We all know teenagers can be really tough to connect with. For starters, they’re all about “their own space.”
Long stretches in their bedroom, earbuds that seem permanently affixed to their ears to block out any possible conversation you might want to have and when they are in the same room with you, they’re looking at their cell phone scrolling through Instagram or Snapchat, or they’re texting their friends at rocket speed – (which is actually quite fascinating to watch, by the way).
How are we supposed to stay connected to our teens when, in some cases, they’d rather deny our very existence? You might be surprised…
By tapping into the one thing that every teenager on the planet has in common…
Food. Every teenager loves to eat.
If you really want to connect with your kids and have the added benefit of reaping a few not so well-known perks, get them into the kitchen.
Right about now you’re probably thinking to yourself, “My child would never be interested in cooking with me.”
Well, you might want to think again.
According to stageoflife.com, 80% of teenagers say they actually enjoy cooking and another 59% admit to watching cooking shows on TV or the Internet.
All their favorite recipes, whether it’s homemade pizza, baked mac & cheese, bbq chicken on the grill, or chocolate cupcakes made from scratch, hold the key to bridging the gap with your kids in a low-stress, creative, fun environment – your kitchen.
And, considering the fact that a good portion of teenagers, nearly 35%, pack in most of their daily calorie intake from junk food, and child obesity has nearly tripled since the 1970s, you’ll be doing your child’s health a ton of good by luring them away from fast food burgers, fries and shakes all while grabbing a few extra minutes of precious one-on-one time with them.
Plus, aside from the obvious fact that you’ll be connecting with your kids over their favorite foods, there are a few other hidden perks that might encourage you to break out the frying pan and slotted spoon with your teen by your side.
Here are 5 totally tempting reasons why you should ask your teen on a date – right in your own kitchen:
Cooking is a Life Skill
Cooking is an important life skill your kids will carry with them for the rest of their life. Sure, they probably have the microwave down pat and that’s great for making popcorn, warming up cold pizza or popping in a frozen dinner, but as they get older it’s important they begin to learn their way around a kitchen. Cooking healthy, economical, balanced meals is a life skill equivalent to knowing how to balance a checkbook, changing a tire or knowing how to do your own laundry. And, considering the fact that most college students get a failing grade on their eating habits, teaching your kids a few simple, healthy recipes before they venture off to college could end up being a real lifesaver for them when they finally realize that chips and beer just won’t cut it in the long run.
It Sets the Tone for Healthy Eating as Adults
A new study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior found that teens who cook set the table for healthy eating as adults. Although the impact of developing early cooking skills might not become apparent until later in life, the study found that teens who get into the kitchen and who have more opportunity and responsibility in healthy meal preparation are often far more likely to carry that healthy mindset over to adulthood. In fact, kids who cook when they’re young are more likely as adults to prepare meals with more veggies, skip the fast-food line and put more emphasis on family mealtime.
It’s the Ultimate Stress Reliever
Are your child’s nerves shot from final exams? Are they feeling anxious about their grades? Are they feeling down because of a recent breakup with their boyfriend or girlfriend?
Choose a recipe your teen loves and start chopping, mixing or whisking away or let them experiment and create their own “signature” recipe.
Research has shown that cooking is actually therapeutic and can help relieve anxiety, depression, insomnia, soothe rattled nerves, cure boredom and even heal a broken heart. In fact, some mental health clinics have started using cooking as meditative behavioral therapy to help patients, much like music therapy. Researchers have also linked healthy eating to improve overall mental health and higher levels of serotonin (the happiness hormone).
Cooking is a Confidence Builder
As parents, we all know how important it is to build confidence in our kids. But, did you ever consider the fact that knowing your way around the kitchen could instill confidence? Well… it does. Teens who can cook, (and we’re not talking about heating up a frozen dinner in the microwave), develop a strong sense of accomplishment from learning a new skill and, more importantly, they become more self-sufficient and independent. Plus, you’ll have the comfort of knowing that your child won’t starve in college or as a young adult when they move into their first apartment.
It’s a Great Creative Outlet (and the Perfect Distraction)
Cooking is the perfect medium to flex your creative muscles. Giving your child the opportunity to choose their own recipe, buy all the ingredients and test their culinary skills is the equivalent of giving a two-year-old finger paint and a blank canvas. It’s fun!
And, considering the fact that the average person has 60,000 thoughts per day and 95% of them are exactly the same, day in and day out, having free rein to immerse themselves in a creative activity like cooking or baking will be a welcome departure from their “usual” thoughts. Plus, cooking has the ability to put your teen in an almost meditative state. They’ll become so engrossed in what they’re doing that they’ll likely forget all their stress and worries about school, grades, friends, commitments, and life, in general. It’s also a great way to boost their senses. Experts say that while stress numbs your senses, cooking actually activates and heightens the senses through aroma, taste, touch, and visual delight.
Let’s face it, most teenagers will be willing to do practically anything as long as they feel in charge. Hand them your favorite cookbook or encourage them to go on Pinterest – the ultimate place to find millions of recipes – and give them the freedom to choose what they’d like to cook and when they’d like to cook it. It’s not about how much time you spend together in the kitchen, it’s just about spending time and making memories… one recipe at a time. After all, time with our family is always time well spent.
To get your teen excited about stepping into the kitchen here’s 43 Cool Recipes For Teens to Make at Home or 13 Super Easy Meals Teens Can Make.