Cooking meals frequently at home is associated with a healthier diet—as found in a study published in the journal, Public Health Nutrition. Kids who are used to shopping for healthy produce and preparing an array of delicious dishes are more likely to keep up sound nutritional habits in their adulthood, and to value aspects such as flavor, texture, and aromas. In order to motivate your family to spend more time in the kitchen, make sure the process is as fun, creative, and inspiring as possible.
Awakening Your Kids’ Palate
A surefire way to inspire kids and non-cooks to appreciate the value of home cooking, is to enjoy good food. Expose your family members to a wide range of dishes from across the globe by attending food fairs, watching short cooking snippets on TikTok or YouTube, and dining out. When you are trying new foods, point out aspects such as presentation, color, spices, and texture. If your family members are fond of a dish, suggest that you prepare it at home on the weekend. Make a list of all the ingredients and equipment you will need to prepare the dish authentically.
Adding a Little Magic into the Equation
Children love cooking with fun equipment, aprons, chefs’ hats, and other items that make this chore seem more like play. Investing in items such as child-safe knives, smaller chopping boards, and lighter mortar and pestles is important for another reason—your child’s safety. Let your kids go shopping with you, or let them pick out online items featuring their favorite kids’ themes and characters.
Celebrating a Party
If you cook one dish together a week, by the end of the year, your kids will be able to cook 12 dishes. Choose one day of the week for your cook fest, and aim to create a party atmosphere at home. You can do so by picking special crockery and cutlery, decorating the dining area, and livening up the occasion with music and cool lighting. Every week, one family member can select the main dish, and other members can decide on starters, sides, and desserts. In time, your children may start looking up recipes themselves or make suggestions for unique recipes they find on TikTok and other social media channels.
Home cooking is an excellent way to embrace a healthier lifestyle. To entice your kids and non-cooks into the kitchen, make it a fun experience. Cook dishes from across the globe and make sure that every meal prepared together is transformed into a celebration.