The REAL "hunger games": Why it's critical to get your kids cooking now

New online tool, FamilyKitchen.ca, inspires parents to teach their kids how to eat well for life

TORONTO, Oct. 23, 2012 /CNW/ - Registered Dietitians at Dairy Farmers of Canada are urging Ontario parents to invest the time to invite their kids into the kitchen and get them cooking. Teaching kids how to cook early in life will help them gain the confidence and skills they need to acquire a lifetime of healthy eating habits.

Research released today shows most Ontario parents say cooking skills are important for their children to learn, yet the majority of families don't cook together. The main reasons cited are parents not knowing where to start and thinking that it's too time consuming.

The research, conducted in spring 2012 by Research Management Group, consisted of an online survey of 600 parents across Ontario, as well as in-home observations.

"One of the simplest ways parents can get their kids involved in cooking is to create a family kitchen," suggests Heidi Boyd, Registered Dietitian with Dairy Farmers of Canada. "Invite your children into the kitchen and get them involved with meal preparation. Allowing your children to take on responsibility for a portion of the meal helps to build their cooking confidence and gives them a sense of ownership in this important family activity."

"We are committed to helping parents teach their kids how to cook," adds Boyd. "From past research, we know kids want to be involved in cooking.  The parents are the gatekeepers, so we want to give them simple, easy advice on how to get their kids in the kitchen and learning these important life skills."

WEB RESOURCE AND VIDEOS
After talking with parents about their needs and listening to their suggestions, Registered Dietitians at Dairy Farmers of Canada developed a new online resource, www.FamilyKitchen.ca. Here, parents can find simple tips, ideas and recipes to help them create a family kitchen at home and get their kids cooking.

The site also features four videos that demonstrate the importance of getting kids involved in the kitchen and highlights how real parents teach valuable cooking skills to their kids.

1. Prepare them now: A fast paced look at one boy's life that showcases the value of cooking as a life skill. This short video highlights the importance of getting kids in the kitchen when they are young so that they learn how to cook for themselves when they are older.
   
   
2. Heather's Story: Getting kids into the kitchen
   Watch Heather's story to find out how you can make your kitchen a family-friendly place to be and learn.
   
   
3. Ruby & Brady's Story: Finding time with a hectic schedule
   Watch Ruby and Brady's story to learn more about how cooking together is a time investment that will pay off in the future.
   
   
4. Denise's Story: Fears over cuts and burns
   Watch Denise's story and discover how you can safely involve your children in the kitchen.
   

SURVEY HIGHLIGHTS
The survey shows that parents rate the level of their kids' cooking skills as low. However, the encouraging news is that the majority of parents say they want their kids to learn these valuable skills.

• When parents are asked to rate a variety of life skills (such as social, study, money management, team building skills, etc.) food skills is rated at the bottom in terms of importance.
• The majority of parents (73%) would like their children to help them cook, but when asked to rate actual level of involvement in the kitchen parents ranked their kids 5.3 out of 10.
• Parents cited several barriers to getting their kids involved in the kitchen including:
• Time constraints - mainly on the part of parents (77% of parents cited this as the main barrier) but also on the part of pre-teens (55% of parents cited)
• Perceived children's interest (cited 37% of parents)
• Safety (cited 38% parents)
• Relative unimportance (cited 32% of parents)
• Parents' preference to do it themselves (cited 6% of parents)

About Dairy Farmers of Canada
Dairy Farmers of Canada (DFC) is involved in a number of initiatives that promote good nutrition and healthy living. The Registered Dietitians at DFC are committed to understanding and translating the science and art of healthy eating into effective, innovative, and award winning resources.

SOURCE: DAIRY FARMERS OF CANADA (MARKETING)

visit www.familykitchen.ca or contact: 

Laurie Weir / Beatrice Bastedo
Trillium Corporate Communications Inc.
416-322-3030, ext. 225 / 231
[email protected] / [email protected]