By Jacqui Bialocki
What started as one mum’s passion for healthy food and happy little faces has quickly grown into one of the Mornington Peninsula’s most delightful learning experiences for children.
Mila mixes up a batch of nutritious snacks.
Last year, mother of two Stef Glezos launched Stef’s Mini Chefs, a professionally designed children’s cooking workshop that blends fun, education and nutrition into one beautifully hands-on experience for young food-lovers.
Designed for children aged roughly two to 10, the classes invite little people and their grown-ups to cook side by side, creating nutritious snacks while learning valuable life skills along the way. Every recipe is gluten-free, refined sugar-free, and made mostly with locally sourced produce, reflecting Stef’s commitment to nourishing children with wholesome ingredients.
But these workshops are about far more than simply making food. From the moment the children arrive, they are immersed in a rich sensory experience. They begin by selecting ingredients from a playful market stall setup before discovering what each ingredient is, where it comes from, and why it is good for their growing bodies.
Then comes the real excitement. Tiny hands mash, mix, chop, stir and create, guided carefully through each step in a way that builds confidence and independence. “By including little ones in the preparation process, they gain a real sense of fulfilment,” Stef said. “It also enhances their desire to eat what they have created themselves.”
It’s a simple but powerful concept that is helping shape a future of well-nourished, food-curious children. Each workshop also cleverly weaves in early learning opportunities, with children developing skills in counting, measuring, recognising colours and textures, understanding flavour combinations and, where age-appropriate, practising reading.
And when the class ends, the learning doesn’t stop. Every child takes home a recipe card, allowing them to proudly recreate their dish with siblings and family members, often becoming the mini chef of their own kitchen.
Sessions are held either as six-week terms at Stef’s home kitchen or through special workshops hosted by her at much-loved destinations including Hawkes Farm, Benton Rise Farm and Main Ridge Dairy. Stef says local partnerships are at the heart of what makes the experience so special. “We love to partner with local businesses and producers who share the same ethos as we do around good food.”
Through every carefully measured spoonful and every proud little smile, Stef’s Mini Chefs is proving that healthy habits can start young and that some of life’s most important lessons are learnt in the kitchen. Find out more at bookwhen.com/stefsminichefs
