Getting "Cooking" With the Littles

Dear Moms, 

Mother's Day is approaching and with that- we all know the familiar and often cliche doings of kids destroying the kitchen to prepare a "FEAST." Sometimes their knowledge is soggy Cap'n Crunch and burnt toast- but there are those adventurous souls that endeavor to use the stove! LOL Bless their hearts, and YIKES! I was once a phobic mommy that did NOT want anyone to go near the stove. Then, I gave my oldest a chance with pancakes. Seeing as that is my business, I knew she could add water to the mix and if I stood guard I could advise as needed...and, she DID it!! I was beyond proud, and super relieved- but, I had sparked something in her. Now, she desired to Guy Fieri EVERYTHING! She had monster sandwich ideas, recipes for marinades and she was ALWAYS watching the Cooking Channel and Food Network! Needless to say, I had to get over that fear very quickly because she was motivated and passionate. Now, cooking is a part of the regular chore chart rotation. Each kid has a task to assist with the preparation of dinner for one night of the week. They are also responsible for submissions of ideas for dinner each week. 

I personally feel that food is what brings the family together as a unit- at the end of the day. Dinner is super important to me because the kids are outnumbering me four to one and I am ALWAYS busy with something...dinner is the main time (besides our carpool drives) we can chat about life and what we are all up to. When we cook together, it extends that time together. The experts have their reasons, I have mine- they're below, keep reading!

1. Stops Picky Eating. I mean let's face it, this is almost a no brainer. When a child can see, feel, taste and experience the ingredients in a dish, they have a greater understanding of "why" it tastes the way it does once prepared. Sophia (the youngest) absolutely HATED green beans. She had a warm mixed bean casserole at Head Start with wax beans and she discovered that she could tolerate them... I took her to a farmer's market and got wax beans, green beans, and yellow beans; (I think that was the third bean) and we made a chilled bean salad together and now the kid LOVES BEANS of all varieties!
2. Passing Down Recipes and Making Memories. I spent tons of time underfoot in the kitchen with my mom and grandmother- I was fortunate enough to even learn at the elbow of my great grandmother for the majority of my life! Those recipes; the way to eyeball the amount of salt, butter, milk- secret tips to increase flavor etc are all things I carry not only in my mind- but also in my heart. There are certain scents in the kitchen that evoke such strong memories in me that I'm 6 years old all over again. Those memories also hold lessons. For instance the time I made Pan de los Muertos (Bread of the Dead) in high school, and forgot to add the scalded milk... inevitably creating Paperweight de los Muertos because the bread dried out like a biscotti after it cooled! I will NEVER forget the scalded milk again some 16 years later! lol
3. Necessary Life Skill. Hey, ya gotta eat! I would rather my children choose to whip up a quick dinner for themselves as adults than to pick up a quick dinner any day! Plus, as we all expand our schedules and responsibilities; it helps to have other people capable of creating something to eat for everyone in the household! Being able to cook is an indispensable skill for any adult. I've often said as a single mom I can't teach my sons to be men, but I can raise them to be men that women will appreciate... what woman doesn't love a man that can cook?! (You're welcome CJ and Cy!) 
4. SUPERVISION IS KEY!! Okay, admittedly this is not a true REASON for allowing kids into the kitchen- but, it is a pivotal piece in doing so. Even if you are just sitting in the kitchen, keep a watchful eye on their activities in the kitchen. Everybody thinks they are Rachel Ray in their own kitchen experiences (at least I do anyway) but, kitchens are a place that safety and respect rules 1 and 2.

Getting the kids into the kitchen is not hard, it starts with the shopping. Let them decide what you're making and choose the ingredients together. Incorporate a new ingredient that you can either teach them about or learn about together; and get them to measure out what you need once you get home! Have fun, get messy and happy eating. :) 

Until Next Time!