The kitchen is the definitive heart of any family home. A well-used kitchen will see the family congregate within three times again, and in return provide objective benefits; according to the New York Times, meals eaten with the family benefit children in everything fromย reduced obesity rates to better grades. Itโs imperative, then, that your family kitchen is a place designed for organization and productivity โย the effort you put into your cookingย space will filter through to your loved ones.
Home Cooked Meals Are Healthier
First and foremost, your organized kitchen should be prepared to help you make healthy food. The importance of fresh and healthy food cannot be understated; one influential study, published in the Canadian Journal of Dietetic Practice and Research found that healthy home-cooked meals can reduce the incidence rate of obesityย in children by 72%, and improve social skills. Not only will your kids love helping you, but they will also be fascinated by the various spices, seasonings, and flowers you can use for cooking.
Equip your kitchen to help by making it suitable for baking and cooking. Have good quality kitchenware thatย can keep ingredients freshย for a long time, follow practices on keeping refrigerated food in good order, and label everything clearly. Well labeled equipment will also help you when the kids want to get involved.
Baking Makes Kids Smarter
Cooking with children as soon as is safe is a great way to help them develop. According to Nemours Kids Health, it can help them to develop their palate, become more adventurous, and alsoย help to build basic motor skills. Enable yourself by having a well organized and thought out kitchen โ keep sharp knives out of reach, but make blunt kitchen utensils easily accessed so that your children can experiment with them when cooking. Consider purchasing a bench or step-up so that your kids can reach the counter, but make sure itโs out of reach when cooking time is over.
Mealtime Ensures Family Bonding
Aside from the benefits that children receive from cooking with the family, the New York Times also note that the wider family can benefit โ just 5 to 7 meals out of a potential 16 will help to make important bonds with the family. Ensure that the entire family can take time to sit down together and talk and bond, and make your kitchen and dining area suitable for this โ clear away distractions, make eating easy by having cutlery, place mats and the like prepared, and have people facing each other.
Family time can undoubtedly be squeezed in the modern world. The kitchen can be used to claim it back. The importance of having a family kitchen that is welcoming to all of the members of your family shouldn’t be underestimated.
Use the heart of your home in an organized and clear way to help your family become stronger, and to give your kids a strong head start in life. Trust me, you’ll thank us later!
