| You will be surprised, there are plenty of people in | | | | with certain foods, and not with others - what goes |
| society today who rely on take-out and quick meals, | | | | well with what. |
| and the majority of them are young bachelors. | | | | Give them a run through of your kitchen pantry and |
| Most of these people never learned to cook so it is | | | | teach them about the uses of the different form of |
| important as a parent to get them interested and | | | | cutlery as well as cookware. |
| involved at a young age. Teaching your kids how to | | | | Again, the best way to learn is by watching so start |
| cook simple dishes can be fun and it will guarantee | | | | off with a few simple dishes that are relatively minimal |
| that they'll have these skills that will last a lifetime. | | | | as well as quick and easy to cook. Do it once, and on |
| So what's the right age to start your kids off with | | | | the following day, get your child to prepare the meal on |
| cooking? The age will vary and as a rule of thumb, if | | | | his or her own, this will give them a chance to be |
| they are still too short to reach the kitchen sink, you'll | | | | proud of what they accomplish - don't forget to lavish |
| need to wait a year or two more. In this event, you | | | | tons of praise when they succeed (and even when |
| should get them to help out with simple things like | | | | they don't). If things don't turn out quite as expected, tell |
| setting the dining table or even simple things like getting | | | | them that it's okay and let them try again - remind |
| them to break open the egg and stir them. | | | | them that practice makes perfect and that Rome |
| For those of you with children old enough to take | | | | wasn't built in a day. |
| responsibility in the kitchen, the fun then begins. Start | | | | When your kids get a hang of simple dishes, step up a |
| them off slow at first, and get them to learn by | | | | notch and have fun cooking different cultural dishes |
| watching and then gradually progressing to handling the | | | | with them. Asian dishes (stir fry) are relatively simple |
| stove, or even cutting vegetables with a sharp knife. | | | | and so are Italian dishes like pasta and lasagna. |
| You should always try to keep things interesting, and | | | | Last of all, don't forget to take snap shots of what |
| keep them involved in the process as children tend to | | | | your child has accomplished. You might not think much |
| get bored rather quickly and lose interest. | | | | of it now but in a few years, these photographs will |
| Once your kids get the hang of those things, you can | | | | bring back wonderful memories of the time the both of |
| start talking to them about spices and ingredients, and | | | | you spent together in the kitchen. |
| the importance of matching the right spices or sauces | | | | |