Check these 10 tips to help make cooking a family affair.
Is one of your New Year resolutions to cook at home more often? Then why not involve the kids? You will have fun while teaching them valuable life-long skills!
Tip #1: Get organized
Take some time each weekend to plan what you’ll eat for a week and let the kids pitch in. This will help with the grocery shopping list and you’ll likely get fewer food complaints from the kids! The extra time spent planning will also help reduce panic about what to make for dinner on weekdays.
Tip #2: Stock up your pantry
Having a stocked pantry makes home cooking speedier than you can say “I’ll take it to go!” For tips on what to keep handy, check Better Together’s shopping tips.
Tip #3: Buy a cookbook
Pick a recipe you’d like to cook together from a cookbook. Review the recipe with your kids. Introduce any new cooking terms, utensils or foods.
Tip #4: Start on a weekend.
Start on a weekend when there’s a bit more time. That could be Friday night or Sunday brunch.
Tip #5: Let the kids take over!
Based on your kid’s manual dexterity and previous experience helping in the kitchen, tasks can range from washing to measuring to peeling with a vegetable peeler to kneading to cutting to reading the recipe. You are the best judge!
Tip #6: Be patient and relax!
Kids need to practice and will get better at cooking with time and be able to help you on the weekdays.
Tip #7: Set up some kitchen safety rules.
Set up kitchen safety rules to make sure kids are aware of the basic rules that will prevent accidents and make the experience enjoyable for all while still having fun cooking. Check Better Together BC for kitchen safety tips.
Tip #8: Have an adult supervisor with kids at all times.
Tip #9: Do not short-order cook!
Introduce new items with familiar ones. Assemble ingredients and equipment on the counter before starting to ensure a smooth and fun cooking session. When kids are involved in the cooking, they tend to be less picky with eating too!
Tip #10: Keep it simple!
Meals don’t necessarily have to be complicated affairs. No matter what your cooking skills are, you can always prepare something with your kids. That could be as simple as making salmon or cheese and tuna melt sandwiches!
We wish you many fun memories cooking at home!