When kids are immersed in activities they relish, they absorb and retain information more effectively. And the Kids Food Festival, a weekend of fun, food-related family events, embodies this philosophy of learning. Taking place November 2-3 at Union Market, families will have the opportunity to cook, dance, laugh, and taste their way to making balanced food choices.
Presented by The Creative Kitchen, the Kids Food Festival invites and encourages children to engage all five senses through hands-on, food-related activities. The magic of the festival is rooted in the fact that kids are having so much fun participating in the flavorful activities, they don’t realize how much they are learning!
Enthusiastic eaters and little epicures alike can attend hands-on cooking classes at the James Beard Foundation Future Foodies Pavilion, where renowned chefs pass on their recipes, skills, and love for all things culinary to a new generation of learners. The Balanced Plate Scavenger Hunt (based on USDA ChooseMyPlate.gov guidelines) is the core educational element of the Festival. Kids bounce between exhibitors and activities to sample tasty, wholesome snacks while learning the importance of achieving balance in their food choices. Families will enjoy live musical performances, a disco dance party, fitness workshops, and more, with each of the activities relaying special messages about healthful eating!
“The Kids Food Festival is wonderful because it combats the very serious issue of childhood obesity in such a fun and effective way,” says Kids Food Festival founder and Big Cheese of The Creative Kitchen, Cricket Azima. “We are able to promote and support companies that make healthful living delicious, and kids go home from the events excited about the new, better-for-you foods that they embraced. Through the Festival we get to reach thousands of families in one weekend, and that in itself is incredible.”
General admission to the event is free, but tickets are required for the hands-on cooking classes in the James Beard Foundation Future Foodies Pavilion and can be purchased in advance online. You can also try winning one through the giveaway below!
The Kids Food Festival will take place November 2-3, 10am – 4pm, at Union Market. More information is available on the website. You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter at @KidsFoodFestFun.
Giveaway: Want a chance to win a ticket for a hands-on kids cooking class hosted in the James Beard Foundation Future Foodie Pavilion at the Kids Food Festival? Simply leave a comment below telling me your kids’ favorite home cooked meal. To be eligible, you must like KidFriendly DC on Facebook. The giveaway will run through Sunday, October 27, and a winner will be announced next week. Good luck!
My kids absolutely love homemade vegetable lasagna and breadsticks.
My kids absolutely love homemade vegetable lasagna and breadsticks
Taco night! My daughter loves to help stir the sauce with the ground brief, and set out all the various accompaniments, like guacamole, shredded cheese, and salsa. She gets really messy and happy eating it too
My kids LOVE the arugula/bacon quiche I make! My 5 year old son declares himself my sous chef every time!
My girls love homemade macaroni and cheese with a side of broccoli.
My kid would love this!
My daughter loves some hearty chicken soup and rice. Always our go to meal if all else fails!
Normal in every other way, one of my kids loves salmon roe! She asks for it every tone we go for sushi and gobbles up the little red salty, fatty balls!
Spaghetti and meatballs with extra parmesan cheese on top.
Turkey meatballs with pasta or grilled chicken wings are my son’s top favorites. He also loves baking, and is an expert cupcake decorator. No doubt he wold love this event.
Both my daughters LOVE Chicken Satay with rice and peanut sauce. I serve it with a cucumber salad and the 1 year old loves it!!
My kids both love both spinach and traditional lasagna and pizza but won’t touch spaghetti,
I invented taco pasta night to use up leftover taco meat. My older son loved the idea always asked when it was going to be “taco pasta night” again. I need to add that back into my repertoire!
My two little chefs love to help make guacamole & pico for taco night. Italian meals are close to their hearts – can’t go wrong with homemade Chicken Parm!
I hope you pick me! My daughter’s favorite homecooked meal is salmon — yes, salmon! — with sweet potatoes.
Thanks for sharing this–what a great event!
My boys love Mollie Katzen’s noodle pudding (egg noodles with butter, cottage cheese, raisins and cinnamon sugar).
She loves my cous cous and sauteed spinach with peppers, onions and garlic.
My daughter (6 yrs) will love this cooking!
My kid’s favorite is currently Meatloaf!
My daughter’s favorite home cooked meal is fried rice and orange chicken.
Mac n cheese!
My daughter loves roast lamb and couscous. Never a challenge to eat protein on this night.
My kids favorite home cooked meal is spaghetti made with ground turkey & turkey sausage. So delicious!
Anything with beans. Going to make pasta e Fagioli today.
Chicken and Broccoli curry casserole is one of their favorites. We took the old family recipe from the 70s and updated it to make it healthier.
Tacos!!!
My kids favorite meal is chicken, steamed broccoli and cornbread.
Roasted chicken drumsticks & broccoli (dinosaur trees)!
My daughters favorite dish is anything pasta!🍝(spaghetti, alfredo)