It’s rare that I meet a child who doesn’t enjoy helping in the kitchen when given the opportunity. It’s more or less play, right? They might chop, stir, and create! Yet oftentimes, as parents, it can be overwhelming enough just to get a meal on the table, let alone have your child(ren), whether toddler or teen, potentially add to the chaos and mess at an already trying time of day. But it’s so worth it, and what better time of year to make a fresh start.

So, ease into a new habit by “piggybacking”.

What the heck do I mean by “piggyback”? Well, it’s a phrase that I’ve read and heard more than once since the start of the new year. Initially, I read about piggybacking as simple way to ease into a new habit. Attach a new ‘habit’ to something you already do every day. Keep your expectations simple. Build as you go. At first, I considered it as a way to establish a new habit like practicing mindfulness. Yet, the more I think about it, I think, why not apply it in the kitchen, too? Here’s how in 4 steps:

1. Attach a new ‘habit’ to something you do everyday…eat!

Of course, we all have to eat everyday. And I’m guessing that no matter what your lifestyle, you spend some amount of time in the kitchen prepping food, anywhere from opening a box of pop tarts to preparing a gourmet meal. And, if you’re reading this blog, you very likely have kids who will need to eat too. What’s the new habit that I encourage you to begin? LET YOUR KIDS TAKE PART IN THE FOOD PREP, whether it’s opening the package of pop tarts themselves, or helping you prep for your gourmet meal.

2. Keep your expectations simple.

Start slow. Resist the urge to jump all-in. Don’t have your kids who have never even made their own lunch try and make school lunch every day from now to eternity without any help. Instead, if you typically make your kids school lunch, ask them to identify what they want to bring for lunch, or have them make their own sandwich. Start with something manageable and it it will be easier to keep it up. The last thing you want is for it to be so overwhelming that you jump ship. You want to create a WIN every time and hopefully overdeliver. This will build confidence and make your child more eager to keep it up.

3. Build as you go.

Work your way up to your goal, step by step. If you want your child to:

• Make their own school lunch, start by

  • Establish some guidelines and have them list what they want to eat for lunch.

  • Next week, have them gather the ingredients and wash fruit or veggies.

  • The next week, have them make the sandwich / main part of the meal.

  • Have them cut veggies the following week, and so on, until they can handle it all on their own.

• Help make dinner, start by

  • Identifying a night each week that’s the least busy.

  • Assign them a task BEFORE you get started.

  • Have them read the recipe on their own.

  • Find them a space that’s not right in your way (I often have my kids work at the kitchen table so we’re not constantly stepping on each others toes).

  • Have them wash fruit or veggies, or get ingredients out of the pantry.

  • As you get comfortable in each other’s space, have them measure out ingredients or chop veggies.

  • Once they develop some confidence, put your child in charge of making a side dish or specific part of the recipe.

4. Reap the rewards

Last night, I had a hankering for Kale, White Bean, and Sausage Soup. I knew 5 of the 6 people in my family would eat it, and the odd one out would gladly eat up the leftovers that were getting a bit old in the fridge. But it seemed like something else was needed to accompany the soup. I thought some buttermilk biscuits would pair nicely.

So I asked my 12 year old son if he would want to make them for me since I needed to run his sister to basketball practice. He said yes, and proceeded to read the recipe, gather ingredients, and make some biscuits for all of us to enjoy. He certainly didn’t learn how to make biscuits on his own overnight. But after a few years of helping a little bit more every time, he’s developed the confidence to do it all on his own…except for those darn dishes!

Happy Cooking!