Encouraging Healthy Eating Habits through Involvement in Cooking
Getting your children involved in food preparation may motivate them to choose healthier food options.
A recent survey by Statistics Canada indicates that 31.5 percent of children aged five to 17 are either overweight or obese. These figures are concerning, as childhood obesity is associated with the onset of illnesses traditionally seen in adults, such as type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and hypertension.
An Approach to Address the Issue
While addressing childhood obesity is complex, a recent study from the University of Alberta has uncovered promising insights. A province-wide assessment of grade 5 students across 151 schools revealed that children who participated in cooking activities expressed a 10 percent greater preference for vegetables and felt more assured about making healthy food decisions. Lead researcher Yen Li Chu stated, “These findings suggest that involving kids in meal preparation could serve as an effective health promotion strategy for both schools and parents.”
Chu emphasized the potential for schools to engage in this effort through initiatives like healthy cooking classes and cooking clubs.
Engaging Your Child in Meal Preparation
If you want to encourage your child to take part in and enjoy cooking, consider these suggestions:
- Start early: If your child is young—even as young as two or three—this is an ideal time to spark their interest in cooking.
- Begin with breakfast: Breakfast is genuinely the most crucial meal of the day and also the simplest. Let your child choose their breakfast the night before and assist them in preparing what they can (for instance, setting out the bowl, cereal, and banana, so in the morning all they need to do is add milk!).
- Progress to more complex recipes gradually: Start with simple dishes like pancakes, muffins, smoothies, and sandwiches, gradually moving on to more intricate recipes over time.
- Assign age-appropriate tasks: For example, it might not be wise to ask your four-year-old to dice an onion. Younger kids can wash vegetables, tear lettuce, measure ingredients, and stir cold mixtures, while older kids can practice chopping, opening cans, stirring things on the stove, grating cheese, and more.
- Take your child grocery shopping: Discuss which fruits and vegetables are in season, and let them pick a few to be featured in upcoming meals.
- Select kid-friendly recipes: Choose simple, delicious recipes that children can grasp, such as Chicken with Peaches, green salad, Golden Tuna Melt, or Mini Personal Pizzas.
Taking Initiatives in Schools
Across the nation, numerous schools and educators are proactively working to encourage healthy eating among students. To explore innovative food revolution initiatives and learn how to establish a successful food program in your child’s school, read “A food revolution in schools.”
