by Elyse Williams

Created on: November 25, 2007

The definition of "cooking" to some teens is simply to throw a frozen dinner in the microwave or to make a package of macaroni and cheese. Although this is definitely a step in the right direction, more involved cooking by actually throwing ingredients together, might take a bit more work.

Your teen is busy and wants to be with their friends. Baking cookies or cupcakes together that might have been done when they were children is no longer a treat for them. However, since you do want them to display some independence, there are some ways to go about encouraging your teens to cook.

The harshest way , and not necessarily the most effective is the survival method. You are simply not available, and if they want to eat ,they will have to make it themselves. This is especially true with working parents and more so working single parents. The ingredients are there yet they have to figure out how to turn them into an edible meal. Your teen will get hungry enough , he/she will at least make the attempt. This doesn't always work however, and might encourage them to throw together a sand which or again, seek out a frozen microwavable meal. Survival might lead to a quick and easy work around.

If you start with something simple, such as a crock pot and some ingredients that they combine and simply keep an eye on, they are actually taking responsibility for the meal. They are "cooking", and will get satisfaction when the meal is actually served and may actually taste good!

Simple is the key word. Unless you are fortunate enough that your teen will enjoy cooking, he/she most likely does not want to spend much time on complicated recipes. There are many websites which can be referred to for five ingredient meals. Make sure the ingredients are on hand and easily found. The first time might be the hardest and you might actually have to play the roll of food supervisor. However this your teens cooking debut.

Here are some other ways to encourage teens to cook:

Be supportive and expect there might be some less than perfect meals. If your teen overcooks or under cooks the meal, if it burns or if it tastes horrible, tell them it tastes delicious. GENTLY suggest that next time they add more spices, cook less or more, anything that might improve upon it.

Have them invite a friend over and ask them together if they would like to prepare the meal.

Go food shopping with them for a meal that they might like to prepare.

Ask them if they would like to learn how to make their favorite food.

If you need to go out for a bit, start something that takes lots of time and something that they can "watch" such as the crock pot meal (see above) or homemade soup that might only need occasional stirring.

Don't worry if your teen doesn't have aspirations of being a chef or a gourmet cook. Keep it simple and basic at first, and of course praise him for his efforts. Although he/she might remain aloof, you can rest assured they will take pride in each accomplishment. And who knows, someday you might be surprised when your teen asks you what YOU would like for dinner!

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