Diva Foodies Kid Chef is an extra special series where we have the joy of highlighting kids who love playing in the kitchen. “It’s okay to play with your food.” – Chef Emeril Lagasse
Today our Kid Chef is Shana who is having fun making Instagram cooking videos with her mom Marci. We think it’s pretty cool that cooking is just one of Shana’s many interests others include coding. Way to go Kid Chef Shana!
Diva Foodies: Do you remember the first thing you ever cooked or baked?
Kid Chef Shana: Cupcakes.
Diva Foodies: Cupcakes make us happy too! How old were you when you first started cooking?
Kid Chef Shana: I was around four.
Diva Foodies: We love your videos on @QDFoodie’s Instagram. What is the most fun about making videos for The Gram?
Kid Chef Shana: Spending time with my mother and eating what we make.
Diva Foodies: What is your favorite food to eat?
Kid Chef Shana: Pizza.
Diva Foodies: What is your most fun food to make?
Kid Chef Shana: Pizza and things with cake and brownie mixes, including cookies.
Diva Foodies: What’s your favorite kitchen tool and why?
Kid Chef Shana: My favorite kitchen tool is the banana measuring spoons. We use them for so many yummy things.
Diva Foodies: Do you have a favorite cooking show? Why do you like it?
Kid Chef Shana: I like baking competition shows with themes, like making a cake look like legos.
Diva Foodies: Mom Marci – How/when did you realize Shana loved to cook/bake?
Mom Marci: Shana has many interests. Coding is probably the thing that gets her most excited. She enjoys cooking a lot, too. Partly because it’s fun and her skills give her confidence and independence. And partly because it means that we’re getting quality time together. So she was probably about 3 or 4 when we started cooking, mostly baking, actually, together. I definitely think that you can start much earlier than that in the kitchen, but that’s when it came about for us.
I find that running a business is like having several full time jobs put together. Being a parent, same! So life can get pretty hectic. One way that works for my family in tackling it all is to merge these worlds. Works for exercise or any other activity, too.
As far as cooking goes, it’s a life skill, so I feel really good about having the opportunity to do what I love with the ones I love.
Diva Foodies: Anything else Kid Chef Shana or Mom Marci that you want to add?
Mom Marci: Sure! While I touched on it before, I’d like to make clear that Shana is NOT a kid who is cooking all the time. She’s not asking if she can make dinner for the family or if she can meet Eitan Bernath. She wants to be a zoologist and get a computer science degree along the way, with plans to merge the two.
I mention this because I think it’s easy not to deal with the mess and only “play” in the kitchen with the ones who are running to be there. In Shana’s case, she’s happy and joyful in the kitchen, even though she’s not running.
What I want for my daughter and for all other kids, is that they feel comfortable enough in the kitchen to make themselves a meal, whether it be now or once out on their own. Kid chefs come in all levels of commitment. Their getting in the kitchen, engaging and having positive experiences are the most important.
Diva Foodies: Mom Marci – We love your Q.D. Foodie Kitchen Tools. In fact, if you remember you kindly participated in a Diva Foodies Interview about the back-story. Can you tell us a bit about your innovative concept and company?
Mom Marcie: The initial concept for my Q.D. Foodie Kitchen Tools predated my child’s entrance into the world (though the concept didn’t come to fruition until more recently). The tools are super adorable and work well for both kids and adults, with sensory friendly handles, braille and vibrant, attractive colors, so everyone can take part. Please check them out. Shana loves using them, and they really do make making food more fun!
So here’s to everyone who knows a kid chef. Have some fabulous kitchen play time together!
