Katie Fulk, MA, RDN, LD, community outreach dietitian, Youth and Family Well-being, Parkview Health, invites caregivers to bring their children into the kitchen to cultivate healthy eating habits.
What if I told you that starting today you can make family mealtime less stressful in the future? That's right. By getting your children involved in meal preparation, starting in toddlerhood, you can create a new routine that promotes wellness.
Watch the video: Nourishing Knowledge: Cooking with kids
It’s said that children who can prepare meals and snacks independently can make more nourishing choices than those who can’t. Unfortunately, many young adults leave home for the first time without basic cooking skills.
Inviting your children into the kitchen to help with meal preparation will look different for all ages. For the little ones, pull up a toddler-safe step stool and allow them to help wash produce in the sink, tear lettuce or snap green beans.
For your older children, consider letting them set the table. Or, if they are more experienced, have them prepare a side dish to be served with the main course.
As children gain experience, their mealtime responsibilities can grow. Imagine this, by the time you get home from work, your teenager has already prepared Taco Tuesday. Sounds great, right?
While this approach will take additional time and patience, the investment is worth it. Children who learn to cook are also practicing various skills, such as reading, math and science. Allowing your children to help with meal preparation can also strengthen connection, communication and will ensure that cherished family recipes live on for generations.
So, there is no time like the present. Tonight, I challenge you to involve the whole family in dinner preparation.
