If you are struggling to keep the kids entertained over the summer holidays, then get them into the kitchen. Creating a meal will teach your children some really important life lessons.
From budgeting and making their money go further, to the magic of creating a meal, planning, cooking and eating a family meal that they have created is something special - plus, it will keep them entertained for a few hours at least...
Why not set a family challenge and get your kids to cook once a week? You might end up eating something really creative that you never imagined they could make, or you could end up with beans on toast, but no matter what the outcome, I bet they will enjoy cooking for you.
Many schools do not teach basic cooking skills, so it can be left up to families and parents to teach their children how to cook.
We know that people who eat more homecooked foods are healthier, so cooking is an essential life skill. It does not have to be complicated or have lots of ingredients.
Start with the basics and wee ones can be involved in food prep from a very young age. Toddlers can start with age-appropriate skills like stirring a mixing bowl of ingredients, or even just getting the peas out of the freezer for you. As they get a little older, they can help wash and peel veggies, grate cheese and then progress onto following a basic recipe.
If your kids are up for the family challenge, the idea is that they are responsible for the whole meal, from deciding what they want to cook, to shopping for ingredients, food prep, cooking and serving.
The key steps are:
- Choose your recipe
- Make a shopping list and work out your food budget
- Go shopping
- Unpack and prep your ingredients
- Get cooking
- Tidy up as you go
- Serve up
- Clear up
Of course, social media is a source of inspiration for recipes to try, but there are lots of great websites including the BBC food and Jamie Oliver websites, with hundreds of simple recipes to choose from.
If your kids are up for the family challenge, the idea is that they are responsible for the whole meal, from deciding what they want to cook, to shopping for ingredients, food prep, cooking and serving
You might suggest that they start with a breakfast recipe like overnight oats, pancakes or eggs on toast before they progress to cooking dinner.
Getting kids interested in food and cooking can set them up for a lifetime of healthier food choices and will provide them with the skills to nourish themselves in later life. One of the things many families report back is that their child is more adventurous than they thought with food. This can be a really gentle way to encourage children who are ‘picky eaters’ to try something new.
Keep it fun and lighthearted and don’t worry about the mess. Your child might find some of the skills a little tricky to start with, but the more they cook, the better they will get. The level of supervision will vary, depending on their age, of course.
Simple recipes to try:
- Make your own overnight oats – get them experimenting with ingredients they like
- Smoothies – use fresh or frozen fruit, yoghurt and milk
- Eggs on toast – boiled, poached, scrambled or an omelette with all the trimmings
- Homemade soup
- Spaghetti Bolognese
- Fajitas
- Stir-fry with noodles
You might end up with a very messy kitchen, and a ‘unique’ recipe on the plate, but hopefully it will be the first step in a lifelong love of good food, or at least being able to make a simple meal.
