Natasha Holdsworth 07774002599 natasha@kiddycook.co.uk North West - Cheshire

Hello

Welcome to Kiddy Cook in North West . Our award-winning cooking & baking classes and workshops introduce children to a variety of ingredients and help them to prepare delicious, healthy recipes to take home and cook. Here at Kiddy Cook, we’re dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of children and young people across the UK by inspiring them to have fun with food, while instilling the importance of healthy eating as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Meet Kiddy Cook in North West

My name is Natasha and I run Kiddy Cook classes in the North West, delivering classes and parties to get children involved in cooking, eating well, and enjoying the festivities that involve food. 

But first a little about me – I grew up in London in a big family of three older sisters (yes, I’m the baby!). My mum is Italian, and my dad is Syrian, so food was always an eclectic mix. Let’s just say, I was eating houmous before it became a baby-weaning staple!

Growing up, I discovered a love for food from different cultures, and it’s one of the main reasons I’ve travelled so much. 

Now, my time is taken up by my three ‘lively’ children, aged 10, 7 and 3. Although I might not be backpacking through food markets and sampling strange delicacies on the other side of the world, my life is still very much focused around food – after all, preparing three meals a day for a family of five (plus a truckload of snacks) is no easy feat!

Knowing how challenging it can be to feed young children, and how demoralising it is when you see your hard work thrown on the floor, I believe getting kids involved in the cooking process from a young age is the key to a happy kitchen. I’ve been baking with my kids since they were still in utero and they have been part of every birthday cake, celebration feast, and Christmas dinner ever since. 

I’m not going to lie, it’s a messy job, but seeing their reactions when they sample a new taste for the first time or they perfect a different skill, has been so rewarding, I decided to have a career change and teach other children how exciting, intriguing and delicious different flavours can be.  

It’s amazing to watch little ones discover something new, use their imagination, create a dish they can be proud of, and bring together families and friends to enjoy their hard work. 

It is also invaluable in this day and age for them to learn how to cook and eat well to be fit and well. I teach my children to fuel their bodies, so they can do all the activities they want to do, and it is important to me that children learn all about healthy eating, as well as building a positive relationship with food, so they can enjoy the pleasure it can give us and the festivities it can enhance as well. 

Seeing my older children create their own recipes and cook for me now, despite still being so little, has been the biggest reward, and I want to give this to other parents too – and maybe even a chance for you to put your feet up for a few minutes!

So, if you’re interested in any of the following, please do get in touch, as I love sharing my passion with others. 

-      After school clubs

-      School workshops

-      Parties

-      Holiday clubs

-      Food festivals

-      Home schooling sessions

-      Toddler classes

Let’s get our children learning new skills, developing a positive relationship with food, and learning about a balanced, healthy lifestyle together! 

Natasha 

News

Getting Ready For Uni? Top Tips For Cooking For Yourself!

Heading off to university doesn’t just mean the first time living away from home or the first time scheduling their own timetable; there are lots of ‘firsts’ youngsters experience during their Fresher’s Year, including the first time they have to cook for themselves. 


And parents will probably be wincing at the thought of their adolescent eating what they probably did when they went to uni, which was most likely a diet of takeaways and free processed meals handed out in the Student Union on a lucky day. 


The good news is we know a lot more about food, cooking and nutrition these days, and there are tonnes of meals young people can create that are quick, healthy and, most importantly, not going to blow a hole in their tight budget.


Here are some tips on how to cook while at uni:


Stock up on store cupboard essentials

While school leavers might be used to lots of fresh food at home, there will be a huge shift in their diet when they go to uni, as they are unlikely to spend as much time shopping or meal planning as their parents do. 


That is why it is important to have a good stock of store cupboard essentials, such as tinned vegetables, pulses or fish; grains like rice or couscous; pasta; spices and sauces, so they can always have something to make a meal out of.


It is also worthwhile stocking up on frozen foods like vegetables, fruits and fish, as they are much more value for money and are packed with nutrients.


The great thing about these essentials is that they last a long time, so there’s no pressure to get them eaten before they go off. 


They can also make delicious - and healthy - meals, even if you don’t use fresh ingredients. For instance, a Tuscan bean stew containing different types of beans, tinned tomatoes, and dried herbs served with bread provides protein, vegetables and carbs.


Bulk buying and batch cooking

Students will find that buying large quantities of ingredients often works out more cost-effective. Therefore, it is cheaper in the long run to buy 2kg of rice or 1kg of lentils than it is to buy smaller portions. 


Those who are worried about their items going bad could also batch cook meals and freeze them. This means they can take advantage of the larger packets that get them more bang for their buck or the 3 for 2 offers that supermarkets always have. 


