Cook With Your Family

     Many of us are just now realizing the truth of how much and how often we regularly eat out now that the convenience of such luxuries has become limited. And although this eye opening experience has added to the stress of sheltering in place it could become an area of growth if we allow it. Lately we've been talking about the wealth of opportunities the Falls sheltering in place has offered us as a family unit. Today we want to continue on that thread. What better use of this time than to make some memories and up your cooking skills together? So today we offer a brief list of some reasons why cooking together is awesome and some easy ways to incorporate your family in the kitchen (no matter their age) without losing your sanity or going hungry. 

Pros of getting everyone involved

1. It increases gratitude: Gratitude increases our overall emotional health and outlook. And it helps us better cope with situations that are difficult and outside our norm. When our children get reps in helping prepare the food we need everyday to survive they will learn to appreciate the time and effort involved in making meals. This helps them be more grateful for what is on their plate and the effort you put into making a special or favorite meal. and are more likely to recognize your efforts when you take the time to feed the family from home.
2. It helps grow past picky eating: Being a part of the process of baking or cooking can pique a child's curiosity. And an involved and curious child is more likely to be brave and go outside their comfort zone. So get those picky eaters involved. As they realize the foods they hate (i.e. tomatoes) make up some of their favorite foods (i.e. pizza, and spaghetti) they will be more willing to branch out and try things they had previously refused. Which is a big win in our book.
3. It teaches life skills: Following instructions, reading a recipe, sequencing, prioritizing, goal setting... baking and cooking together as a family offers a wealth of opportunities to teach essential life skills. Plus it gives you the comfort of knowing your future college student won't be surviving purely on PB&J or ramen noodles.
4. It brings everyone together: Some of my fondest memories are learning how to bake with my mom. Now to be honest I definitely made the process messier and more frustrating. But with every accidentally dropped egg on the floor, flour covered hugs, and burnt muffins we were making priceless memories and bonding. Every single time I bake, I think of those times with my mom. I can't smell fresh cookies or bread without those memories coming to mind. This does not mean I grew up an exceptional cook. But I have a deep-seeded love of baking because of my mom's patience and love.

How to make the switch

1. Make it a game: Depending on your level of culinary skill there are a variety of ways to do this. Maybe everyone picks a single ingredient and you come up with a way to incorporate them all like they do in the plethora of baking and cooking shows that are popular. Maybe you create a mystery basket of ingredients for you all to use. Maybe you each have a part in the process and everyone races to complete their step first. You are truly only limited by your imagination here so get creative and have some fun with it. Give silly prizes out to the cleanest helper in the kitchen or the most considerate assistant. Make dad the brave taste tester of your new concoctions and don't be afraid to have a pizza delivery as backup.
2. Use it as an excuse to bond one on one: Growing up in our family it would easily get crowded in the kitchen with all of us little helpers on board. So we each took turns on Sunday picking the menu for the day and then helping with every step of the process. This was a great way to cook as a family because it gave us some one on one time with our parents and made us feel special. Plus then everyone get's to learn how to make their favorite dishes and regularly see it in the menu.
3. Build a some healthy food based traditions: A lot of modern food traditions aren't necessarily healthy. We have sweets on birthdays. We gorge on the holidays. We can't set foot into a theater without grabbing all the snacks. Cooking together as a family and regularly coming together to eat as a family are healthy food based traditions that we can truly get behind and support. 

     So even though these suggestions might get a little messy we hope you use this quarantine time to do the things we are usually too busy to attempt. So have some fun and make some memories. Who knows, your kiddos might even start volunteering to help you. And isn't a helpful child every parents dream?

#RaiseAWarrior