Teens in the Kitchen

By Sue Mah, MHSc, RD, PHEc, FDC

When my youngest child was 9 years old, they asked for a puppy for Christmas. For many different reasons, it just wasn’t the right time for a puppy in our family, so I asked them what the next item was on their wish list. The reply – “a cherry red Kitchen Aid stand mixer!”

Seven years later, that cherry red Kitchen Aid stand mixer still sits proudly on our kitchen counter and is used often! As a dietitian and chef’s daughter, I’m a passionate advocate for building our kids’ cooking skills and food literacy.

It can start when they’re babies, playing “drums” with a wooden spoon on an upside-down pot. When my kids were toddlers, they helped with simple tasks such as tearing lettuce, washing berries and cracking eggs. And as older kids, they helped read recipes, measure ingredients and practiced basic knife skills.

Cooking skills definitely come in handy when kids move away for school. While there are meal plans on campus, having a residence or apartment with a kitchen allows them to cook some healthy meals and snacks while living on their own.

Cooking is an essential life skill and fosters healthy eating. When teens eat well, they’re fueled for study, work and play.

Here are ways to build your teen’s food skills and confidence in the kitchen.

1. Search and find.

Invite your teen to search online or flip through cookbooks to find a recipe that THEY would like to make. Avoid judging the recipe they choose. The idea is to nurture their interest in cooking. My child found a recipe for Macaroni and Cheese made with cream and a brown butter breadcrumb topping – it was delicious!

2. Cook for a cause.

Find a charity or worthy cause. Our family baked over 100 cupcakes to raise money for the OSPCA’s (Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) charity cupcake fundraiser, raising nearly $800 (can you visualize our stand mixer in action?!). Not to mention, the kids learned a thing or two about accounting, marketing and customer service. My neighbour’s kids down the street host an annual bake sale to raise money for the World Wildlife Fund. Teens are interested in giving back to their communities.

3. Learn together.

Take a vegetarian cooking class with your teen or go on a local food tour. Teach them your family recipes. Encourage your teen to share their own knowledge and learn from others too. My kids learned how to make a variety of different cultural recipes from their friends. Food unites us!

4. Appoint a chef for the day.

Ask your teen to prepare one complete meal on their own about once a month or even more often. It could be breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack or dessert. The “chef” can choose the recipe and shop for the ingredients too. It’s truly a proud moment for them to serve their final creation to the family!

Have fun in the kitchen!

P.S. We eventually did bring home a puppy – a friendly little Australian Labradoodle!