to bring parents and children together to make cooking fun from an early age.

http://kidscooking-parties.co.uk/    'Kids cooking parties' provides parties with a cooking theme for children, they run a nursery cooking club, and suggest parents hold after school cooking parties for their children. Interestingly, they vow to use only vegetarian ingredients. It seems a brilliant idea to bring children together socially through cooking and make it fun, and also to show children that vegetarian cooking and food is just as good as meat.