So far in the series we have talked about meal planning, having food on-hand, prepping ahead of time, more time-saving tips, the go-to meal, remembering WHY we are cooking dinner in the first
Today’s topic is geared toward parents with kids still at home. But if you are an aunt, grandpa, cousin, or family friend, this post can apply to you, too. So don’t leave yet!
Today we are talking about the importance of teaching kids how to cook. When we remember that we are helping the future generation to not only be good kids, but excellent adults, we can’t forget the importance of teaching them how to cook.
My stepdad was an amazing cook. His cornbread, rice, and fried chicken were perfect every time. I remember shadowing him in the kitchen and trying to figure out how much flour he was tossing into a bowl because he never measured anything. I wrote down his secrets like the importance of salting chicken 24 hours before frying it to give it the best flavor (you’re welcome). I was less afraid to try new recipes or to add in my own seasonings because I had seem him do it.
But, look, every night cannot be “kitchen classroom time.” Unless you are superhuman and you can manage this kind of patience every single day. I, for one, am not and cannot. But I recognize that it is important to teach my kids—yes, even my boys—to cook.
So on nights when I have the bandwidth (you know what I mean, on nights when I am not at the end of my rope and hanging on for dear life…), I invite the child who seems most interested to come learn. So far I have a boy who is pretty good at making Alfredo sauce from scratch, my three oldest boys can cook tortillas and make quesadillas, and another son knows how to make macaroni & cheese. No, these are not gourmet items, but my kids are still young—they’ll learn. And these simple dishes help them feel more capable in the kitchen.
Another way we have tried to help our kids feel more independent in the kitchen is breakfast. We moved all of the breakfast options down to the bottom shelf of the pantry so that they could choose and prepare their own breakfasts. They can get the toaster out and they know how to work it (yes, I did recently have to replace ours because our old toaster ended up toasting crayons, but that is a story for another day…). While cereal, instant oatmeal, toast, or Pop-Tarts don’t require much culinary skill, I think they help our boys feel more at-home in a kitchen. And It is setting the scene for more advanced cooking down the road.
Have picky eaters? Get them involved in making the meal—they are far more likely to at least try it if they helped prepare it.
Kids learning fractions in school? Get them to double a recipe and help them see how the measurements change.
Do you have a child who gets into trouble when left to his own devices? Give him a kitchen job and alleviate some of that trouble as his hands are too busy helping to get into trouble.
There are even websites out there with kid-friendly recipes and advice on teaching kids how to cook. I can’t recommend any since I haven’t personally tried them, but a quick Google search will give you plenty of options. If you have a favorite, share in the comments below!
Teaching our kids important life skills like cooking and cleaning not only eventually lighten our load, but they also help our children become more successful adults. Start simple, don’t beat yourself up if you aren’t doing this every single night, and don’t let perfectionism blind you from a powerful bonding experience. I hope cooking with kids brings joy to you and to your kiddos!
