“Cooking with kids is not just about ingredients, recipes, and cooking. It’s about harnessing imagination, empowerment, and creativity.”
– Guy Fieri
As we all know, cooking is the art and science of preparing food for eating by the application of heat. The term also includes a wide range of culinary techniques – preparing raw ingredients, cleaning, and cutting of fruits, vegetables or meat, final dressing, garnishing, decorating, etc. The origins of cooking are obscure. Cooking is as old as civilization itself, and observers perceived it as both art and science.
While cooking is a daily activity, performed by the adults in a family, children are rarely encouraged or allowed to be a part of the process. The reason being the fear of children getting hurt while chopping or cooking. It has been found that involving children in cooking helps them to learn and practice basic math concepts and build language skills. The experience of creating meals with adults can help build their self-confidence and lay the foundation for healthy eating habits.
We at CMR NPS, recognise this important aspect of child development and included cooking as a part of co-curricular activity. On August 6th we had Fireless Cooking as part of the Zero period competition. Our grade 1 and 2 students participated in large numbers excitedly. Some of them donned the chef hats, aprons and prepared the dishes as well as a Master Chef. When the teacher addressed them by saying our little chefs are busy preparing delicious dishes, students laughed aloud.
Students prepared delicious dishes like sandwiches, juices, cakes, salads, and even chats like bhelpuri. It was amazing to watch our little ones grating, running the mixer, chopping, decorating, garnishing, and waiting patiently for their turn to showcase their end product with their peers. A lot of enthusiasm in participating and a sense of achievement were visible in the sparkling eyes of our little Master Chefs.
By, Ms. Gauri, Primary Teacher
