Science for the Non-Science Kid: The Cook

If your child is not interested in doing a science project, find what does interest him and look at the science behind it.

What if your child likes to cook? Really, the kitchen is a chemistry laboratory, and every meal is the result of a successful science experiment! Not sure how to convert a cooking session into a science fair project? You are in luck! There are a number of books and references to help you!

I have a copy of "Science Experiments You Can Eat" by Vicki Cobb (Illustrated by Peter Lippman). It has a experiments ranging from the simple (suitable for a kindergarten-level child) to quite complex.

"On Food and Cooking" by Harold McGee "Cook's Illustrated" Magazine are more comprehensive references. They are targeted towards the adult cook, and are focused on better meals rather than better science projects. Still, they are quite useful in understanding the science behind food preparation.

An advantage of a food-based science project is that it is easy to repeat. Running through an experiment several times makes for a better science project.