https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 28 Apr 2026 05:25:36 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-expect-your-los-to-know-how-to-cook-before-they-leave-home#post-2540995 Wed, 04 May 2016 12:35:55 +0000 LindsayLou 2540995@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Absolutely. My husband's parents didn't teach him how to cook at all. When we met, when he was 24, he was basically living off of frozen pizza, hot dogs, spaghetti, and cereal. He had no idea where to even start. Seven years later, and he has about 10 meals he can cook about 10 meals. I want my kids to be able to shop for and prepare healthy meals.</p> <p>I think a few basic skills and meals are:<br /> -how to cook an egg<br /> -how to cook rice<br /> -how to bake chicken<br /> -how to bake fish<br /> -basic white sauce<br /> -tomato sauce<br /> -how to steam veggies </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-expect-your-los-to-know-how-to-cook-before-they-leave-home#post-2540976 Wed, 04 May 2016 12:22:06 +0000 cnidaria 2540976@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, absolutely. I don't remember learning how to cook, exactly, but my mum would let me help out in the kitchen. By the time I was in highschool, I was responsible for making dinner once a week. I think there's enough stress involved with moving out from your parents' house that I wouldn't want to have the added stress of not knowing how to feed yourself (without spending a fortune on take-out) added on top of that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-expect-your-los-to-know-how-to-cook-before-they-leave-home#post-2540931 Wed, 04 May 2016 12:06:21 +0000 alphagam84 2540931@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I barely knew how to boil water when I left for college. I wish my parents had included me more in cooking so I have known more. I picked up a lot of knowledge after college through trial and error and now my husband and I love to cook! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-expect-your-los-to-know-how-to-cook-before-they-leave-home#post-2540829 Wed, 04 May 2016 11:08:18 +0000 gingerbebe 2540829@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband can literally not cook and can barely microwave. As a bachelor he would order massive amounts of takeout or pizza or eat out for dinner every night and at most make some bread and meat sandwiches. It's why he never complains about anything I make for him and loves that I cook and take care of all food related things. That said, it would be nice if he could cook SOMETHING - like one or two go-to dishes. So yes, I will expect my boys to know how to cook basic dishes and honestly hope they get my cooking/foodie gene. I love food and cooking and fine dining and would love to experience that with my kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-expect-your-los-to-know-how-to-cook-before-they-leave-home#post-2540765 Wed, 04 May 2016 10:41:45 +0000 DillonLion 2540765@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hope my LO has some basic cooking skills, or at least the confidence to try recipes. </p> <p>I feel like as long as you can read (i.e. follow a recipe) you can cook! But maybe that's because my parents instilled a cooking confidence in me. I can't recall any particular lessons and we ate out at restaurants a TON, but obviously something clicked because I like cooking and while I'm not awesome at it, I enjoy it and do okay. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-expect-your-los-to-know-how-to-cook-before-they-leave-home#post-2540751 Wed, 04 May 2016 10:35:33 +0000 Mama Bird 2540751@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, at least the basics. My mom and grandma both learned to cook as adults, and became very good cooks once they had to do it regularly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-expect-your-los-to-know-how-to-cook-before-they-leave-home#post-2540735 Wed, 04 May 2016 10:26:14 +0000 looch 2540735@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's important everyone know how to go to a grocery store, what to buy to put together a meal and how to cook it. I learned all of these things at home, by both going to the grocery store with my dad (who did the shopping because he felt my mom spent too much) and helping my mom in the kitchen during dinner prep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-expect-your-los-to-know-how-to-cook-before-they-leave-home#post-2540646 Wed, 04 May 2016 09:46:09 +0000 petitenoisette 2540646@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, I think it's an important skill and something that used to be pretty routine (at least for daughters - obviously I will want both my daughter and any future sons if we have them to learn). I was really interested in baking when I was younger and learned to cook too from my mom, but also was self-taught a lot. I hope my daughter will take a natural interest in it, we just made a learning tower for her so I think that will be a great way to start getting her involved now, even though she's only 14 months! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-expect-your-los-to-know-how-to-cook-before-they-leave-home#post-2540624 Wed, 04 May 2016 09:36:50 +0000 psw27 2540624@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't remember being actively "taught" but I definitely absorbed things over the years. I was/am very good at following a recipe and making good judgment calls. I hope my LO knows how to make a variety of things by the time he is in high school - I always enjoyed helping out in the kitchen so hopefully he does too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-expect-your-los-to-know-how-to-cook-before-they-leave-home#post-2540602 Wed, 04 May 2016 09:18:34 +0000 Adira 2540602@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@IRunForFun: Yes, this. I'll definitely teach them the basics (how to cook pasta, meats, veggies). I'm not huge into cooking, so I won't be able to teach them anything elaborate, but how to follow a recipe is an important skill. