| If you're not a natural cook who has a | | | | your children gets a good head start by |
| passion for experimenting with food and you | | | | explaining to them why it's better to use |
| don't go crazy about having the right kitchen | | | | Extra Virgin olive oil in cooking or eating |
| utensils and equipment in your kitchen, then | | | | salad is better than having sugary desserts |
| cooking is probably something you feel you | | | | every night not only sets an example but also |
| have to do and if someone else offers to cook | | | | gives them the logic behind why you dish out |
| for you or you can eat out, you're more than | | | | certain types of foods. |
| happy to do the latter two options. Because | | | | |
| cooking can be a real chore if you're not | | | | Whilst cooking, your children can help you |
| that fussy about what you eat and how it's | | | | with measuring quantities of various food |
| cooked. However, if you have children you not | | | | stuff that you're using and if you can devise |
| only have to do it every day but you also | | | | a game where your child can help you count |
| have to think about their well-being in terms | | | | solid foods before peeling and asking them to |
| of what's healthy for them. Have you thought | | | | add more or take some away will help them to |
| about cooking with your children? | | | | become more confident at counting. You'd be |
| | | | able to entertain the younger children and |
| When you think about cooking with children, | | | | educate them at the same time. The older |
| you would more likely come up with special | | | | children would find measuring liquids in a |
| occasion scenarios where your kids will help | | | | jug or flour on a scale a little more |
| you with putting the buttons on the ginger | | | | challenging especially if you ask them to |
| bread men while they try to lick the | | | | halve the quantity or double it. Even some |
| chocolate sauce - like in the movies. But to | | | | adults still find that sort of task |
| cook with them every day sounds almost a | | | | challenging. Sometimes providing a little |
| scary feat. You don't have to do it every day | | | | incentive, something that they can win can |
| but try once a week and see how many days you | | | | make them ever so excited to go along with |
| and your children can handle. | | | | the cooking games. |
| | | | |
| Okay, granted, the cooking process would take | | | | If your games are devised in a way that makes |
| a little longer and depending on how | | | | it so that your children gets things right |
| co-operative and helpful your children are, | | | | most of time, this encourages them more to |
| it could be frustrating at times. But managed | | | | participate in the cooking process making it |
| properly, cooking could possibly be a more | | | | easier for you and making them more confident |
| enjoyable experience for you and a more | | | | about speaking up, joining in and build on |
| educational experience for your kids. It's | | | | their arithmetic and creative abilities. |
| also a way to connect with your children | | | | |
| making a mundane chore into a sharing | | | | At the end of all the cooking, praise them |
| experience. | | | | for what they've done, show them what their |
| | | | contribution in the cooking process has |
| If you can get your children interested, | | | | created. Let them feel as though they were |
| they'd naturally become curious and ask you | | | | responsible for making dinner for you and |
| lots of questions. And if they do, take this | | | | your partner which will further help their |
| cooking experience with them as an | | | | confidence, build their sense of pride about |
| opportunity to teach them about which foods | | | | contributing within the family. And when |
| are good and healthy and which foods should | | | | eating the food, the fact that everyone is |
| be used or eaten moderately. The fact that | | | | enjoying the food they help made really gives |
| the obesity rate of children are at a high in | | | | them a sense of accomplishing something |
| the United States and other prospering | | | | worthwhile. Of course, you get to feel like |
| countries is another good reason to make sure | | | | you've been a good mother! |