Brain Bites: No Bake Pumpkin Pie in a Cup

Cooking with kids provides practical experience with many essential skills such as reading, measuring, and following directions. Getting involved in cooking encourages your child to develop fine motor skills, hand eye coordination, and even early concepts of math and science.  These opportunities show them that you take them seriously and take their abilities seriously.  

It’s a great way to reach kids and teach them about eating and cooking.  Preschoolers love to show what they can do and working in the kitchen provides opportunities to build a sense of accomplishment. If they helped assemble the ingredients, let them know that their help was important. You could name the dish after your child. Serve “Will or Eve’s Special Pie” for dinner tonight. Even if the end results are not exactly what you expected, praise their efforts. An easy introduction into the kitchen could be a simple recipe for Pumpkin Pie in a Cup:

Pumpkin Pie in a Cup

Supplies

▪      Small jars or cups

▪      Mixing bowl

▪      Whisk or large mixing spoon

Ingredients

▪      2 cups of milk

▪      1 pack of instant pudding mix

▪      1 can of pumpkin

▪      1/4 tsp of nutmeg

▪      Crushed graham crackers

▪      Whipped cream

▪      Optional: toppings (cinnamon, chocolate sprinkles, etc.)

Instructions

1. Combine the instant pudding mix and milk in the mixing bowl and stir.

2. Add the pumpkin, and nutmeg. Stir until thoroughly mixed.

3. Layer the crushed graham crackers, pumpkin pudding and whipped cream in cups until full.

4. Top it offer with whipped cream and toppings.

This fall dish is the perfect sweet treat for you to enjoy this Thanksgiving.  Cooking is fun and enjoyable for children.  They get the joy of creating a dish and eating it.  Children use all of their senses while cooking; letting them cook helps them to be more comfortable with food and can make them healthier eaters. At Ivy Kids, healthy eating is an essential part of childhood development and we’re proud to make additional improvements to our healthy nutrition program with our chef and nutrition director.  Our meals are freshly made everyday. No can goods, no packaged fruit, nothing is pre-made.  Only fresh produce, fresh meats, and whole grains. We want to ensure your child is receiving the best nutrition possible at no additional cost to you.  Come take a tour and sample our menu during lunch time, please schedule here!