In a country that’s just slightly smaller than the United States, but with nearly five times the number of people, it’s no wonder that China has a wonderful variety of regional dishes, ingredients and styles of cooking. Introduce your kids to this diverse cuisine with an assortment of fun cooking activities you can do together.

New Tastes: Some of the common flavors in Chinese cuisine may be unfamiliar to you or your children. Set out a tray of small amounts of traditional Chinese ingredients to sample—and if tasting looks too daunting, smelling can also help broaden culinary horizons.

• Soy sauce


• Fresh ginger


• Scallions


• Tofu


• Steamed rice


• Green tea


• Five-spice powder


• Toasted sesame oil

Special Tools: Chinese cooking requires only a few specialized utensils for both preparation and consumption. Stage a show n' tell with chopsticks, a wok, a cleaver and bamboo steamers—and then try them out together in some of the recipes below.

Facts About Chinese Food

• The English translation for dim sum, the southern Chinese tradition of serving lots of tasty tidbits that diners select from rolling carts, is "heart’s delight" or "touch the heart".


• Chinese meals always include both the blander staples "fan" (starchy stuff like rice or noodles or pancakes) and the carefully-seasoned "ts’ai" (veggie and meat dishes made up of lots of ingredients that are almost always chopped into bite size pieces before cooking or serving).


• The fortune cookie you get at the end of every meal in Chinese restaurants in the US was most likely invented in San Francisco in 1916.


• The Chinese version of a "balanced diet" is based on the principles of the broader philosophy of Yin and Yang. In cooking and eating that means that flavors, textures, and methods of preparations are all in careful harmony.

Cooking Chinese Food Together

1. Egg Drop Soup
A classic Chinese soup that's mild enough for younger palates, egg drop soup has the added bonus of getting to watch—or help—pour the egg into the hot broth and see the feathery swirls of cooked egg appear.

Recipe to try: Asian Egg Drop Soup

2. Snow Peas and Baby Corn
Try pairing these two classic Chinese vegetables that make a crunchy, sweet and tasty combo. Smaller chefs can help prep the veggies and add a final dash of soy sauce.

Recipe to try: Baby Corn and Snow Pea Saute

3. Fried Rice
A perfect way to use up leftovers or invent your own favorite combinations, fried rice can even be a delicious way to sneak in extra veggies. Kids can help create their own recipes or cut ingredients into small pieces or finish the final seasoning.

Recipe to try: Fried Rice

4. Egg Rolls
Familiar favorites that are fun to roll and eat, kids can help prepare the fillings, roll the egg rolls and even invent their own fabulous dipping sauce with ingredients like soy sauce, sugar or honey, toasted sesame oil and rice vinegar.

Recipe to Try: Egg Roll

5. Almond Treats
Almonds appear often in Chinese desserts and these mini tea cakes are perfectly kid-sized. In the recipe below, your child can help sift, mix and dust with sugar.

Recipe to Try: Almond Tea Cakes