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Isayah’s Gourmet Toasties

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Isayah holding two Gourmet Toasties

Cooking can be a great way to introduce your kids to new foods, new recipes, and explore the different tastes and textures as they become more independent in the kitchen. It’s also an opportunity to talk about the importance of eating different types of food to stay healthy.

Packed with delicious fillings and oozing with cheese, the toastie is the ultimate quick comfort food, whether as a snack, lunch or speedy evening meal. Preparing a toastie (or most types of meals) can also support kids to develop their skills in maths, decision making, remembering things in order, and using their hands.

Cooking with your kids offers a wide variety of opportunities to learn and grow! Here’s how to make a Gourmet Toastie and why it’s such a great way for kids to learn and practise valuable skills.

How To Make Isayah's Gourmet Toasties

Preparation time: 20mins

Cooking Time: 5mins

Makes: 4 toasties

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup grated cheese
  • 1 cup chopped ham
  • 1 tbsp parsley
  • 1 egg
  • Salt and pepper
  • 4 slices of bread
  • Butter

Method:

  1. Combine cheese, ham, parsley, egg, salt and pepper in a bowl and mix.
  2. Toast one side of the bread under the grill.
  3. Turn bread over and butter the untoasted side.
  4. Spread the mixture on the bread and put under the grill until cheese has melted
  5. Enjoy!

6 Benefits of Learning to Cook:

Learn Life Skills

Cooking is a skill that is needed to be independent. Kids can learn early on how to make their own sandwich, pour milk or heat something in the microwave. Older kids can learn to cook meals for themselves and the family. This will allow them to be more independent and also teaches kids various safety lessons too such as not to touch a hot stove or how to use a knife properly.

 

Get Moving!

Mixing, chopping, stirring, kneading – cooking requires you to get active and use your hands. This can be great for kids who want to improve their strength and coordination.

 

Boost Self-Confidence

When kids successfully complete a recipe and make a meal, they feel a sense of pride and confidence. As kids cook more their level of independence increases, this can also boost their confidence and self-esteem.

 

Increase Focus and Attention

When cooking, kids need to stay focused and pay attention to each detail or the recipe – or the meal might not turn out correctly! When cooking, kids learn quickly that they have to pay close attention if they want to eat those delicious tasting toasties at the end.

 

Make Maths Fun

When cooking a meal, kids learn various measurements such as cups, teaspoons and tablespoons. They will also be introduced to fractions like a quarter of a tablespoon, as well as use addition and subtraction to add or remove ingredients. The best part of learning maths through cooking is that you get to eat your work at the end!

 

Edible Science

Learn science through cooking! When cooking, even something simple like pancakes, kids learn what happens when certain ingredients are mixed as well as what happens when the measurements are incorrect. Heating up pancake batter also demonstrates how a liquid can be turned into a solid when you add heat.

Join a cooking class at Novita! Great for confidence building, socialising and making new friends along the way. Group members are encouraged to share conversations about food and cooking and often share in a food-related game while they wait for their meals to cook in the oven. Whether you’ve got a budding Master Chef in the kitchen or a kid who hates trying new foods – Cooking School is for you.

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