After nearly 10 years of teaching, I’ve noticed a pattern: parents who love cooking are eager for their kids to join in, while those who see it as a chore often don’t realize how much their children can gain from cooking classes. I often hear concerns like: “My child is a picky eater. They don’t touch vegetables and won’t eat anything in that class.” “They’re not interested in cooking. They just want to make cookies and brownies but don’t want to cook meals.” “They have food allergies and won’t be able to taste anything in the class,” “They’re too young—it’s not safe for them to be in the kitchen yet.” But in practice, these are the kids who benefit most. Here’s why: 

Mealtime is magic in disguise! Cooking and dining together isn’t just about nutrition, it’s a powerful gateway for modeling healthy eating, building communication, emotional support, and creating habits that last a lifetime. Here’s why it matters so much.

Family Dinner will give kids something to look forward to after a long day. Tips on how to include kids in mealtime.

At the Mobile Kitchen Project, we bring everything but the kitchen sink—literally! This past school year, we’ve had the incredible opportunity to serve over 250 students each week across the Chicago area through our hands-on culinary classes and family dinner events.

Watching my son graduate and prepare to move out for an adventurous life, I reflects on my time in the kitchen and wonders if I taught him enough about cooking. As a quiet but meaningful way of showing care, cooking became a shared language—one I now captures in a simple recipe binder for him to take. It’s not about perfect meals, but about equipping him with comfort, confidence, and a taste of home.