For instance, a great meal to batch cook is bolognese or chilli con carne, so they would just need to buy 1kg of mince, five tins of tomatoes, a few onions and garlic cloves, carrots and celery, and make ten portions to put in the freezer.


This way, if they come in late one evening or they want to rustle up something quick, they can simply take it out of the freezer and cook some pasta, rice or potato to go with it. 


Learn to shop smartly

Most students have a very restrictive budget, so it is important to shop as smartly as possible to continue eating well. This means going to cheaper supermarkets, such as Lidl or Aldi, where good produce can be found at a fraction of the price of bigger stores.


It is also worthwhile shopping later on in the day or finding out what day of week items are reduced, as expensive goods, such as dairy and meat is often heavily discounted.


Learn the basics before you go

Although there is not a lot of time before parents will be packing their cars to the brim with their child’s bedding, clothes and books, there is still an opportunity to learn some basic cooking skills, such as chopping, whisking, separating eggs and so on.


Enrolling in private cooking lessons, for instance, could help them speed up their food prep time so they can make meals more quickly; widen their palette by trying new foods; build up their confidence in the kitchen by knowing what to do with different ingredients; and get to grips with basic meals. 


Knowing how to whisk up an omelette, create a healthy vegetable-based tomato sauce, make a chicken or sausage traybake, or cook a nutritious soup from scratch will certainly help them avoid living off processed food during their time at university. 


Make the most of leftovers

Getting to grips with cooking can sometimes mean failing to get portion sizes right, which can result in lots of food being left uneaten. Around 9.5 million tonnes of food is thrown away in the UK every year, which is extremely wasteful - and will also weigh heavily on a student’s bank balance! - so it is worthwhile getting used to creating things out of leftovers.


For example, leftover veggies can be used in a multitude of dishes, such as hash; soups can be turned into casseroles; anything can be chucked into a frittata; and cooked meats are great in pasta sauces, curries or stews.


Once you’ve mastered the basics, students will be able to look at a handful of mismatched ingredients and work their magic to create themselves a delicious meal that is both nutritious and won’t break the bank!


If you’re interested in having a one-to-one cooking lesson to learn essential cooking skills and recipes before going to university, give me a call today. 

 

 

Fri Sep 13, 2024

Top Tips On Getting Your Child Ready To Start School

If your little one is going to start school in a couple of weeks like mine is, your feelings will probably be mixed with excitement about this new chapter of their lives and trepidation about how they (and you) will cope with the change. 


Don’t worry, it’s totally normal, and there have definitely been times this summer I’ve looked at my just-turned-four-year-old and thought, “How can you be starting school when it only felt like yesterday we were weaning you with avocado and cucumber sticks?”. 


But, whatever your feelings about your preschooler taking the next step are, the time is nearly upon us. So here are some tips on how you can get them ready for their biggest adventure yet. 


Talk about it - but not too much

Most four-year-olds can’t really understand what they are about to embark on, so it is important to keep the topic of school in the conversation. This way it won’t come as a shock to them when September starts. 


Tell them what they’ll have to wear, what the school rules might be, and what they can expect to happen during the school day. 


There are some great picture books out there like Usborne’s Why Do I Have To Go To School? that lets youngsters learn a bit more about what their school day will look like, and can remove some of their worries. 


At the same time, it’s wise not to talk too much about school, as this could create anxiety. Making it seem like a huge deal will only make them worry more, so talk about it in a matter of fact way instead of bursting into tears about “losing your little baby” every five minutes (*not guilty at all*). 


Talk about the great things

If your child loves sandpits, remind them of all the sand toys they can play with. If they like dressing up, tell them about the costume corner. Reminding them of the things they will like in their classroom will get them excited about it, and relieve some of your own worry about them starting. 


Whether you attended a ‘stay and play’ or have photos of the school from the brochure or website, you can show your child what they can expect, where their favourite toys or books might be, and what they can look forward to during the school day. 


My kids loved the idea of free play, storytime and unlimited fruit, so find something your child will enjoy and remind them of it. 


Start the morning routine

Nobody wants to end the summer holiday prematurely by making their child wake up early and rushing to get out of the house, but it could be worthwhile getting them into a good morning routine before the first day. 


This way, you don’t have to panic or stress at the beginning of term, as you are both already used to waking up early, having breakfast, brushing teeth, getting dressed and leaving the house on time. 


It is also wise to practise the school run, so they become familiar with it. School-starters only have little legs and might not be used to walking far, so if you have to walk to school, get them used to the route first.


