I don’t know about you, but I can never eat a whole one. Boom-tish! If you want to listen back to the segment, you can find it here. Otherwise, read on. 

Like most new parents, I had the idea that my kids would have a fairly wide palate as they explored their way in the world. In many ways they did – blue cheese on toast, Brussel sprouts, and sushi were happily devoured –  and in other ways they didn’t; mashed potatoes remained mostly untouched no matter how I served them. My point is you can’t make any assumptions but I do believe in giving them the chance to new flavours and textures.

I would shop with them from the very beginning as I wanted them to recognise different fruit and vegetables. I also wanted them to realise that food doesn’t just appear magically on a plate each evening. Suitable kitchen skills to learn will depend on their age but even small kids can have a go at simple tasks like kneading and rolling. By secondary school they would cook one night each a week, and we’d all eat whatever was prepared.

Here my top tips

• Involve them in the whole process so they get an understanding for providing a meal entails.
• Inspiration can come from anywhere cookbooks, social media or something you may eaten out.
• Plan how much time is needed, what ingredients are required (including what you already have on hand and what needs to be purchased), dietary preferences or intolerances. In my family, one daughter is vegetarian while the other eats a limited range of vegetables.
• Shopping because let’s be clear nothing it’s part of life
• Read through recipe all the way before you begin so they understand what’s going to happen

Obviously cooking together is a great way to learn kitchen skills. Cleaning dirty dishes might take a little more imagination to make appealing.