August 17, 2007
as seen in "Food For Thought" at FlyLady.net
by Leanne Ely

Dear Friends,

As we are getting in to the Back to School groove, now is a great time to bring the kids into the kitchen. Use the time spent together preparing a meal to ask questions about their day, find out about their friends and teachers. Kids tend to open up more when they are relaxed and their hands are busy doing something as opposed to getting a grilling in the car on the way home from school. The days of Home-Ec in schools are almost over. Very few schools have these classes anymore or the kids are on such tight, rigid academic
schedules that Hom-Ec is an elective that they can't take. Use coming together in the kitchen as a way for your kids to learn some very core basics that they will take with them for life.

Giving children the opportunity to learn how to cook and prepare meals has amazing side effects. Believe it or not, you'll even find your picky kids are more willing to try something they've made themselves. When my son was 7 years old, he still wouldn't eat salad. I had my children rotating through the kitchen every other day as my kitchen helpers, and when it became his day again, I decided it was time for him to make the salad. I showed him how to wash the lettuce and spin it (we have a salad spinner), I showed him how to cut veggies (yes, they can do it with close supervision!) and I showed him how to toss the salad with the dressing once it was time to serve it.

Sitting down at the table that night, my very proud son asked everyone if they liked HIS salad about 10 times! He ate two servings himself and from that day forward, he's never been picky when it comes to salads. I call it "hands on nutrition". This type of involvement helps to mold good habits and gives children an opportunity to exercise some personal responsibility over the food they consume-a big boon to their own personal nutrition when they go off to school and need to make decisions for themselves.

As many of you know, here on our website, I provide weekly menus, recipes and shopping lists for my subscribers (if you need some help and would like a free menu and shopping list, go here). I can't tell you how many times I've received emails from subscribers needing assistance with some very basic cooking skills because they've never been taught how to cook. Or other ones emailing me and telling me how good they feel about themselves because they're starting to get how to put a meal together! It is so important that we equip our children with the skills they'll need for life. Motherhood is the only job I know of that you work hard to work yourself out of a job! We want to see our children succeed and knowing how to cook is a basic life skill-it's essential.

So bring the kids into the kitchen, even the littlest ones can be good helpers! Make being together in the kitchen a part of your life together as a family. Think of the memories you'll make!

Love, Leanne