Food and Cooking for Kids
Food connects us to farms, cultures, history and science. These lessons explore where our food comes from, how bread and chocolate are made, what fermentation does, how to read labels and stay safe in the kitchen, with ideas to try at home under adult supervision.
All 113 Food and Cooking topics
Where Food Comes From
Our food comes from plants and animals.
From Farm to Table
Food travels from farms to factories or markets, then to shops and finally your table.
Bread Making
Bread is made from flour, water, yeast and salt.
Dairy Foods
Dairy foods like milk, cheese, butter and yoghurt come from animal milk.
Fruits
Fruits grow from flowers and contain seeds.
Vegetables
Vegetables can be roots (carrots), leaves (spinach), flowers (broccoli) or stems (celery).
Spices
Spices come from seeds, roots, bark or fruits of plants, like pepper, cinnamon, turmeric and cumin.
Rice Around the World
Rice is a staple food for billions of people.
Pasta and Noodles
Pasta from Italy and noodles from Asia are made from flour dough.
Chocolate
Chocolate is made from cacao beans that are fermented, dried, roasted and ground.
Tea
Tea is made from the leaves of the tea plant.
Honey
Bees make honey from flower nectar and store it in honeycomb.
Eggs
Eggs are packed with protein and nutrients.
Fish and Seafood
Fish and seafood give protein and healthy fats called omega-3, which are good for the brain and heart.
Food Safety
Wash hands before cooking, keep raw meat away from other foods, cook food thoroughly and store leftovers in the fridge.
Reading Food Labels
Food labels list ingredients from most to least, plus nutrition facts like energy, sugar, salt and fat.
Fermentation
Fermentation is when tiny organisms such as bacteria or yeast change food.
Ways of Cooking
Foods can be boiled, steamed, baked, fried or grilled.
Measuring Ingredients
Cooking and baking need accurate measuring with scales, cups and spoons.
Kitchen Safety
In the kitchen, ask an adult before using knives or hot stoves, turn pot handles inward, use oven gloves and wipe up spills quickly.
Street Food
Street food is cooked and sold at stalls and carts.
Festival Foods
Festivals have special foods: sweets at Diwali, mooncakes at Mid-Autumn Festival, turkey at Thanksgiving and dates at Ramadan iftar.
Vegetarian Diets
Vegetarians don't eat meat.
The History of Pizza
Pizza began in Naples, Italy, as a simple flatbread with toppings.
Food Waste
About one third of the world's food is wasted.
Sushi
Sushi is a Japanese dish made with vinegared rice combined with fish, vegetables or other fillings.
Curry
Curry is a dish that uses a sauce made from spices, herbs and often vegetables, meat or lentils.
Tacos
A taco is a folded or rolled tortilla filled with ingredients such as meat, beans, vegetables and salsa.
Dumplings
Dumplings are small parcels of dough wrapped around a filling and then boiled, steamed or fried.
Bagels
A bagel is a round bread roll with a hole in the middle.
Croissants
A croissant is a flaky pastry made from layers of dough and butter, folded many times before baking.
Porridge
Porridge is a warm dish made by cooking oats or other grains in water or milk.
Soup
Soup is a liquid food made by cooking ingredients such as vegetables, meat or beans in water or stock.
Salad
A salad is a dish of mixed raw or cooked vegetables, often served cold.
Pickles
Pickles are vegetables or fruit preserved in vinegar or brine, which gives them a sharp, tangy flavour.
Yoghurt
Yoghurt is made by fermenting milk with helpful bacteria.
Cheese Making
Cheese is made by coagulating milk, separating the solid curds from the liquid whey and then ageing the curds.
Nuts and Seeds
Nuts and seeds are small, nutritious foods that provide healthy fats, protein and fibre.
Beans and Lentils
Beans and lentils are plant foods rich in protein and fibre.
Potatoes
Potatoes are a starchy vegetable that grow underground.
Corn
Corn, also called maize, is a cereal grain that grows on tall plants.
Oats
Oats are a cereal grain that is rich in fibre and often eaten as porridge or in muesli.
Coconut
A coconut is the large seed of the coconut palm, with a hard shell, white flesh and a liquid inside.
Mangoes
Mangoes are sweet tropical fruits with a large stone in the middle.
Apples
Apples are crunchy fruits that grow on trees and come in many colours and flavours.
Bananas
Bananas are long, sweet fruits that grow in large bunches on tropical plants.
Berries
Berries are small, juicy fruits such as blueberries, raspberries and strawberries.
Citrus Fruit
Citrus fruits, such as oranges, lemons and limes, have a thick peel and juicy segments.
Herbs
Herbs are the leaves or stems of plants used to flavour food.
Garlic and Onions
Garlic and onions are members of the allium family of plants.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is a healthy oil pressed from olives.
Salt
Salt is a mineral made of sodium and chlorine.
Sugar Cane
Sugar cane is a tall grass whose stalks contain sweet juice.
Ice Cream
Ice cream is a frozen dessert made from milk or cream, sugar and flavourings.
Ripening Fruit
Fruit ripens when it changes from firm and sour to soft and sweet.
Bread Around the World
Bread is made in many countries using different flours and methods.
Smoothies
A smoothie is a drink made by blending fruit, vegetables and sometimes yoghurt or milk.
