No matter who is giving the reason – me, a teen or a young kid, I can share 5 reasons that will inspire you to take action!

It is not only a soufflé that rises when a child cooks for their family… When a child masters a skill there are lots of outcomes. In particular I have found a child who learns to cook and make good food choices…

• gains self-esteem
• gains a sense of importance
• feels they are able to make a meaningful contribution to their family
• is proud of their achievement
• is better equipped to look after themselves
• is able to look after others
• gains confidence and competence
• feels empowered to try more complex tasks
• is able to use preparing food as an act of service
• is able to use food as a means of expressing love
• develops self-management skills
• develops self-discipline
• develops self -espect
• develops budgeting skills.

I struggle to think of another set of everyday skills that directly impacts a child’s development and health.

Consider the three different perspectives below… mine, a teen’s and that of a younger child.

Reasons to cook – from my perspective  

• Success builds a child’s self-esteem and confidence – cooking is no exception.
• A sense of contribution, belonging, importance and pride develops as children master skills – cooking is an excellent way to foster this.
• Learning about food fosters personal responsibility – you can feel confident that your children will be better equipped to look after themselves.
• Cooking is a life skill. It’s like riding a bike – once they have ‘got it’ they are away.
• You can get the odd night off!

Reasons to cook – from a teenage perspective  

• You don’t have to put up with food you don’t like – you call the shots!
• It feels great if you can cook for friends and family – lots of compliments are good!
• Being able to cook gives you leverage… ‘If I cook dinner, can I borrow the car? Money for the movies? New shoes?’
• Knowing you can cook is quite empowering. You can make good food choices so you can get better skin, have more energy, be at a good weight – it’s all your choice.
• It’s quite good fun cooking!

Reasons to cook – from a tween’s perspective  

• You can eat the ingredients while you are cooking and then get to choose the best piece.
• Your mum gets in a good mood if you help (cringe – this was a sage observation from my youngest son!).
• You can make sure what is being cooked is something you like.
• If you do the cooking you don’t have to help with the clean up.
• It’s fun cooking.

The thought of learning a new life skill will simply not engage the average kid – especially when described as a life skill. However you start talking about something they want or need and you have their total attention.

I have found deal-making works well.  Along the lines of ‘If I do this for you, could you do this for me’. You may be surprised to find how kids respond to this; many are masters of negotiation in other things so they will quickly work it out. I think it is quite funny when my children say one of the main reasons they wanted to be able to cook was because it gave them leverage. That’s fine if that’s what motivates them. It also has helped our family operate more like a team with everyone contributing.

Ironically, often as parents we have to buy things for our kids anyway. Take a special pair of shoes for example. Both parties win if you suggest that if they cook dinner each Tuesday they will be able to get those shoes. This is not bribery. Bribery implies that one person wins and the other loses.  This is far better than that – there are winners all round. Your child learns a skill for a lifetime, they get the shoes, the family bond grows stronger and you get a night off – it’s the epitome of a win:win situation. 

No matter what perspective you are coming from

 the outcome is the same –

your child gets a skill for a lifetime

which is undoubtedly to

his or her advantage.

Claire is now getting a steady flow of really cool e-mails from kids wanting more cooking tips or telling her what they think about the book or how a recipe turned out. This is great because it really encourages interactivity. Certainly with her weekly TV appearance on Small Blacks and with last weeks TVNZ  Good Morning show she is getting quite a following in NZ, but we are also excited about the number of kids from all over the place who are also reaching out.

I think this emphasizes just how much kids need someone they can relate to, share experiences with and feel comfortable asking questions when they are learning a new skill. It is part of our strategy which both Claire and I want to see develop.

Matthew with the ham

I simply have to share our family Christmas from last year – it was so good you just have to try it!!!

There was a huge amount of hilarity coming from the kitchen as the teenagers and young adults in our family gave their parents ( me included) and grandparents the ultimate Christmas present – “this year you all relax – we’ll do the cooking!’

Spurred on by the start of It’s my Turn to Cook and what started off as a joke, the 2009 Christmas rule ‘if you are over 30 stay out of the kitchen’ was fantastic. The kids absolutely got into it – they even insisted you had to dress in theme. Each of us were given character from the nativity scene– so I had to go as a King ( I’ll got to wear the new dress I’d already bought some other time), my sister as a manger, an uncle as a star and yes we had a swag of sheep, a donkey and shepherds on hand! Of course we had a Jesus, Mary and Joseph – made even more hilarious as the list got rigged so males got the females and vice versa…

The food was just stunning – much had been pre-prepared and because there were eight of them they were able share the load. They kept the food simple and were all able to focus on what is really important – enjoying each other’s company. There was not even a whinge about who is doing the clean up – between them they had the roster totally sorted!

There was a bit of nervousness that if they did the cooking too well they would be lumbered with the task every year. It was such a treat, yes - I think the ultimate present, to see the children all getting on so well and having so much fun doing something for other people. 2009 was their turn to give.

Their efforts were so appreciated and all of us have totally assured them this that year we’ll take our turn again. But if you haven’t tried this, I can simply say it was fabulous!!

Katherine on kitchen control

Some of the Christmas Day cooks

I have long pondered the differing motivations to learn to cook – but when it all boils down to it – does it matter if the outcomes are the same??? Have a look at these little clips to compare why I think its a good idea for kids to cook and then compare it with what Claire thinks… differing trigger points… the same outcome!

