Cooking Fun With The Entire Family

Are you rushing to hurry up and get the food on the table, just so you have a few minutes later on to spend quality time with those you love? Or perhaps you gather up the family and run out to the nearest restaurant just so you can all be together. Yes, going out to restaurants can be enjoyable and convenient. However, the benefits of making meals at home far out way the benefits of dining out.

We live in a fast pace society, where everything is rush, rush, rush. Even restaurants are designed to get customers in and out as quickly as possible for a profitable turnover. So it's pretty difficult to have a relaxing meal with your family, dining outside the home.

If you're like most families, your life is pretty busy; working outside the home, working inside the home, taking children here or there, grocery shopping, laundry and doing other household tasks. There's barely enough time to breathe, let alone spend quality time with the family.

So, how with our busy lifestyles do we make time to prepare a meal plus have quality time with our family? By combining the two. Involve the whole family in making the family meal, whether it's breakfast, lunch or dinner. Make it a fun adventure.

Pick a time when life isn't quite as busy, Saturday mornings perhaps. Bring out the cookbooks and cooking magazines and search together to find interesting and yummy recipes. This not only helps develop reading and menu planning, it invites conversation and togetherness.

After finding recipes, write down the various ingredients you need and send the family on a scavenger hunt. They search through the cupboards and refrigerator to find the ingredients you already have, and check the one's that are still needed.

To avoid battles over who gets to do what, decide that a head of time. For the children that are too young to use the stove, or cut potatoes, have them stir the potatoes. Or if they pick yummy bread sticks or biscuits, they get to roll out the dough with the rolling pin and for biscuits, use cookie cutters to make cool shapes. Other methods of deciding who does what are to vote on it, or put the separate tasks in a jar, and each gets to pick one.

Deciding a head of time what role each is to take not only avoids battles, it gives each member of the family the sense of having an important role in meal preparation. The biggest benefit is that it saves precious time. After coming home from a busy day, or even if your busy day is in the home, you don't have to waste precious time figuring out who does what. You can begin the family fun right away.

Another fun idea is to have an occasional "Pot Luck Family Meal". Each person gets to make their favorite recipe and share their creation in the family gathering.

There are many benefits to involving the entire family in mealtime preparation. Quality time with the one's you love. Not having to rush, rush, rush to get food on the table. Encouraging teamwork within the family. Developing meal planning skills for later in life. Teaching your young (and sometimes older) children how to follow instructions. Giving your husband (or wife) the opportunity to discover they love cooking. Getting more appreciation from your family for all the hard work you've done before they joined you. Enjoying a quiet and relaxing meal in the comfort of your own home.

And most importantly, the biggest benefit of all, is that it's just plain FUN!

Don't believe the old adage that too many cooks in the kitchen spoil the pot. Cooking can be a fun adventure for the entire family.