Kids can cook - let them!
Today’s families are busy, but usually the children have more time on their hands than their parents. Spending some of that time in the kitchen will build skills for the kids and likely stretch the family food budget further.
The Facts
- Kids can help with meal prep and batch cooking
- Building skills in the kitchen early pays dividends later
- When food is prepped there is less need for ordering take-out
Involving young children in cooking might not save time, at first. However, it allows them to develop a positive relationship with food and expand their responsibilities over time.
Allowing teenagers to cook builds essential life skills and promotes better health over the long term. Young adults who know their way around a kitchen will be able to feed themselves well without breaking the bank.
At the same time, help with meal prep saves money. There is less need for paying a hefty markup at the grocery store for pre-chopped vegetables, cooked potato dishes, or other expensive convenience foods. And with meals already prepped, there is not much reason for ordering food in, either.
What teens can cook
Teens are capable of taking on quite a bit of meal prep without supervision:
- Loading a big batch of rice into a rice cooker takes a few minutes, and the appliance does the rest
- Batch-cooking beans and lentils in a slow-cooker takes just minutes to set up
- Baking potatoes in the oven doesn’t require much more than setting a timer and being around to check whether the potatoes are done
- Boiling and peeling a large batch of eggs is not difficult to master
- Peeling and chopping vegetables definitely takes time, but it can be done while watching something on a device, or while chatting on the phone
- Cooking an entire meal gives tired parents a break
What younger children can help with
Younger children need supervision from adults or older siblings, but they can definitely contribute to meal prep.
- Ages 1–3: Tearing greens, washing produce, pouring pre-measured ingredients, and stirring contents in a low bowl
- Ages 4–5: Kneading dough, using cookie cutters, setting the table, and cracking eggs with assistance
- Ages 6–8: Measuring dry and wet ingredients, tossing salads, using a butter knife or plastic knife on soft fruits like bananas, and operating a blender or microwave with supervision.
- Ages 9–10: Following simple recipes, chopping harder vegetables with a knife, and using the stove or toaster, all with adult supervision.
- Ages 11 and up: Preparing full meals, baking independently, and planning simple grocery lists with minimal supervision
Sources for inspiration:
- Teens in the Kitchen by Canadian Food Focus
- 68 Easy Recipes Your Kids Can Make Themselves by Taste of Home
- 12 Easy Recipes Kids Can Make Themselves by this Pilgrim Life
- 35+ Back-To-School Dinners: Fast, Faster & Fastest! by real mom nutrition