Claire’s reasons

My reasons… ( perspective of parent and nutrition educator…)

When all said and done – as long as they have a go we are making progress!!

I am often asked when is the right time to start cooking with children and my response is simple. Now.  It’s like the old saying “ When is the best time to plant a tree ? thirty years ago, When is the second best time? Now!” Similarly it’s ideal to start an interest in food and being in the kitchen when they’re really young – but if you haven’t done that, and indeed many of us haven’t, now is certainly the second best time.

From my perspective, as a parent I want to give my kids as many advantages in life as I can. I want my kids to be able to cook because success in any skill builds self esteem and cooking is absolutely no exception. I believe that imparting food skills also fosters personal responsibility so I feel confident that they will be better equipped to look after themselves.

(more…)

It was fabulous to touch base with so many food teachers at the recent HETTANZ Conference in Auckland last week. There was definitely a common bond in desire to teach children to cook and I really appreciate all the support and encouragement  so many  of you have given me in the development of this project.

Being an ex – Home Ec teacher I believe that our resource will totally support you in your classroom teaching – its great to hear so many of you agree!!! I think teachers do such an integral job in preparing our children to make good food choices – but sadly food teachers simply do not get to every child… and food choices and skills are important to those kids too – so anything you can do to point them in the direction of www.itsmyturntocooktonight.com would be awesome.

The task to inspiring kids to cook is HUGE – but it is possible if we all work together!  No matter how little or big your efforts are, it is cumulative, and it will make a difference. The issue of motivating kids to action is the same in almost every developed country… make it fun or they wont engage… Claire does a pretty good job! Let me know if you have any ideas of resources you need.  Thanks, Glenda

I am often asked when is the right time to start your teenagers cooking and my response is simple. Now.  It’s like the old saying “ When is the best time to plant a tree ? thirty years ago, When is the second best time? Now!” Similarly it’s ideal to start an interest in food and being in the kitchen when they’re really young – but if you haven’t done that, and indeed many of us haven’t, now is certainly the second best time.

I am not suggesting you swing into a major campaign to make them totally competent, but I am saying  if there is any glimmer of interest then encourage it. And if there is no glimmer look for ways to start one. It might be something as simple as asking them if there is anything at the supermarket they would like you to get so you can fix their favourite meal…  you might suggest they ‘have a go’ to cook a meal. Do a deal – if I do this for you could you possibly do dinner – you may be surprised how much they like it when you give them some space, freedom to choose what to cook and let go for it!  My children especially like it when I get out of the kitchen so they can get on with it – and I think this is good part of the independence thing  - although they usually like it if I am within ’yelling distance’ so I can answer any questions.  Or if you think a meal is too much – get them to stir fry the vegetables or mash the potatoes. Step one has got to be engagement followed by participation. (more…)

The past six weeks have disappeared to a blur as Claire and I have worked on a hard copy book with heaps more recipes. This will be available off our website and in book retailers later in the year!

Over the school holidays our  kitchen has been a stream of teenagers joining Claire to  test, cook and be in the photos. Things were a bit mayhem this day as Claire and her two cousins decided that juggling vegetables was a bit of sport! As usual I am amazed at how much they like to cook once they get a bit of confidence and how much they all like to eat what they have cooked.

Last weekend Claire and I had the privilege of flying to Christchurch to see the New Zealand Culinary Team in action as they had their last practice before they headed off to the 2010 International Culinary Championship. They got silver last year – and this year their aim is higher! It was an awesome experience for Claire who was able to spend the entire morning snooping around the kitchen watching the team work under extreme pressure of precision timing and total perfection of taste and presentation. We then had the ultimate treat of eating their stunning creation, I can’t reveal what it was – except to say it was remarkable. What did become overwhelmingly obvious to Claire was the huge difference  between the exceptional ability of the culinary team and the sort of meals we eat daily as a family. The difference she aptly described was like comparing an elite professional artist with an amateur whose main goal was caring and nurturing their family and friends. I guess this is the same contract that is being highlighted in the reality cooking programmes that are on TV at the moment. However there is always something to learn and tips to gain from the experts and Claire has headed home with a few little tricks up her sleeve! We will share them soon!

I have found a great article written by Otago University nutrition student Jessica Meads, who shares her tips on getting teenagers into healthy eating habits. Jessica identifies four barriers – time, lack of interest, food phases and outside influencers, and gives solutions from her perspective on each of the barriers.

Her solution for lack of interest is certainly involvement in family cooking and echoes the philosophy of It’s my Turn to Cook. Jessica states “This will not only allow them to learn how to fend for themselves, it will also increase their awareness of what actually makes up their favourite meals” She goes on to say, “Encourage them to choose what they would like to cook each week, getting them to write down what ingredients they need. Through this you could encourage healthier meals to be tried or simply how a favourite meal could be made healthier. For example, asking them to make a salad to accompany the meal too or add extra veggies to a pasta dish. Hopefully their interest might be sparked and you never know – the next Jamie Oliver could be discovered!”

To read the whole article go to   http://www.healthyfood.co.nz/articles/2010/february/top-tips-to-transform-your-teen