There are many things I want my children to know before they grow up and leave our house. I want them to learn to sew. They need to learn to clean up after themselves (see HERE), and how to clean a house (see HERE). They need to learn how to manage their finances (see HERE, HERE, and HERE). I want them to know how to do basic repairs. They need to be able to do their own laundry (see HERE). I want them to understand the importance of an engaged citizenry (see HERE). And my list goes on and on.
But high among these priorities is I want my boys to know how to cook. They may not choose to always cook for themselves as adults, but I want them to understand how to put together and prepare a balanced meal.
I mentioned this to a friend one day, saying that I had visions of a future in which each of my boys was in charge of dinner one day a week. When we got home, my 9-year-old said, “I think I can do that now. I can be in charge of dinner.” And so it began.
We talked about meal planning (see HERE). For his first attempt, he wanted to make a super-simple meal based around his favorite foods. He loves chicken wings, so he wanted to learn how to roast them himself. His favorite vegetable is broccoli, so steamed broccoli was on the menu. And, while we don’t normally eat dessert aside from special occasions, he wanted to make his favorite Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies (recipe HERE) to celebrate the first time he cooked dinner
My 9-year-old began by checking to see which ingredients we had on hand and which he needed to add to our grocery list (see HERE). The next day we went to the market, he picked up the items we needed, and he had everything required for his meal.
Now, my boys have helped me in the kitchen from a very young age (see HERE), so my 9-year-old had a solid background on which to begin his culinary endeavors. But he still had questions to make sure he got things right.
We talked about choosing pans. We discussed how much water to put in the bottom of a pot before adding the steamer basket. He wanted to know how long it takes our oven to pre-heat. I reiterated the rules about how to use our mixer safely (after THIS mishap with my younger son, I wanted to make sure he remembered). I reminded him to immediately wipe down the counter when something spilled. We discussed temperatures and cooking durations. And I was available to answer his assortment of questions along the way.
I also praised and encouraged the things he did well without prompting. He washed his hands before starting, after handling the chicken, before forming the cookies, after he licked his fingers, and after he finished with the food preparation. He read the recipe carefully before starting. He got out everything he needed and set it up in the order he planned to use it. He used hot pads, and open and shut the oven carefully. He set timers. He put [some] things away.
And when he set the food out on the table, he beamed with pride. He had made the meal himself with just a little bit of coaching from me. And he felt great about it.
The food turned out wonderfully. And as the meal was winding down, he was already talking about what he planned to make the following week. Later that night, he even pulled out a cookbook he wanted to look through for other ideas.
It may not be a gourmet spread, but it was a simple, healthy meal that we all enjoyed together. And I know that as time progresses, his skills will grow. Just in the last couple of weeks, I have seen his kitchen confidence blossom. Last week he made 4-Ingredient Healthy Donuts
Grain-Free Bread
I don’t know what his future will hold. He may or may not choose to cook frequently as an adult. But I know that he’ll have options besides pre-made processed food. He will know how to prepare real food, and he’ll have the skill set to cook whatever he wants to eat.
And, soon, I’ll get a night off from the kitchen. As someone who has prepared 3 meals a day (well, most days) for most of my adult life, that’s a pretty amazing prospect. This is a win for everybody.