Pancakes
Pancakes are made by mixing flour, eggs, milk and a little fat into a smooth batter.
Spring Rolls
Spring rolls are rolls of thin pastry or rice paper filled with vegetables or meat.
Jam Making
Jam is made by cooking fruit with sugar until it thickens.
Lemonade
Lemonade is a sweet and sour drink made from lemon juice, sugar and water.
Hummus
Hummus is a smooth dip made from mashed chickpeas, olive oil, lemon juice and garlic.
Stir-Fry
A stir-fry is a quick meal of vegetables, meat or tofu cooked in a hot pan or wok with a little oil.
Fruit Salad
A fruit salad is a mixture of chopped fruits, often served in a bowl.
Cookies
Cookies are small, sweet baked treats made from flour, butter, sugar and eggs.
Tortillas
A tortilla is a thin, flat bread made from corn or wheat flour.
Mushrooms
Mushrooms are fungi, not plants, and many types grow in woods and fields.
Chilli Peppers
Chilli peppers add heat to food and come in many shapes, sizes and colours.
Walnuts
Walnuts are nuts from walnut trees and have a wrinkled shape that looks a bit like the human brain.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a spice made from the inner bark of trees.
Vanilla
Vanilla is a flavour made from the seed pods of a special orchid.
Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are orange or purple root vegetables that are rich in vitamins and fibre.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are fruits that are often eaten as vegetables.
Ginger
Ginger is a root spice used in cooking and drinks.
Carrots
Carrots are root vegetables that are rich in beta carotene, which the body turns into vitamin A.
Peas
Peas are small, round seeds that grow inside pods on climbing plants.
Pumpkins
Pumpkins are large orange fruits that grow on vines.
Lettuce
Lettuce is a leafy green vegetable that is often used in salads and sandwiches.
Peanuts
Peanuts are not really nuts but legumes that grow underground.
Almonds
Almonds are seeds from almond trees and are one of the most popular nuts.
Blueberries
Blueberries are small, sweet berries that are rich in antioxidants and vitamin C.
Kiwi Fruit
Kiwi fruit is a small brown fruit with bright green flesh and tiny black seeds.
Avocados
Avocados are fruits with a creamy green flesh and a large single seed.
Cabbage
Cabbage is a leafy vegetable that comes in green, red and white varieties.
Broccoli
Broccoli is a green vegetable with tight clusters of florets on thick stems.
Strawberries
Strawberries are sweet red berries with tiny seeds on their outside.
Watermelon
Watermelon is a juicy fruit that is about 92 percent water.
Pineapple
A pineapple is a tropical fruit with spiky skin and sweet juicy flesh.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers are long green vegetables with a crisp texture and high water content.
Raisins
Raisins are dried grapes that are sweet and chewy.
Flatbreads
Flatbreads are thin, unleavened or lightly risen breads eaten in many parts of the world.
Oranges
Oranges are citrus fruits with sweet, juicy flesh and a bright orange skin.
Pears
Pears are sweet, juicy fruits with a rounded bottom and narrower top.
Plums
Plums are juicy stone fruits with smooth skins in shades of purple, red and yellow.
Cherries
Cherries are small stone fruits that come in sweet and sour varieties.
Waffles
Waffles are crisp, grid-patterned cakes made from batter cooked in a special iron.
Lemons
Lemons are sour citrus fruits with bright yellow skin.
Grapes
Grapes are small, juicy fruits that grow in bunches on vines.
Kale
Kale is a leafy green vegetable with curly or flat leaves.
Spinach
Spinach is a dark green leafy vegetable that is rich in iron, vitamins and fibre.
Figs
Figs are soft, sweet fruits with many tiny seeds inside.
Dates
Dates are sweet, chewy fruits that grow on date palm trees in hot, dry places.
Papaya
Papaya is a tropical fruit with orange flesh and black seeds.
Lychee
Lychees are small tropical fruits with bumpy red skins and sweet, translucent white flesh.
Pomegranate
Pomegranates are round fruits with a tough skin and hundreds of juicy seeds inside, called arils.
Cranberries
Cranberries are small, tart red berries that grow on low vines in boggy areas.
Blackcurrants
Blackcurrants are dark, tart berries that grow in clusters on bushes.
Apricots
Apricots are small, orange stone fruits with soft, sweet flesh.
Maple Syrup
Maple syrup is a sweet syrup made by boiling the sap of maple trees.
Coffee Beans
Coffee beans are the seeds of the coffee plant, which are roasted to bring out their flavour.
Peppermint
Peppermint is a herb with a strong, cooling flavour.
Pasta Shapes
There are hundreds of pasta shapes, each designed to hold sauces in different ways.
Lentil Soup
Lentil soup is a warm, filling soup made from lentils, vegetables and stock.
Frequently asked questions about Food and Cooking
Can children help with cooking?
Yes. Children can wash vegetables, measure ingredients, stir, spread and mix safely with an adult supervising. Cooking builds maths, reading and independence.
How can I cook more healthily?
Use plenty of vegetables and fruit, choose wholegrain carbohydrates, pick lean proteins, steam or bake instead of frying and limit sugar and salt.
Why do we need food safety rules?
Germs can grow quickly in food that is not handled, stored or cooked correctly. Good hygiene protects everyone from food poisoning.