Why you should let your kids participate in the kitchen

My 10-year-old brother hated Githeri (Githeri is a Kenyan dish prepared by frying a mixture of pre-boiled maize and beans with desired vegetables). He would fake a stomach ache, fake satisfaction, and sometimes stay too long in the bathroom. We recently started making Githeri together as a family.

My mum and dad would separate the beans from the shaft and sort the maize. My brother would light the jiko. I, on the other hand, would ensure the maize and beans are cooked.

One of my sisters would there after fry the food as required. Githeri has now turned from something he hated to something he looks forward to. He even reminds us to get avocados to have with this delicacy.

The benefits of cooking together include:

Encouraging creativity

Cooking encourages children to try new techniques and explore different flavors since the children participate in suggesting the dishes or flavors to cook.

Encouraging healthy eating habits

Generally, children are very inquisitive. During cooking time, they want to know why certain ingredients are added and why others are not.

Every time their questions are answered, they understand the health benefits of different food stuffs and therefore appreciate the food more.

Teaching practical life skills

When you let your children cook with you, they learn the cooking skills through apprenticeship. Therefore, in future, they will know how to make their own food at home. When this happens, they will also learn how to save and budget their money properly.

Creating core memories

Cooking together honors your family’s need for quality time. By discussing meals to prepare, how to prepare them, and sharing chores, your family bond is strengthened.

Set time to have family recipe days. To make it more fun, let family members take turns selecting meals they wish to prepare.