Why Teach Your Kids to Cook
How would you like to boost your child’s self-confidence, teach them valuable skills they will have for life, and support them in building a healthy relationship with food all at the same time?
It all starts with teaching them how to cook!
Regardless of their age or your confidence in the kitchen, getting your kids involved in cooking will prove invaluable in the long run!
The importance of teaching your kids how to cook
Cooking is a skill that everyone should leave home knowing how to do.
One of the best ways to ensure that your kids are fully functioning adult humans is to teach them to cook as they grow. It might get messy, but that is ok! Messes happen, and it’s part of the process of teaching your kids how to be good, attentive cooks - plus, a little mess never hurt anyone.
Whether you want them learning how to make fudge or you want to teach them a full Japanese sushi meal, you could be offering your children an exciting experience.
Who doesn’t want to chop and peel and cook? Who doesn’t want to model after their parents? Children watch even when you don’t think they’re watching! So, if you bring them into the kitchen while you cook, you become a big influence on them - which is what you want!
You may also like
I waited six months to reach out to Kelly before I finally decided to take a risk and invest in her Jumpstart program. I didn't expect that she would have so much insight into emotional wellbeing, nor did I expect her practical advice to make such a positive difference so quickly. I gained everything I'd hoped, and more, from my three months of working with her.
Paige W. British Columbia
Why Choose Me?
I never met a person that didn’t have some resistance to change. I take the time to get to know my clients fully, find their internal motivation and set them up for long-term success that’s personalized.
Five surprising reasons why you should teach your kids how to cook
So, why should you teach your kids to cook?
Here are five good reasons why:
Cooking is an essential life skill. As we said, you need to push your kids into the world in a way that allows them to function, and that means that they need to know how to cook. Parents have the chance to educate their children, and this is your chance to see that you have confidently done your job well!
You could encourage them to try new things. Got picky eaters in the house? When children put together their own dinners, they may feel inspired to try something new. Work through cookbooks with your children and let them choose which things that they’d like to cook. They can then learn how to put a recipe together at the same time.
They will develop their palate. Children do not have the capacity for a full palate, but as they age, they can grow into one that works. Tastes change as we get older and they will be able to see fresh, whole and brand new ingredients come together to create something amazing.
You get quality time together. Even when you go out with your kids, the little things often help create those core memories. Cooking is an exciting family activity, and when you teach your children to cook, you spend quality time in the kitchen with them. You can make this work as a family from a very young age!
It’s an excellent introduction to nutrition. Children need to be educated on nutrition in a way that doesn’t make them fearful around food. Fostering a good relationship between your child and their diet is important if you want them to have a healthy relationship with food (which parent doesn’t want this for their child?). It’s also a good way to discuss the fact that food is fuel.
Meal Planning
If you recognize the importance of teaching your kids how to cook and be able to nourish themselves when they venture into the world on their own, starting at a young age is key.
Get them interested in finding and reading recipes, gathering ingredients and shopping for what they need, reading nutritional labels, choosing the healthiest choices available, then putting everything together to create a delicious meal the whole family can enjoy.
This will boost their self-confidence, teach them valuable skills they can rely on for life, and support them in building healthy relationships with food.
At HappiHuman.com, we get that only some parents have these skills, so teaching your kids about proper nutrition and fostering a healthy eating relationship can be a challenge. If you’d like support in this area, we’re here to help.
Consider trying a month’s worth of meal plans. We’ll take the guesswork out of what to make by creating a healthy whole food-based meal plan for you that will feed the entire family. You can choose from a general whole food plan, a brain-healthy plan, or let us create a custom plan based on your family’s unique needs and dietary requirements.
If you’d like to start a little simpler, perhaps consider one of our recipe e-books. Each recipe e-book contains more than 30 simple and delicious recipes to help you get started for only $9.97 each.
Not sure what’s best for you or what to choose? Contact us for advice.
Conclusion
Get your kids in the kitchen this weekend and teach them everything from selecting recipes to measuring and weighing ingredients. Then put it all together to create a wholesome meal. When you do this, you help your kids develop core skills in the kitchen they will have for life!
As always, I welcome your thoughts and value your feedback. Let me know what you think by dropping me a line or commenting below.
And if you haven’t already done so, please head on over to YouTube to join me there or sign up to receive my newsletters for more information about brain health, neuronutrition, lifestyle tips, and general nutritional advice. Of course, if I can help you or a loved one with your nutritional needs, make an appointment to see me today!
[Medical Disclaimer]
Please consult with your doctor(s) before starting any new mental or physical health improvement program. The advice I offer is not intended to replace that of your medical practitioner. I am not a medical professional, nor am I qualified to diagnose, cure treat, or prevent disease. The advice I provide on this website is intended for a broad and diverse audience, and as such, deals with general lifestyle concepts, not specific healthcare advice. This material disclaims any liability or loss in connection with the advice expressed herein.