When it comes to connecting with your children, there’s nothing quite like spending time in the kitchen together. Meal prep and cooking can be a fun way to bond with your family while also promoting the well-being of your whole family.

In today’s hectic world filled with distractions and devices that breed disconnection, it’s more important than ever to take the time to intentionally focus on and be present with those you love the most, especially the ones you are helping to develop positive nourishing habits.

When it comes to family time, the kitchen truly is one of the best places to be. By preparing and cooking meals together, you can create lasting memories and positive habits for years to come, while deepening relationships in the present.

1. Meal-time can be a great opportunity to bond with your family - Spending time together in the kitchen, preparing and cooking meals, can give you all a chance to connect and spend quality time together.

• Hear about their day

• Develop organic conversation topics

• LISTEN to each other free from distractions and Busy-ness

• Learn and create something special together

• Work together as a team and enjoy the results

2. Make connecting with children easier by having them help you cook or prepare the meal

• This lets them know you see and respect them - Kids don't want to be babied, but as they develop want to be given age-appropriate opportunities to grow and develop

• Organic conversations WILL develop. This is an excellent way to HEAR them as well as share with them stories or anecdotes from your own life. Kids LOVE hearing some of YOUR history.

• Kids and Teens alike LOVE getting to work alongside you and feel an equal rather than always being told what to do and "put in their place." This is the perfect opportunity for them to rise up and appreciate YOU for appreciating and seeing THEM.

3. Create lasting quality memories by cooking together and eating together as a family

• By practicing mindfulness both in prep-time and in actually eating the meal, you can maximize one of the daily necessities of life and turn it into hours of enjoyable memories that will carry on for years to come, maybe even going on for generations as those positive family habits get passed down.

• Mistakes and accidents happen. Instead of getting super-stressed about the flour that exploded everywhere or using salt instead of sugar, learn to laugh THROUGH these moments and they can become the stuff EPIC stories are made of in the future to look back on. "Remember that time we were cooking and..."

4. Make it easy on yourself and plan ahead - make sure you have all the ingredients

• This should be a place and time for REDUCING stress associated with the household responsibilities, so do everything you can to make things go as swiftly and enjoyably as possible

• Plan ahead for the meal and make sure to have all the ingredients on hand - We LOVE using HelloFresh for this a few nights a week to cut down our stress levels and help us through those busier days. We get fresh ingredients delivered weekly to our door with easy-to-follow recipe cards we then get to add to our recipe collection. It's more cost-effective than eating out at a restaurant or ordering take-out and more nutritious. We are expanding out palates with great-tasting dishes everyone approves of. < Here's a code just for you if you want to try it out for yourself!>

BONUS: Build your child's confidence in the kitchen for an overall boost of self-esteem

• One way to make connecting with your children easier is to involve them in the preparation of the meal. This can be done by having them help you cook or prepare the meal according to their skill level and ability. This can show them respect and build their confidence and self-esteem. It can also help them learn about cooking and nutrition, building a vital foundation for a healthier transition into their independent adult years.

• Provide age & skill-appropriate tasks for the whole family to ensure everyone is having a good time - An older child can help with Mis' en place (This is a French term that means "put in place." It's used in the culinary world as a reminder to always have all of your ingredients ready to go before you start cooking. This will help you avoid any stressful surprises during the cooking process and will make it easier for you to follow recipes.) A younger child may be able to pour the ingredients into a bowl, help stir, hand others needed items, or garnishing dishes by sprinkling fresh herbs on top of a plate.

• With my own kids, I SEE them rise in self-esteem and confidence when they accomplish these smaller tasks that are new and a little uncomfortable for them. Knowing they have the gentle guidance and support of their parents where mistakes are only something to learn from, they grow in their abilities to try new things with confidence and enthusiasm. As a parent, it is just a purely beautiful thing to watch them grow from these tiny moments in our lives that make BIG impacts!

Cooking and eating together as a family has countless benefits for both parents and children alike. It can help build relationships, promote healthy eating habits, teach kids about cooking and nutrition, and much more, as well as being just plain fun! I've outlined just a few of the benefits in this post that I've personally experienced with my own family, but there are surely many more for you to discover on your own.

Do you have any favorite Meal-Time Memories with your family? Share them in the Comments below!

What memories are you making with YOUR family?

Until next time,

~ Crystal