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-expect-your-los-to-know-how-to-cook-before-they-leave-home#post-2540593 Wed, 04 May 2016 09:16:07 +0000 macintosh 2540593@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes definitely. My parents taught me a little when I was young, but when I was a teenager both parents were too busy to cook so we ate frozen meals most nights. I didn't learn how to really cook until I got interested in the food network in my 20s. </p> <p>DH was worse. His mom cooked a lot from scratch to save money, but he was never expected to learn how. His job was to do the dishes. I met him in his mid 30s and he didn't know how to make much besides spaghetti. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-expect-your-los-to-know-how-to-cook-before-they-leave-home#post-2540560 Wed, 04 May 2016 08:57:43 +0000 catlady 2540560@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, definitely. My parents really didn't teach me much and I ate so poorly during most of my 20s on my own. DH and I finally got around to teaching ourselves and it is so great. DH actually got really into it and now does most of the cooking, but I'm glad I can pull things together when I need to. LO already likes to "help out" in the kitchen so I hope she will leave the nest knowing way more about cooking than I did as a teen. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-expect-your-los-to-know-how-to-cook-before-they-leave-home#post-2540547 Wed, 04 May 2016 08:52:36 +0000 youboots 2540547@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, it's a life skill.</p> <p>I went to college without knowing how and it's one of the things I'm still bummed about. I've talked to my Mom about it and she said making dinner was her quiet time after work to be alone and decompress.</p> <p>I love cooking now and consider myself fairly advanced. IMO kids at least need the basics. Same goes for laundry. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-expect-your-los-to-know-how-to-cook-before-they-leave-home#post-2540488 Wed, 04 May 2016 08:12:08 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2540488@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes. My parents never went out of their way to teach me to cook. I just kind of picked it up. I didn't cook a very often when I was home with them (I did on occasion). When I moved out there was a learning curve (pancakes were the bane of my existence) but I never struggled to feed myself real food. My MIL doesn't cook at all. If it doesn't go in the microwave she doesn't make it and by defualt, the only thing DH makes is grilled cheese. He won't even try to learn to grill even though his dad does it all the time! I want my kids to know how to feed themselves and do it well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-expect-your-los-to-know-how-to-cook-before-they-leave-home#post-2540470 Wed, 04 May 2016 08:00:31 +0000 rachiecakes 2540470@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Absolutely! My mother didn't let me help her in the kitchen. But I have so many memories of cooking with my grandmother. It's a shame she passed away when I was in high school, all the things I would've asked her..<br /> I want J to have fun cooking and would love to teach him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-expect-your-los-to-know-how-to-cook-before-they-leave-home#post-2540465 Wed, 04 May 2016 07:57:42 +0000 hb3233 2540465@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As soon as I was old enough for it to be safe to cook (like middle school), I started making dinner for my family. My mom was like "I work all day, we (and especially your grandmother) want to eat at a reasonable hour. No one wants to eat your grandmother's cooking, so making dinner for us is your job now." :silly: (My grandma used to be a good cook, but she was really too old for it by that point...) I'm glad I learned young, though I think it has burdened me with being the one who always cooks since I know how, DH has never cooked at all...My kids will definitely know how to cook before leaving the house. I'd also like them to help with meal prep as soon as it's safe for them to do so, though I don't want to say they WILL do this (though I'm thinking it in my head) because I don't want to have to eat my words... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-expect-your-los-to-know-how-to-cook-before-they-leave-home#post-2540453 Wed, 04 May 2016 07:46:04 +0000 lamariniere 2540453@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LuLu Mom: that's a cute idea. :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-expect-your-los-to-know-how-to-cook-before-they-leave-home#post-2540448 Wed, 04 May 2016 07:41:59 +0000 IRunForFun 2540448@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel like I'd want my kids to at least know how to cook the basics so that they can fend for themselves without relying on takeout. </p> <p>I don't love cooking myself and don't typically spend a lot of time making elaborate meals, so I don't know that I'd focus on lots of quality time in the kitchen with my kids. But I'd at least make sure they knew how to boil water and make pasta, cook various meats to the correct temperatures, throw together a salad and roast simple vegetables, scramble eggs, etc. It seems simple enough and could make a big difference in how they eat! