Studies have shown that eating together as a family helps children feel better, physically and mentally. In busy households, finding the time to sit down together is no mean feat. On the occasions when you do manage it, it can be difficult to avoid the obvious choices (spaghetti bolognese, anyone?) and to broaden your family’s tastes, without simply contributing to food waste. So how do you introduce your family to a wider range of cuisines, while keeping everyone happy?
Go with a theme
One way to manage busy schedules may be to make one night of the week your themed night. Choose a country with distinctive cuisine, and get the kids to work finding its flag, where it is on the map and some fun facts about it. See if you can find some music from that country to play as you’re cooking, just to get everyone in the mood. Be prepared to make a milder or less salty version of curries or sauces if need be, or put a little yogurt on the side, but where possible try to make your smallest kids feel as much a part of the experience as everyone else. If you’re not a confident cook, a subscription kit can deliver inspiration and ingredients to your door each month; a lifesaver for busy parents.
Get everyone involved
Research has shown that children who learn to cook are more confident and open to new tastes, so find a way to involve your mini chefs, even though it may take longer and make a little more mess. Encourage them to choose recipes from sites such as this, and to do the smaller jobs that they are able to. Gifting them their own chopsticks, wooden spoons or weighing scales would also help them feel part of the fun. If you are on vacation and they like a local cuisine, encourage them to ask the chef how it was done, and to find a way to recreate it. If they read about an exotic place in a story, find a recipe from there and let them help you make it. The more involved everyone feels, the more likely they are to give new tastes a try.
Enjoying new food experiences together as a family can be great fun. Not only are family mealtimes an important opportunity to reconnect – away from screens and phones at last – they can also be a good time to share a new experience. Create a theme night and get everyone involved in the choosing and cooking of your meal; not only will this share the workload, but it will make them more open to trying and enjoying new flavors. Just try not to think about the washing up.
Photo by Eaters Collective on Unsplash
About the Author:
Sally Perkins is a professional freelance writer with many years experience across many different areas. She made the move to freelancing from a stressful corporate job and loves the work-life balance it offers her. When not at work, Sally enjoys reading, hiking, spending time with her family and travelling as much as possible.
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