With Thanksgiving coming up, I’m reminded of all the family time that is about to be spent in the kitchen. It got me thinking… how important is it to cook with your kids? I try to let my daughter help out in the kitchen whenever she shows interest, but it can be frustrating when I’m time crunched or attempting something new.
According to webmd.com, cooking with your children has a lot of benefits, like getting them interested in trying healthy foods they normally wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole. My daughter used to eat anything and everything in sight, now that she is four, she has become more picky. I’m sure a lot of parents can relate… she would eat mac and cheese for breakfast, lunch, and dinner if we let her. So I’m all for her trying and eating healthy foods, and it makes sense, if she’s a part of what she puts on her plate, she will feel like she had a say in the meal, even if she didn’t. According to the article, there are a lot of other benefits cooking with your children can have:
Some short-term benefits:
- Kids feel like they are accomplishing something and contributing to the family.
- Kids are more likely to sit down to a family meal when they helped prepare it.
- Parents get to spend quality time with their kids.
- Kids aren’t spending time in front of the TV or computer while they’re cooking.
- Kids generally aren’t eating junk food when they’re cooking a meal at home.
Some long-term benefits:
- Learning to cook is a skill your children can use for the rest of their lives.
- Kids who learn to eat well may be more likely to eat healthfully as adults.
- Positive cooking experiences can help build self-confidence.
- Kids who cook with their parents may even be less likely to abuse drugs.
Wow. It really makes me step back and realize I need to make time, have patience, and encourage her to help with family meals. The author of the site Cooking With My Kid, set a mission in 2009, make 365 recipes in 365 days all with kid-assistance. This challenge has changed the way they eat, cured pickiness, and created a special bonding experience. Check out her blog where she posts recipes, how to videos, picky busters, and super cute photos of her kids making some mouth watering meals as a family.
All this talk about family in the kitchen reminds me of the perfect Take This Make This gift tutorial. Framed family recipes. So sweet and beautiful!
Take This -------> Make This 