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