teen and learning to cook

[Anonymous]

Can anyone recommend a course or even a chef who would come and teach my son and maybe a couple of his friends to cook? We could also take him to a place. He is 14 and not that interested, but if I can get his friends to come, then he would do it. We live in the bethesda area. We can also do a camp, but I think the cooking school in the area has closed. We would pool in to pay for a chef who would teach them to make functional meals and try to get them interested. Thanks for any ideas...

[Anonymous]

Don't you cook at home? Why not start with your usual family meals?

[Anonymous]

Is he interested in eating? I found it impossible to teach my son until he cared about eating. 14 is young if the kid doesn't care about eating.

As for a chef? Why don't you start with making your kid help you, or master the art of dinner cleanup.

[Anonymous]

There are plenty of just starting out- want to be- personal chef adds on craigslist and the like, I'm sure other sites too- why don't you see if any of them would be interested in doing "lessons" for meals, most probably won't turn down the gig. But I agree with the posters that say to start with what YOU cook- food has such personal meaning and ties in my family so I treasure those memories. Also wait until they care about eating- I was born loving food (I wish I wasn't!) but I could see how my son who doesn't care about stopping to eat right now (younger than yours) despite being hungry, might not care until he is older. I fully think its great to send them to college knowing how to make at least 4-5 "real" meals really well.

[Anonymous]

I think it depends on the kid. My oldest daughter started cooking around the age of 9, as did my adult sons. My youngest daughter is a musician, and has absolutely no interest in cooking, which I can totally relate to, because I'd much rather be playing the piano. My youngest son is already learning to cook at his grandmother's.

[Anonymous]

I would start with baked goods. Easy cookies or cake mix from the box. It's simple and only requires 2-3 ingredients. Kids like sweets so it's a win-win. Then, when he sees how easy it was, maybe move on to foods like scrambled eggs, spaghetti, grilled cheese, tacos, etc. I think once he gets some confidence, he'll see that it's easy and can follow recipes on his own.

[Anonymous]

Scrambled eggs are the place to start. Then you have him do small tasks while you make a bigger meal. Get the chicken out and prep it. Chop veggies. Put water on to boil. Measure rice. Stir this while I run to the bathroom. Etc etc etc.

I think if you approach it as "You Are Now Learning to Cook" your teen is more likely to avoid it. But if it's just part of your daily routine for him to help a little in the kitchen, then he'll learn stuff just by being in there.

I can't say I was interested in cooking when I was younger. My mom taught me to make some stuff, and I helped her do things here and there. Because honestly, if you can read, you can cook. It's not hard.

[Anonymous]

YouTube is your friend. Have your son choose a dish he likes and google insructional videos (preview them and choose the easiest to follow -- some are better than others).

Cook together, following the video (pausing as needed) and talking about what you're doing and why.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't you cook at home? Why not start with your usual family meals?

+1

Hey, kid, get off the computer and come in here and help me make a salad, boil some water for pasta, cut up an onion, etc. Start small.

Seriously, didn't your kid learn to cook ramen noodles or scramble an egg when they were 8 or 9?

[Anonymous]

Thx for your ideas. You tube is a great idea... I will engage him more in the daily cooking... just hasn't happened yet. I'm not a great cook, but def cook....

[Anonymous]

Bullis has cooking and baking camps -- look under the Pick Three category.

[Anonymous]

DS 16 has been cooking for a long time. He was very into it when he was between ages 9-14 now that he is a teen he can cook his own meals (although he's pretty lazy about it). We cooked along with him in the kitchen, starting with breakfast foods, then baked foods, then frying chicken, pork, tacos and making hamburgers.

DC also took a cooking elective in HS. It was great!

My husband had to raise himself so it was very important to us that he cook. I would have him in the kitchen and start with eggs or pancakes. At least for my DS he really likes to be with someone else in the kitchen. He also loves when someone (a friend, relative) praises his cooking.