Set Your Kids Up For Cooking Success

Gone are the days where all families eat at thefamily. * Kids are more likely to sit down to a
dinner table, children grow up cooking alongsidefamily meal when they helped prepare it. *
their parents and one generation shares familyParents get to spend quality time with their kids. *
recipes with the next. Life seems to be moreKids aren't spending time in front of the TV or
hectic than ever and kids don't often get thecomputer while they're cooking. * Kids generally
chance to develop good cooking habits, whicharen't eating junk food when they're cooking a
affects their health in the long run. And for some,meal at home. * Learning to cook is a skill your
bad eating results in obesity and other poor healthchildren can use for the rest of their lives. * Kids
conditions. At an early age, kids need to learnwho learn to eat well may be more likely to eat
basic healthy cooking techniques, and expertshealthfully as adults. * Positive cooking
suggest it's well worth the effort! Among theexperiences can help build self-confidence. * Kids
recommendations in a recent American Heartwho cook with their parents may even be less
Association report on overweight problems inlikely to abuse drugs. * Eating properly can help
children and teens were: * Reducing the numberimprove memory and test grades. What's healthy
of meals eaten outside the home. * Havingeating for kids? Eating more fruits and vegetables,
structured times for family meals. * Offeringhaving whole grains and beans when possible, and
healthier, low-calorie foods. * Involving children inchoosing leaner types of animal foods (sneak
meal planning, shopping, and food preparation.some fish in now and then.) So get them in the
Cooking with children has both short-term andkitchen! Have them help prepare meals, measure
long-term payoffs: * It encourages kids to tryingredients, peel veggies, or hand mix. Involving
healthy foods. * Kids feel like they arethem with the food they eat will have long-lasting
accomplishing something and contributing to thehealth benefits.