Cooking with Kids

In my last post I discussed the importance of eating dinner together as a family. One central idea to that concept involves kids in the kitchen. There’s beauty in the time spent on nourishing your family, and kids learn it best when they begin to cook as youngsters.

Good cooking is truly an art form. My younger self could cook, meaning that I could take prepackaged food and create something that was edible. But understanding food and the nuances that accompany a delicious dish is a skill that must be rehearsed, just like anything else. I’ve learned a great deal about cooking thanks to my husband who understands food much better than I do. My attitude changed as I realized that cooking for family and friends is truly an expression of love.

So, how can you develop a love for cooking in your kids’ hearts and minds? Several strategies bring kids into the kitchen to start them on a journey of food appreciation.

1. Begin by including them as your helpers, or as we like to call it at our house, “sous chefs.” Kids of all ages can assist in cooking, and it makes them feel important. Whether it’s getting out the ingredients, pouring things into a mixing bowl, or stirring, there’s always a task to be completed. Older kids can learn to chop, peel, and manage a hot skillet. If you need time to teach skills, approach it on a weekend when time is not as tight as on a school night.

2. Get kids’ attention with their preferred foods. If your child is reluctant to serve as your assistant, entice them with foods you know they already enjoy. It’s more fun to make a batch of cookies than to prepare a vegetable side dish. Be patient. The goal is to get them interested, so take it slow. Once you’ve got them hooked, you can start to introduce new foods or engage them in the preparation of other dishes.

3. Watch cooking shows on TV. Something amazing happens when you watch cooking shows...you really want to cook. Watching the masters at work stirs up a sense of excitement. “I could do that!” you start to think. And, if you’re thinking it, kids will, too. Find an entertaining cooking show host and start to tune in regularly. Not only will you pick up a few tips and tricks, your family will start to see how much fun it is to cook.

4. Find kid friendly recipes. Search the Internet, look in magazines, or visit bookstores for recipes that are written for kids. The local library is likely to have kids’ cookbook available, too, including ones written by celebrity chefs like Rachael Ray. It won’t take much time to find recipes which engage your kids in the kitchen.

Turn your children into chefs and start them on the road to a lifetime of cooking. Make food and mealtime a priority in your family and equip your kids with healthy habits and attitudes for the years to come.

Mealtime is Family Time

In this increasingly hectic world, it can be difficult to sit down for a family dinner. Don’t mistake the importance of this family time, though; coming together to leave the distractions of the world behind. Several wonderful things happen when a family eats together.

1. Children learn good table manners. At its most basic function, the family dinner helps children learn table manners, especially when mom and dad model them. Implementing the manners at home trains the kids for using those manners in other eating situations, such as restaurants and at friends’ houses. Train them at home and then take them out to practice their skills.

2. Children learn the art of conversation. Besides eating, talking is a major function of the family dinner. Not only do kids hear their parents talk, but they learn how to engage in polite conversation and all the nuances that accompany it. This frequent conversation with parents also improves vocabulary which develops better language skills.

3. Children have uninterrupted attention from their parents. Busy, busy, busy. It’s become the American way of life. But, when the entire family sits down to eat, the kids have the opportunity to talk to their parents, share information about the day, and ask questions. Some of the best conversations in families happen at the dinner table.

4. Children eat healthier meals. Research shows that families eat more fruits and vegetables when everyone sits down for a family meal. Teach kids about nutrition and model healthy eating habits. Eating at home also gives parents control over portion sizes, a difficult task when dining out.

5. Children learn about cooking. Preparing and then eating a family dinner teaches kids how to cook. Let children be part of the meal preparation. Older kids and teens can even take on the responsibility of preparing an entire meal once a week. Pass down those cherished family recipes by engaging kids in the process of cooking.

6. Children try new foods. While cooking and eating a meal together, take this opportunity to introduce a new food. Experiment in the kitchen and get kids on board with your new adventure. Eating at home is more economical than dining out, so trying a new recipe is gentler on the pocketbook. Let kids suggest a new menu item and even let them help make it. It’s easier to be adventurous when eating at home.

7. Children are less likely to engage in risky behaviors. Studies show that kids who eat at least five family meals a week are less likely to engage in risky behaviors such as cigarette smoking, drugs, and drinking. The time spent in direct contact with parents has a positive impact in helping kids make wise choices in these areas.

If a myriad of activities keeps your family from sitting down together on a regular basis, then it might be time to pare down the activities. Start small with one or two meals per work and gradually increase as you flex the schedule. In time, the family dinner will feel so routine, you’ll wonder how you survived without it. 

Poor Lambchop!

Lambchop doesn't know what's coming!

We ate Lambchop! I knew that would get your attention. Let me explain.

I enjoyed the fresh foods that we ate in Peru, but at times, fresh brought on a whole new meaning. As my team and I hiked in the Andes, we were fortunate enough to have cooks with us to prepare and serve all of our food. Most of the food was fresh from local farms, or from other areas of Peru. Some of our meat was actually purchased from the local farmers that we came in contact with in the villages we passed through.

Face to face with dinner...this is not
for the faint of heart!

The group decided to pool our money and buy a sheep which the cooks would then fix for dinner for us. I was excited about this because it meant REALLY fresh meat. I was also a little grossed out because it meant coming face to face with dinner. Admittedly, I am not often spending time with my food before it ends up on my plate. Talk about a reality factor!

The sheep we purchased was nicknamed "Lambchop" by our group. It walked from one village to the next with us. And then, the cooks butchered it. Several group members watched the butchering close up,  but I decided to refrain. I decided I didn't need to see this process close-up. Other team members reported that it was interesting. Even my own hubby watched and didn't seem bothered by it.

The cooking of the meat was the most amazing part. Our cooks built a little "oven" out of stones. They wrapped the meat in individual foil packets which they placed in the oven, and then they piled stones over top. Veggies and potatoes were cooked on top of the stones. The whole process was amazing.

The food...delicious! The fresh lamb was so good, and the veggies and potatoes were all locally grown and harvested. This was some great eating! But, the entire group did agree on one thing...poor Lambchop!