Recipes for Executive Functioning: 4 Kid-Friendly Ideas

Cooking is a great way to help your child improve their attention and build skills. Recipes for executive functioning work well because they contain multiple steps your child must follow in order, plus a variety of directions (like mix, pour, and measure) that build vocabulary along the way. For more on what executive functioning is, check out our executive functioning services page. Below are four of our favorite kid-friendly recipes.

Trail Mix

This is a great recipe for anyone starting out, or for little helpers, since it’s heat and knife-free. It also offers many chances to repeat new vocabulary, like ingredient names, kitchen tools (bowl, spoon, etc.), and directions to mix.

This recipe is also great for little language learners working on sequencing. Try using a phrase like “First, ____. Then ____” as you sequence the ingredients you want to add.

Ingredients:

• Any of your favorite ingredients (cereals, nuts, dried fruit, chocolate candies, etc.)

Directions:

1. In a mixing bowl, add all ingredients. For older children or those learning to count, measure out the ingredients to add more opportunity for counting.
2. Mix together.
3. Enjoy!

Pizza Bagels

Pizza bagels are another fun recipe, since they can be a snack or meal where your child feels true ownership over what they made. This recipe is a bit more involved, and using the oven at the end makes it best for older children with help from an adult. It’s great for practicing sequencing in a specific order, since changing the order can change the end result.

Have fun with it, and let your child experiment with what order they want to put the ingredients together. This naturally sparks further conversation about the importance of following directions.

Ingredients:

• Bagels
• Pizza sauce
• Cheese (any kind you prefer)
• Toppings (anything your child likes: pepperoni, chicken, onion, mushrooms, spinach, sausage, etc.)

Directions:

1. Split the bagel in half.
2. Using a spoon, scoop pizza sauce onto each bagel half (approximately 2 Tbsp.).
3. Layer with cheese and toppings.
4. Microwave for 30-60 seconds or until the cheese is melted, or bake in the oven on a baking sheet at 450 degrees for 8 minutes or until the cheese is golden brown.
5. Once cool, enjoy!

Banana Sushi

This is a favorite recipe for young but active helpers. Using a butter knife or the back of a spoon lets your child help with every stage of prep without compromising safety. Vocabulary you might use during this recipe includes: banana, sushi, sprinkle, chocolate, roll, large, small, cut, slice, coconut, knife, graham crackers, crumble, and eat.

Ingredients:

• 2 large bananas
• Any toppings you enjoy (nuts, sprinkles, chocolate chips, coconut flakes, cereal, graham crackers, etc.)
• A butter knife or the end of a spoon (so your child can cut the banana with you)

Directions:

1. Slice the banana into 1-inch pieces.
2. Place toppings into a bowl or rimmed plate. Crumble any large toppings before placing them in the bowl.
3. Roll the banana in the desired topping(s).
4. Eat!

Berry Yogurt Popsicles

This recipe is a fun, healthy way to get your child thinking. While you, or an older child, read the recipe aloud, have your child practice measuring each ingredient. The outcome can turn out very differently if the directions aren’t followed in order or the amounts change.

Allow for experimentation, and if the recipe doesn’t turn out quite right, explain why. You might even make two batches so your child can see how their own suggestion changes the results.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen fruit (any your child prefers; we like cherries or strawberries)
• 1/2 cup fresh or frozen blackberries (or another preferred fruit)
• 1 Tbsp. honey
• 24 oz vanilla Greek yogurt
• 13 (3 oz) paper cups (or a reusable mold) and 12 popsicle sticks

Directions:

1. In a small mixing bowl, mash the fruit. Add honey and mix together.
2. In paper cups, alternate layering the Greek yogurt and fruit mixture until full. You can also swirl it for a fun design.
3. Place a popsicle stick in each cup and freeze.
4. When ready to serve, tear off the paper cup and enjoy! (No popsicle sticks on hand? Plastic spoons work just as well.)

We’re Here to Help

Cooking with kid-friendly recipes can be a fun, healthy way to help your child learn new vocabulary, the importance of sequencing, and other executive functioning skills. These skills can later help them follow directions in school, sequence events throughout their day, and so much more. For more information on executive functioning, or if you have concerns about your child’s development in this area, contact us to learn more.