Kenwood Kids in the Kitchen

Q&A with mum, nutritionist and influencer Ana Robinson

What are your tips for creating balanced meals for kids?

Keeping it as simple as possible! Kids need to be able to see all the elements on their plate and not be overloaded with too many options.

Always keeping in mind the 4 main food groups of a balanced meal is also important.

-          Protein

-          Veggies

-          Healthy Carbohydrates

-          Fats

Trying to serve an element of each of these food groups is key. Our kids might not always eat everything on their plate but exposing them to all of these food groups consistently is important.

What was the inspiration behind your three Kenwood recipes?

Creating classic and simple recipes that can easily become a staple in the family home.

As a mum, life can be so crazy and busy, finding recipes that are simple yet nutritious is so important.

The Kenwood machine comes with so many great attachments that make life so much easier in the kitchen. I was able to create some delicious lunch box recipes as well as a beautiful lasagne dish for dinner using one machine.

The Kenwood Kids in the Kitchen recipes that I've created aim to capture those treasured moments spent with loved ones and encourage kids to get creative in the kitchen. With the recipes, I wanted to include something for the lunchbox to make life easier for busy parents, something with hidden veggies (which I know every parent struggles with), and something that will beat those after school munchies. That's why I created Banana Muffins with Whipped Maple Ricotta for the lunchbox; Pork & Pumpkin Sausage Rolls for an afternoon snack; and Beef & Ricotta Lasagne with hidden veggies, for a delicious meal the whole family will enjoy.

What's your number 1 trick for getting kids to eat their veggies?

Be consistent and let them see you enjoying your veggies. It's normal for children to refuse certain foods. The key is to keep exposing them to veggies, so they become comfortable around them and feel confident enough to eat them. Studies have shown it can take over 20 times of exposure to certain foods for kids to feel comfortable enough to even take a bite.

What do your kids love most about helping you in the kitchen?

Both my kids seem to love the part when they get to stir and mix all the ingredients together. It's fascinating for them to see different ingredients come together and the texture they make from stirring them.

Beau has just learnt to crack eggs. Watching the joy on his face after he has cracked one successfully is priceless.

How does Kenwood help you in the kitchen?

I remember my mum using the Kenwood mixer when I was a little girl. It's an iconic machine that has been around for decades and is still used in so many homes. It makes life as a mum so much easier. Allowing me to create so many delicious and nutritious recipes using one machine. It takes the stress out of cooking and simplifies the process for me.

With the help of Kenwood, coming up with new recipes and cooking great-tasting dishes is a breeze. It helps to simplify the process and takes the stress out of cooking (especially if you're short on time). Kenwood makes it easy to get creative in the kitchen and it helps me with everything from cakes to sauces.

What are the benefits of involving kids in the kitchen generally?

Getting the kids in the kitchen is a great way to expose them to more foods and help with breaking some of those fussy eating habits. While cooking you can teach them about all the different ingredients and how they can help us grow and become big and strong.

Seeing how everything cooks and gets put together can help them feel more comfortable eating it once it hits the dinner table.

Knowing that they helped create the meal will make them feel so proud and more confident to eat it.

Any other advice for parents with fussy eaters?

Fussy eating is a natural progression of our children's relationship with food. It is very normal for our kids to go through this. What matters most is how we react to it. The goal is to sustain our kids healthy relationship with food. Rather than focusing on that one piece of broccoli you get in every few days through bribes (and other stressful measures), focus more on the relationship they form with broccoli (and all other veggies).

KENWOOD KIDS IN THE KITCHEN:
HELPING LITTLE CHEFS COOK UP A STORM THESE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS 

 
Iconic cooking brand, Kenwood, is encouraging families to get creative in the kitchen these school holidays, drawing on the shared experiences of baking and cooking to create new family recipes and traditions.

 
"Kenwood has been a part of kitchens since 1947, and nothing brings loved ones together like cooking. We all remember licking the bowl of the family's trusty Kenwood or baking a family recipe together. The Kenwood Kids in the Kitchen recipes aim to capture those treasured moments spent with loved ones and encourage kids to get creative in the kitchen," says Ana Robinson.

 
Understanding the challen ges of feeding kids and keeping them entertained during the school holidays, Ana has created three recipes that are designed to teach kids how to bake or cook, and will no doubt see the entire family gathered around the kitchen for a second helping!

 
"As a mum, I've struggled in the past with creating healthy yet delicious recipes for my children. We all know that kids can be fussy little eaters. However, with the help of Kenwood, coming up with new recipes and cooking great- tasting dishes is a breeze. Kenwood makes it easy to get creative in the kitchen, and the kids love helping - and taste- testing – all the delicious meals!" Ana continues.

 
With Kenwood's catch-cry of 'The joy of homemade' in mind, Ana has utilised her trusty Kenwood Mixer to whip up three recipes: Banana Muffins with Whipped Maple Ricotta for the lunchbox; Pork & Pumpkin Sausage Rolls for an afternoon snack; and Beef & Ricotta Lasagne with hidden veggies, for a delicious meal the whole family will enjoy.

 
The Kenwood Kids in the Kitchen recipes were made using one of Kenwood's most iconic products, along with its most popular attachments:

 
Titanium Chef Baker XL Silver, RRP $1,299.00
Precise baking starts here. Baking is an uninterrupted pleasure with direct-to-bowl weighing, an extra baking bowl and a delicate fold function for featherlight meringues and mousses. The machine comes with Easy Weigh Scales, a Nesting Bowl Duo, Smart Power Control, and the Lightest Touch (with a unique LightLift head that makes easy work of adding ingredients to your mix).

 
Kenwood Food Processor Attachment, RRP $229.00
Serve expert stir-fries, sauces, and dips with the 1.2L Food Processor, which includes an easy-to-clean, shatterproof and dishwasher-safe Tritan™ bowl, a knife blade, and a variety of discs, depending on whether you want to grate, slice, shred or cop!

Thermoresist Glass Blender Attachment, RRP $149.00
Blend hot or cold ingredients for soups or smoothies. The 1.6L ThermoResist Glass Blender can blend soup straight from the freezer without the risk of clouding or shattering and helps achieve an even smoother consistency of thick mixture with the accompanying stir stick.

 
Food Mincer Attachment, RRP $199.00
The multi -use food mincer can be used in your everyday cooking for versatile mixing of sau sages, meatballs, and vegetarian dishes. Create with ease and control and know exactly what is going into your dishes.

 
Lasagne Roller Attachment, RRP $199.00
Turn your soft, silky pasta dough into the thinnest sheets ready for cooking, cutting, effortlessly guided through the lasagne roller.

 
For more recipes from Kenwood or to find out more about the latest range of Kenwood products, visit www.kenwoodworld.com/en-au.
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