A Nibblings Recipe Break-down
The Intentional Design Behind Nibblings
Everything that goes into a Nibblings recipe is intentional. I use my background in learning design, child development, and executive functioning to make sure that kids aren’t just cooking, when they follow a Nibblings recipe—they’re building independence, problem-solving abilities, and confidence.
I want to pull the curtain back and explain how these recipes support independence, growth, and successful follow-through.
Here’s how the design works:
The first step to following a recipe is reading it top to bottom. I know that many adults don’t do this, and I’m even more certain that kids wouldn’t. The preview page is a workaround. It gives kids a quick snapshot of what’s coming, so they can anticipate the process and understand how it will all come together without having to pre-read every step.
Illustrations serve as quick reminders. Over time, kids learn to associate these icons with the actions they represent, allowing them to move through the recipes more with ease.
Each recipe page is designed to be clear and support follow-through. Here are just a few ways:
Numbered steps for easy tracking;
Images of each step to reinforce the instructions;
Section headers that group steps by purpose;
Bolded ingredients for quick reference;
“Move on” reminders to keep momentum going.
Every recipe ends with a short, celebratory note and reflection questions, like:
What was hard?
What did you do for the first time?
Would you do it again?
This is known as metacognition. Kids reinforce and deepen their learning by recalling and articulating what they did, which makes the learning stick
The more kids cook with Nibblings, the more capable, autonomous, and persistent they’ll become (in the kitchen and beyond).
