healthy living
Mix it up in the kitchen Kids learn from cooking experiences
LEA HANSON
Cooking Classes for Kids
• The Cooking Studio Fort Collins (www.the-cooking-studio.com) Culinary Skills—Teens Three Class Series: 1/9/16, 1/23/16, & 2/6/16 • Foodies! Culinary Academy (www. foodiescca.com/kids/) Weekly cooking club for school-aged kids during the school year, camps in the summer. • City of Fort Collins Recreator (www. fcgov.com/recreator/) Various classes and class series available throughout the year.
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rience helps kids learn and understand many basic math skills. Similarly, using these math skills in cooking allows kids to learn how math is practical and applicable in their daily lives.
APPRECIATION Simply put, when kids understand all that goes into preparing a healthy meal, they will better appreciate the food they are served. BUILDS SELF-CONFIDENCE Learning to do something—anything— new builds confidence in people of any age. When kids help prepare a meal they feel a sense of pride in their creation and they learn how to contribute to a goal. The final result (whether it is delicious or a bit of a disaster) is something he or she helped create as a part of a team.
MATH It’s nearly impossible to cook without doing some math. Whether you’re cutting a whole recipe in half or simply measuring out cups of flour, the expe-
UNDERSTANDING NUTRITION Obesity among children has become problematic and is increasingly referred to as an epidemic. Teaching children to cook encompasses such vital information as nutritional content, food preparation, and calorie information, all aspects to leading healthier lives. O’Neill of The Cooking Studio says, “The data is very clear, people who cook their meals at home, versus eating out, eat healthier.” As your children learn to cook, they are learning a powerful tool to take control of their own health. Many believe healthful food is the best medicine; as children learn how to prepare foods, they learn from an early age how to fuel their bodies in the healthiest ways.
s parents, it is our job to prepare our children for adulthood. We teach them social skills, instill work ethic, encourage persistence and trying new things, and a million other skills that (hopefully) help them achieve self-sufficiency. Teaching our children to cook is just one of the ways we do this. Trish O’Neill, Founder & Owner of The Cooking Studio Fort Collins, says, “[kids] see cooking in a different way than their parents see it. It’s not a chore to them. For them it’s about fresh and delicious ingredients, creativity, and the challenge of thinking on your feet.” Here are some other reasons why it’s a good idea to teach your children to cook:
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SPARKS CREATIVITY It’s a bizarre concept that when we put seemingly gross ingredients together they turn into something beautiful and delicious. Cooking teaches kids to use their imagination and picture what the end result can and should be, rather than focusing only on what is in front of them.