By doing this, you can be confident you’ll be able to get your ‘first day at school’ photos in a calm and pleasant way, instead of rushing to get out of the door! 


Develop self-care skills

Before they start school, there are some things that are important for children to be able to do, including going to the toilet by themselves, getting dressed or undressed, washing their hands, feeding themselves and tidying up. 


Don’t panic if your child can’t, particularly if you have a summer baby (like I do), as they are still so very young. Encouraging them to do these things independently will give them a good start, but they will soon pick up the habits from seeing their friends do them. 


Having said that, teaching good hygiene skills will help you to ward off those pesky bugs children always bring home once they start school! 


Book weekend or holiday workshops

Although your little one will probably be exhausted after a week of school at the beginning, it is a good idea to book them into some weekend or holiday activity workshops. 


This will not only give them something to look forward to at the end of the week, but if you book some that their school friends are attending, this will also help develop friendships. 


Some clubs, such as Kiddy Cook’s workshops, also help develop important abilities needed in Reception, including fine motor; personal, social and emotional; and communication skills. 


Keep them close by

Some children breeze through the school gates while others are much more worried about their first day. Whatever way your little one reacts, it is important to remind them that you are close by to reassure them. One way you can do this is with the 'hug button'.


Draw a heart on the inside of both their hand and yours and ‘charge’ them by holding hands at the start of the day. The idea is that when they press the heart, they will feel your hugs. This makes them feel connected with you, so they feel safer and braver during their first few days at big school. 


For more hints and tips and information about future classes for preschoolers that will help get them ready for school, email natasha@kiddycook.co.uk

Top 5 Food Activities To Entertain Kids During The Holidays

We’re in the middle of the summer holidays, which means most of us have either run out of ideas of what to do or run out of money. 


Making sure young children are entertained all day for weeks on end can be extremely draining (speaking as an exhausted mother myself!). That is why having some fun, free things that you can do at home is always useful. 


Here are some of our favourite food-related activities that will keep your little one entertained, as well as get them interested and involved in learning about food. 


Chia seed slime

Chia seeds have become all the rage over the last few years, as they have a multitude of health benefits. But did you also know they can make a fantastic slime?


By soaking them in water, the little seeds expand and form a gelatinous mixture. If you put some cornflour in as well, you will create a satisfying slime that is fun to play with and safe to eat!


Fruit picking

There are lots of farms that allow you to enjoy fruit picking these days, but you don’t have to spend a fortune on raspberries or strawberries to have a fun day out. 


Why not venture into your local park or forest and see if there are any bramble bushes with blackberries that you could pick? You might also come across an apple tree or two, giving you the perfect ingredients for a scrumptious apple and blackberry crumble that we have made in our children’s cooking classes before. 


As well as killing a few hours, it teaches children lots about where fruit grows, which ones are safe to eat, and how to clean them before eating so as to avoid any bugs.


Cupcake decorating

You don’t need to be an expert chef to get your children decorating cupcakes. You could just buy plain ones from the supermarket and let them jazz them up with some sprinkles, chocolate chips, sweets or squeezy icing pens. 


This is a great opportunity for kids to use their imagination, creating some fantastic cupcakes for their loved ones and, obviously, themselves. 


Edible dirt

If you’ve got a young child who loves messy play, diggers, tractors, bugs, or dinosaurs then it is certainly worth learning how to make edible dirt


All you need is cocoa powder, flour, icing sugar and water. Simply mix these together to form a dough before leaving to dry and crumbling into a tray to create realistic-looking dirt.


Then you could make your own muddy farm, dinosaur kingdom, construction site, or underground insect world. 


If you want to use this opportunity to teach the little ones about where food comes from, you could hide plastic vegetables in the ‘mud’ and encourage them to find them all.


Pasta play

Is there anything that pasta can’t do? Not only do nearly all children love to eat it, but they also love to play with it too. 


You could draw a face and stick fusilli hair on to the picture, for instance; make a macaroni necklace to develop their fine motor skills through threading; or chop up spaghetti to practise scissor skills and use this as hair.


Alternatively, you could create a fun messy play activity with cooked spaghetti mixed with oil, which is a great way to introduce babies and toddlers to different sensory experiences. The slippery spaghetti will certainly be exciting to touch, smell, and even taste! 


These are just a few exciting activities that are easy to do during the holidays, as most people have the ingredients in their kitchen cupboard already. And even if they only entertain the children for half an hour, every minute helps! 


If you’re interested in enrolling your children into KiddyCook holiday clubs, email today on natasha@kiddycook.co.uk to stay updated on upcoming classes.

Thu Aug 15, 2024

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Monday, September 23, 2024

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