Chicken nuggets, french fries, PB&J. There’s a reason these pop up as frequent options on the kids menu. They’re pretty standard kids fare because that’s what most kids like. But sometimes you luck out and have a kiddo with a really well-developed palate (I could try and claim superior parenting but I have one of each…so it’s probably just luck).

It’s always fun to nurture your kids’ interests and if you’re looking for some fun foodie experiences for kids in Indianapolis, we’ve got you covered. From a farm tour to chef training, these fun and unique attractions make sure your young Julia Child or Gordon Ramsey has plenty of culinary experience to spur on their blossoming taste buds.

Foodie Experiences for Kids in Indianapolis

Tour Trader’s Point Creamery

Located on the northwest side of Indianapolis, Traders Point Creamery is a working dairy offers the complete farm-to-table experience. Let your kids check out the animals and then stop by to watch the evening milking. The self-guided 1.5 mile walking tour is just a couple of dollars per person and lets you and your kids check out the gorgeous property that the farm sits on.

Finish your day on the farm with a trip to the store for fresh cheeses and yogurt, grab a scoop of ice cream at the dairy bar, or make plans for dinner in the upscale restaurant, The Loft, featuring ingredients directly from the farm.

Visit City Market

If you want to sample a huge variety of foodie options, then head to the City Market downtown. The historic building as served as a market for over a century and today’s version includes restaurants and local artisans so you can sample your way through a huge number of flavors all under one roof.

Don’t miss tamales from The Tamale Place or a treat from Circle City Sweets. Many of the vendors cook on-site, so if it’s not the height of the lunch rush you may be able to ask a few questions or let your kids watch the chefs in action.

During nice weather, the City Market is host to a bustling outdoor farmers market on Wednesdays.

Sprouts Cooking School

A special thanks to Sprouts Cooking School for hosting us for a media event. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

For the ultimate foodie, it’s not just about eating, it’s also about learning to create their own culinary vision, and Sprouts Cooking School is the place to do it. As the only kids-only cooking school in Indiana, Sprouts is all about encouraging young chefs. They offer one-night drop-in style classes, weeklong summer camps, and more immersive semester-long programs making it easy to find one your kids will love.

We recently spent an evening with the fantastic instructors at Sprouts as they walked my son through two different activities. Most of their programs offer a theme and are broken down into various age levels so the offerings are just right for the mini chefs. I was really impressed at the various levels of instruction that are offered including safe knife skills for older students.

Students always get a chance to sample their creations and my son loved learning some new techniques to try at home. If you’ve got a kid interested in cooking, you have to check it out!

More Great Food Experiences for Kids in Indy

Indianapolis has no shortage of incredible restaurants where kids can try new flavors or experience new cultures. We love exploring some of the restaurants near Lafayette Square on the near westside. The area is coined the International Marketplace, where many establishments are owned by first-generation immigrants and offer a unique cultural experience for kids.

Make sure to check the Visit Indy calendar of events for local festivals. Many celebrate the cultural heritage of the city and offer unique foods to try.

And finally, you can’t miss out on a trip to one of dozens of local farmers markets across the city. Farmers markets are one of my favorite ways to encourage kids to try healthy fresh food and Indy’s got many amazing ones to choose from.

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Do you have a budding chef in your house? How do you encourage their passion? What foodie experiences do your kids love?