To eat healthy, the first step is in the kitchen.
Inspire your kids and give them a life skill that they will carry with them wherever they go.
Cooking is creative and fun. They will enjoy getting wet
a little hands. Plus, your culinary efforts will pay off with something that will (if all goes well) great.
Cooking with children or other loved ones can have a positive and lasting influence on us. Create memories, strengthen bonds … cooking can teach children to appreciate healthy, homemade foods and to acquire lifelong eating habits that will be better for their health as they grow.
The importance of this should not be overlooked. In recent decades, global rates of childhood obesity and overweight have skyrocketed. This is in part because the diet contains nutrient-poor foods, high-calorie foods or snacks, and insufficient amounts of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and calcium-rich (dairy) products.
Meals eaten outside the home tend to be higher in calories and saturated fat and provide fewer micronutrients such as calcium and fiber than homemade meals. On the other hand, eating more meals is related to a higher consumption of fruits, vegetables and dairy products with less fat and calories.
Call your kids and let’s make homemade food a new tradition!
Cooking with children: The many beneficial effects.
- Cooking at home and eating together teaches children to appreciate healthy food. Parents are role models with the type of diet they choose, which helps children learn to appreciate healthy foods in a similar way. A welcoming and supportive home cooking environment can help reinforce these healthy behaviors
- Children love to eat the food they have prepared. When children are involved in choosing ingredients and preparing meals, they are more likely to taste your creations.
- Children are more likely to try new foods. Even if children decide they don’t like what they have prepared, the experience of cooking will help them develop an open and curious attitude towards new foods.
- Children experience a sense of power, achievement, and independence when they cook. They love to tell people: «I did it myself!» or «I’ve helped stir the sauce!» When they are able to prepare something on their own (however simple it may be) and serve it to the family, it creates a sense of pride and increases their confidence. Help them by sharing age-appropriate recipes that they can make themselves.
- Cooking is a great way to spend more time together. For most kids, it’s easy to convince them to help you out in the kitchen. Take advantage of this time to enjoy each other’s company and talk about how delicious and good their food is going to be!
In the School of Healthy Eating that we do every Tuesday for free you can learn more about nutrients and healthy ingredients.