We have all heard the saying “If you give a man a fish you feed him for a night, but if you teach him how to fish you feed him for life”. Learning a skill is always beneficial for our well being, especially when it comes to cooking. We all choose to cook for different reasons. Some find it relaxing, others like to be in control of what is put in their food, while many see it as pure enjoyment. However, for a large portion of the country it is a chore that people are not willing to find the time for.
As a society we have always been divided into two groups, those who love to be creative and artistic and those who like to go straight by the book with rules and formulas. Yet, as life always proves we need to adapt to being both at one time or another. What I love about cooking is that it teaches us how to be both. With certain recipes we feel comfortable enough to add a dash of this and handful of that, letting the creative juices flow. With others there is a need to stay straightforward following measurements and directions precisely. Learning how to cook teaches us that we can be both, it forces us to leave our comfort zone and step into a new world. It's both a science and an art, filled with history and memories.
Lately, with new shows like Food Revolution and the First Lady’s campaign against obesity, getting kids in the kitchen has become an issue of vital concern. Kids are growing up without learning anything about the kitchen, other than packaged and processed foods. There is no doubt that health is the number one concern when it comes to getting kids in the kitchen. Nevertheless, there is the larger story of cooking that children all over the country are missing out on. Learning to cook teaches us more than what’s seen on the surface. It's a skill that teaches us about life. It educates us mentally, physically and socially and to put it simply, it is a gift that is simply irreplaceable.
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