The number of things that get in the way of cooking together as a family is quite extraordinary. For starters, it’s rare to actually have the time to cook. Most people arrive home after a busy day and just want something quick and easy. The next is not having a kitchen that allows you to cook quickly. Few people hire a kitchen designer to create a convenient space in which to cook. Most have to make do with sub-par arrangements. Then there’s the issue of fast-food and packaged meals. Most people don’t cook from scratch because they no longer have to. Everything they want to eat comes out of a box and is already made for them. Finally, there’s clubs and other kids activities in the evenings, which makes meal times on weekdays a challenge. 

We get it. Making time to prepare food for the family is difficult. But if you and your kids can find time to cook together, it can yield substantial benefits. 

Cooking requires effort. When you cook from scratch, there’s a lot of chopping, whisking and beating. It’s a time-consuming process which requires you to engage your brain. It’s a different experience from whacking a ready-meal in the microwave and waiting for it to go “ping!”

Kids don’t always connect the dots between the food on their plates and the effort that goes into preparing it. But when they spend time doing it with you, they gain understanding pretty quickly. Making a meal is hard-work, and anyone who does it is worth their thanks. 

Benefit #2: It Teaches Children How To Use The Kitchen 

It’s a good idea to get your kids comfortable in the kitchen from an early age. The reason for this is that the better kids can cook their own meals, the less likely that they’ll reach for takeaways and junk food when they get older. 

How you design your kitchen matters a lot. The more intuitive and practical that you can make it, the better. Children need to feel confident in the facilities and know where everything is. 

Benefit #3: It Helps Combat Fussy Eating

One of the reasons kids can become fussy eaters is that they don’t feel like they have control over what they put in their mouths. When you share cooking chores with your kids, they chop and prepare all the food that they’ll eventually eat. All of a sudden, they’re invested in it. They’re a part of it – and that makes it a lot more appealing. 

Benefit #4: It Brings The Family Together

How many times do you and your family get to spend time together as a team during an average day? The likelihood is, not many. Cooking provides you with an opportunity to bring the family together and work as a team to do something valuable. 

Benefit #5: Cooking Is An Offline Social Activity

If you want to increase offline social interactions, then cooking is the ideal way to do it. 

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