Pizza 4 Dinner

I recently heard a comment that children should be able to prepare a simple meal by the time they are twelve.  They can do popcorn, fairy bread, muffins, smoothies, pancakes, and many other sweet bits but that hardly constitutes a meal does it?  I had some work to do,

• It gives children a sense of responsibility and with this builds confidence and enhances self esteem.
• Promotes reading for a purpose, to gain information.
• Introduces mathematical concepts of measurement in a concrete and fun way.
• Teaches the importance of safety with a purpose rather than rules that appear to have no reasons at all.
• Provides a necessary life skill.
• Assists in developing sound nutritional habits from an early age.

There are many more benefits as some of you have surely discovered or soon will.  I love it that they eat their dinner without any fuss because they made it and I love to see them grinning from ear to ear as they serve me my meal and the sense of achievement is plastered all over their smiling faces.

Pizza is a favourite in our home and the first meal my son requested to make when I suggested he could begin to provide a few meals for us.  Miss 4 immediately stepped up to help and was soon delegated to grating the cheese, a very time consuming task that she should perhaps begin at 8am in future to have enough in time for dinner!  I buy Lebanese Bread to use for the bases and they come in big (for making Dads dinner) and small (for the kids).  I buy a prepared pasta sauce to use as the sauce and it is easy to spread for little hands by using a spatula.  The toppings are left to the kids (with a few suggestions of available ingredients from Mum).  This encourages them to eat it because they chose it.  It makes it more individual for them and I have found they love taking your order and preparing your request.  

My son happily prepares my two favourites

• Pumpkin, fetta cheese & pine nuts
• Tomato, basil & bocconcini cheese

You never know one day he might even taste them!