Pediatrician Nimali Fernando shared 5 good reasons to take the time to cook with your child.
A balanced diet is an essential element for growing up well. However, children are not always great culinary adventurers. Broccoli, spinach, soup, fish, endives with ham… many vegetables and healthy dishes are received with grimaces from the youngest.
For pediatrician Nimali Fernando, cooking with children is a good way to help them discover new flavors and overcome their aversion to tasting unfamiliar foods. But it also develops other important skills.
Cooking with a child: developing their senses…
“For a picky eater, tasting an unfamiliar food can sometimes be intimidating. You can help your child explore foods while cooking by using senses other than taste. This helps create positive associations with food. Kneading dough, rinsing vegetables, and shredding lettuce all involve touching the food and becoming comfortable with the texture.”explains Dr. Nimali Fernando in a article published by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Indeed, we often forget it, but the flavors of dishes are not only conveyed by taste. Smell, touch and sight also play a role. Preparing the meal allows us to highlight them more and overcome certain aversions. “When cooking with new ingredients, some children may feel too overwhelmed to taste. If this happens, you can try suggesting that they smell a food first. This can serve as a bridge to tasting later.”advises the expert.
…and his knowledge
Moreover, by simmering dishes, young cooks can also put into practice concepts seen at school. First of all, mathematics: you have to count the eggs, weigh the flour, do fractions or multiplications to have the right measurements according to the number of guests. Cooking also allows you to see several elements of science in action, such as boiling or freezing water or the seasonality of vegetables.
Moreover, “Following a recipe from start to finish helps develop the skills needed to plan and carry out projects.”notes the pediatrician.
Discovering family culture through cooking
Preparing meals as a family is an opportunity to celebrate and showcase cultural heritage by passing down recipes. It’s also a time of sharing that creates “happy memories” with your children. Dr. Nimali Fernando adds that cooking balanced meals (and occasionally avoiding processed foods) is also a great way to set a good example for your children. Plus, it helps children develop healthy eating habits that will continue as they grow up.
Learn the right actions to avoid domestic accidents
In addition to developing good eating habits, children who prepare their meals with their parents gradually learn the right actions to take in the kitchen to avoid domestic accidents. “Teach children the importance of safety when cooking by showing them how to hold cooking utensils safely, how to use pot holders to protect hands from heat, and how to turn appliances on and off safely.”says Dr. Nimali Fernando.
She also calls for caution: “Always supervise children when cooking to ensure they stick to safe, age-appropriate tasks. The best way to ensure kitchen safety is to know your child’s abilities and stage of development.”
For example, while a four-year-old may not have the strength to sauté vegetables in a pan, he or she has the motor skills to rinse vegetables or toss salad leaves.
Involve the child in choosing meals
Another advantage of cooking with your child is that they feel involved in the meal. Choosing recipes and ingredients together or discussing the preparation of the meal is a good way to avoid tears at the table later. “When cooking together, let kids critique the food you’re making. Together, you can decide what ingredients to add to enhance the flavor. Talk about how people enjoy different tastes and share your preferences. Letting kids “take charge” of details like how to set the table will help them feel involved in the meal.”concludes the expert.
