Everyone’s gotta eat, and kids who have a chance to prepare meals are more likely to try new foods. Parents can help foster a lifetime of healthy eating habits, independence, and money-saving skills by encouraging young chefs in training to pursue their interests.

The Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs
amazon $10.99Kid friendly recipes designed to suit a range of ages and cooking abilities make this bestselling book from America’s Test Kitchen an excellent choice for families with multiple children. From introductory recipes designed to teach skillful measuring and pouring, like layered yogurt parfaits, to more complex fare like omelettes, each recipe teaches foundational skills for a lifetime of cooking and eating well.

The Complete Baking Book for Young Chefs
amazon $13.59Often the first kitchen skill that interests children is baking. There are few store-bought treats that can compare with warm cookies, brownies, and other delicious home baked goodies. Baking is also a skill that’s rich in opportunities to learn science, from careful control of time and temperature, to precise measurements, to an early understanding of the chemistry involved in browning, rising, and other in-oven transformations.