Cooking homecooked meals feels like it’s becoming a thing of the past. There are services that will bring you takeout, fast-food is basically everywhere, people are busier than ever, and cooking at home is not the norm anymore.
As someone who grew up with a mom who couldn’t cook, I can appreciate how difficult or daunting this may be for some parents. My mother did teach me to bake and that helped me feel comfortable in the kitchen. I eventually transitioned into preferring to cook versus bake, but I am actually proficient at both.
I saw an article that said over 50% of Americans admitted to not knowing how to cook and over 60% of kids entering college can’t cook either. Fancy dishes aside, everyone, and I mean everyone, should know how to make basic meals. I had my youngest in the kitchen with me, in her bouncy chair. She spent a lot of time in the kitchen with me growing up.
Kids can learn so much and help out quite a bit. Will there be messes – YES! May it take a bit longer than if you had just done it yourself – YES! However, aside from them learning about food, what they are eating, nutrition, and how to cook, the memories that will be created are priceless. A bonus is, kids can learn fractions while learning to cook. Measuring cups and spoons are perfect for this. They won’t even see it as learning math either.
Young kids can learn to snap green beans, help wash potatoes, mix ingredients, putting food on a baking dish, and taste test. Older kids can help with washing produce, chopping food, mixing, stirring food on the stove, etc. It’s an opportunity to show them they can control what they eat. Not to mention, when they are teens, they can get meals started if they are home before you get home from work.
Learning how to make scrambled eggs and toast, chopping garlic, dicing an onion, making spaghetti, baking chicken in the oven or air fryer should be standard skills kids learn. If you, as the parent aren’t very proficient in this, YouTube is great for showing you step-by-step how to do it. The amount of cooking shows out there for inspiration and techniques are also there for you to use. I’ve even helped people online because they see a dish I posted and have asked me about it.
You don’t need to be a chef to make meals for yourself or your family; just the desire to want to. Crockpot cooking is a thing for a reason. It helps busy families eat. Air fryer meals cut down a lot of the cooking time as well. I work full-time outside the home. Most of our meals are cooked within 30 minutes. It just takes a little planning.
Food prepping on weekends can also make weekday meals quicker. Not to mention, the meals can be healthier and you’ll your food budget will go further. 
Go make some memories with your kids. Hearing your teenage daughter say, “I can’t wait to do this with my children” really warms the heart.
The Pink Herald 