As a parent, cooking at home creates an opportunity for the entire family to eat healthier. When you cook together, it also teaches your children how to be skilled, self-sufficient and well-prepared adults someday. With that said, there are a few more benefits to preparing and sharing regular home-cooked meals in the kitchen. Now that the kids are home for the summer, here are three reasons to gather around the kitchen island and get cooking as a family!
Kids are less reluctant to try new foods when they help with cooking.
Involving children in the cooking process is helpful for picky eaters. According to early learning professionals at Penn State University, “Eating and preparing foods can be a great sensory experience for children and a fun learning opportunity.” Cooking engages all five senses, and there is no better way for children to hear, smell, see, touch and taste all at once.
Cooking is educational and spans several subjects.
Cooking provides valuable lessons in math, science, social studies and language arts — from measuring ingredients and reading a recipe, to learning about growing seasons, chemical reactions, and unique cuisines around the world. Cooking is also a creative endeavor that inspires little minds to set up at the kitchen island, and experiment with new flavors and ingredients from the spice rack and kitchen pantry cabinet.
Cooking together helps families connect.
According to The Family Dinner Project, “Sharing a family meal is good for the spirit, the brain and the health of all family members.” Cooking together only furthers the connection and makes the experience even more memorable. From teaching children to make a cherished recipe passed down for generations, to simply catching up with conversation around the kitchen table, food can nourish both the body and the soul.
Looking for easy, kid-friendly recipes to make together? Here are three great resources to check out:
● Kid-Friendly Recipes from Food Network
“Discover kid-friendly recipes designed to keep supper simple and satisfying, with easy chicken, pasta and beef dinners for weeknights, plus weekend recipe ideas to make family time fun time.”
“These kid-friendly dinners will make the adults want to sneak seconds, too.”
“Do you have a preteen that loves spending time in the kitchen? Start off their solo cooking career with these yummy recipes that they’ll be able to master in a flash.”
For more easy recipe ideas and home improvement inspiration, check out our blog. And don’t forget to shop our Friends and Family Sale, July 24th through 31st, 2020!
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