KIDS IN THE KITCHEN

Note: This is a repost of a 2019 post. This granddaughter will be 18 later this month and she still enjoys cooking and baking. Being a high school Senior and holding down a job keeps her pretty busy now so there is less time for cooking and baking.

Don't be one of those parents who refuses to allow your children in the kitchen.  Allowing your kids to participate in the preparing of meals will help them to have a better understanding of foods and will cause them to try more foods.  Kids love to eat what they make!  This is an excellent way to get them to try new and healthy foods.  One of my granddaughter's favorite activities is helping me in the kitchen.  One of her favorite foods is our healthy pear-pecan cakes that she bakes.  This is a picture of her in action creaming ingredients for said cakes when she was six years old. She is now 14 years old and she cooks and bakes as often as she can. She bakes dessert for 250-300 homeless once every month. When she's at my house I can leave the meals to her. The best part? She eats healthy foods routinely.

FAMILY MEALS

A 2010 survey found that 70% of children agreed they appreciated their parents more when the family took time to eat together.  Folks, that is a large number!  A 2014 study found that children who eat at the table with their family several times a week are less likely to be obese and much less likely to be truant from school.The 2010 survey also showed that 65% of parents said they felt less stressed when their family made a habit of eating their dinner/supper meals together.  Do not let today's busy lifestyles cause you to neglect this important family ritual.  Even if it can't be done on a regular basis, just twice a week is a good start.

However, the pleasure and peace from such occasions will be null and void if the process creates more stress.  Try these simple ways to get family meals going in your home:

• Be realistic.  You cannot expect to put a gourmet caliber meal on the table in a matter of minutes.  It is the togetherness that counts, not the quality of the meal.
• Order in food, if necessary.  Conversation and togetherness can be accomplished over a delivered pizza or Chinese takeout.
• Make soups, lasagna, casseroles, etc when you can and refrigerate or freeze for warming up later.
• Get a slow cooker or crockpot.  You can have some really good foods ready when you come home after a hectic day.
• While home cooking is usually best for one's health, get together at a relaxing restaurant for a family meal from time to time.

Remember less stress and more relaxation is good for the health of mom, dad, and the children.  Make family meals a habit even if it is only a couple of times a week!  Health and happiness go hand-in-hand!

file photo