奇速英语

亲子掌勺破偏食，妙手饪香树自信

Sometimes, cooking for children can seem like a task that doesn’t receive any gratitude. When kids turn down new foods and are completely unaware of the substantial effort put into preparing a meal, it’s easy to get frustrated. At this point, parents might want to think about cooking together with their kids. Having kids help in the kitchen can break down some of their prejudices against certain foods. Cindy Roberts, the head chef at a kids’ cooking school, shares how an expert helps kids learn to cook.

Each of Roberts’ weekly summer camps showcases a different type of cooking: chocolate, world cuisine, and handmade pizzas are just some of the tempting (诱人的) offerings this year. She likes to emphasize the joy and creativity in cooking. Cindy Roberts started cooking at the age of 3 and believes cooking can inspire as well as educate. “I focus on the ‘fun’ aspect of cooking,” Roberts points out, “but I also teach them the health, cost and taste benefits of home cooking.”

Roberts is aware of a method that parents can use to expand the range of foods that picky eaters are willing to try: involving them in the decision-making process by giving them a voice. “Have them taste test something... and encourage them to offer suggestions for enhancements,” Roberts recommends. In her cooking classes, asking the kids to experiment directly with ingredients “gets even the most finicky (过分挑剔的) eaters trying out what we made and giving it a second chance.” In other words, the more they know about how a dish is prepared, the more they can keep an open mind, even about foods that they initially had no interest in or were reluctant to try.

When asked what the kids in her classes find most surprising about cooking, Roberts says that young chefs are completely amazed at how easy it is to make some of the products they buy packaged at the grocery store”. The homemade versions wind up being fresher and better-tasting. Empowerment (权利赋予) and self-confidence: these two ingredients are welcome on any family menu.