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Cooking with your kids might seem like more trouble than it's worth, but there are some great benefits to letting those little hands help out. First of all, kids are more likely to eat food they helped prepare. In addition, even though the mess factor might be high and the job might take a little bit longer, you're doing your kids a great service. You're working on life skills they'll need forever -- reading recipes, the math involved in measuring, the ability to understand the cooking process, managing a pantry, and learning to take care of themselves.
If you've never cooked with your kids before, start small. A basic recipe is best, and slip it into a plastic sheet protector for spill-proof cleanup. Here are three great recipes to try -- together they make a kid-friendly meal. Each instruction is labeled for either mom or kids to do.