Cooking With Kids: Why It's Worth It

The Master Chef

So I have to be honest with you, I truly dislike cooking. It’s never been my thing. As a kid, I didn’t care to learn nor was I really invited into the kitchen. I took home ec in middle school and learned a few recipes and made them at home. That was the first time I felt somewhat confident in my culinary abilities.

My mom was a gem of a human, but I could sense her apprehension every time I stepped in the kitchen to “help”. She had been cooking for YEARS having to care for her father and brothers for a prolonged time since she was a teenager. I remember learning how to make over easy eggs and feeling like I could master this cooking thing! Unfortunately, we can’t all survive on over-easy eggs and teenage me didn’t care to learn beyond that.

So here I am, in my late 30s and I feel like I still cannot cook for beans. I have a family now and I am trying my best to make healthier choices and cook meals that are fast and easy because I am impatient, busy and HUNGRY! Thankfully I married a lovely man who is a forgiving soul and eats what I make. Is it a fancy dish, no. Is it edible, most of the time ;)

So chili has become a staple in our house. My husband is vegetarian and he introduced me to this dish (not this particular recipe), but I love it because…

1) It is full of veggies and beans!

2) My kids don’t complain

3) You can add cheese, sour cream, chips, and CORNBREAD (not particularly healthy, I know, but it definitely helps to motivate my picky eater to eat!)

Our dinners are very low maintenance in this house and because I’m on “vacation week” from work, my son and I made homemade cornbread with our chili this week. This simple, delicious recipe is going straight into my recipe book.

Though my mom may not have taught me a lot of cooking recipes, she definitely taught me a lot about baking! I have transferred those skills to my son over the years. We did A LOT of baking during Covid. Now, my son (7 years old) and I bake together often. It’s definitely a bonding experience and he has learned so many important skills such as:

+ Measurement (tsp, tbsp, cups, etc.)

+ Reading a recipe and following instructions/steps

+ The names of different tools (mixing bowl, measuring cup, measuring spoon, spatula, etc.) + Hand-eye coordination & fine motor skills with all the pouring, scooping, sifting, rolling, whisking, cutting, etc.

+ How to operate an oven and the precautions with it.

Does your child seem intrigued by cooking/baking, but you don’t know where to start? Rent a tote to explore the topic! Here are some great ones to rent from our specialists:

Brook’s Cooking Tote (Collin County, TX)

Allison’s Bake Shop Tote (Concord, NH)

Jocelyn’s Healthy Eating Tote (Monroe County, NY)

Jennifer’s Apples, Apples, Apples Tote (Naperville, IL)

Shannon’s Sweet Shop Tote (Wrentham, MA)

Do you cook/bake with your child? Have a recipe or tips to share? Feel free to comment below!