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-expect-your-los-to-know-how-to-cook-before-they-leave-home#post-2540447 Wed, 04 May 2016 07:41:47 +0000 yin 2540447@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I lived in a restaurant, and my parents didn't teach me how to cook! I had to call my friend the first time I boiled water. It was bad. </p> <p>Yes, I will definitely teach them the basics. Hopefully they will outgrow their food allergies by then. If not, it'll be essential for them to be able to cook for themselves. Grabbing fast food or eating a cup of noodle every night won't be an option. I was thinking of making recipe cards of their favorite dishes and giving it to them as a gift when they leave home. Sure, they'll hate it at first, but maybe it'll be something they treasure later. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-expect-your-los-to-know-how-to-cook-before-they-leave-home#post-2540445 Wed, 04 May 2016 07:40:07 +0000 Mrs D 2540445@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My mom was great at teaching us and involving us. That said...we (my two sisters and I) all had varying levels of ability when we left home! So I think you can only control it to an extent!</p> <p>My mom was also great at teaching us methods in addition to recipes...and how to use a crock pot! I was that girl that made sunday meals for my friends in college!</p> <p>I'd like my girls to leave for college (or whenever they leave the house) with a solid foundation of ability / knowledge! As well as all the family staple recipes! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-expect-your-los-to-know-how-to-cook-before-they-leave-home#post-2540444 Wed, 04 May 2016 07:37:36 +0000 LuLu Mom 2540444@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, my parents never taught me and I lived on salad and frozen pizza in college. I remember my mom coming to my apartment and only seeing frozen food and she finally goes "alright lets do the basics." but in reality I taught myself (and got good!) </p> <p>I already know that I'm going to put together a recipe book as part of our child's high school graduation present. All of my recipes in one place for them to take with them as they start their adult life! I'm super excited about it, it will be a personal book that just they and me have a copy of with stories and pictures :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-expect-your-los-to-know-how-to-cook-before-they-leave-home#post-2540443 Wed, 04 May 2016 07:34:12 +0000 lovehoneybee 2540443@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Absolutely. I had to teach myself to cook when I was in my early-20s. Ev loves to make scrambled eggs, and I don't really do much except help him make sure they're properly whisked and turn on the stove, he pretty much does the rest (including cracking the eggs and adding cream and mustard). We also bake together on the weekends! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-expect-your-los-to-know-how-to-cook-before-they-leave-home#post-2540442 Wed, 04 May 2016 07:34:01 +0000 brownepiano 2540442@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'll expect my boys to be able to follow a recipe. I think if you can do that, you can make anything. DS already loves cooking with me. </p> <p>I cooked a lot with my mom growing up. I could follow recipes and knew what all the terms were. It wasn't until getting married and having to cook everyday that I started to learn how to adjust recipes and make up stuff. I think that just comes with lots of time and practice. </p> <p>I think knowing how to meal plan, grocery shop, manage a budget etc are also things they should learn. I'm not really sure how we will teach that but I definitely want to try. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-expect-your-los-to-know-how-to-cook-before-they-leave-home#post-2540429 Wed, 04 May 2016 07:11:19 +0000 erinbaderin 2540429@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely. I don't remember my parents teaching me to cook anything other than scrambled eggs, but after my first year of university I lived in an apartment and had to learn, and now I think I'm pretty good and I actually really enjoy cooking. </p> <p>My brother-in-law is 19 and getting ready to go to university, and his mom is teaching him scrambled eggs so he's ready, which made me laugh. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-expect-your-los-to-know-how-to-cook-before-they-leave-home#post-2540428 Wed, 04 May 2016 07:00:36 +0000 regberadaisy 2540428@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, this is a life skill that everyone should have.</p> <p>I was cooking dinner for the family by the time I was probably 13 or 14. We were a immigrant family and my dad wasn't home till midnight most nights and my mom home around 730pm. My brothers cooked until I was old enough then they got part time jobs.</p> <p>We cook a lot at home and both girls are very interested in helping out. We also grow our own vegetables, teach them about where our food comes from etc. it's important to us.<br /> My older just turned 4 and loves helping us do food prep. She can cut (she has a child safe knife) most vegetables, crack eggs, mix, etc. We do not let her near the stove yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-expect-your-los-to-know-how-to-cook-before-they-leave-home#post-2540426 Wed, 04 May 2016 06:56:11 +0000 lamariniere 2540426@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sleepybear: @nana87: I didn't really think about it in terms of actively teaching...like step 1 turn on the oven, step 2 wash the veggies or whatever. I hope they just kind of absorb things by watching/helping me make some of the same things over and over again. Or through helping them follow a recipe or something like that.</p> <p>My mom didn't really cook and my dad worked late and would just cook something when he came home, so I didn't have many examples in the kitchen when growing up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-expect-your-los-to-know-how-to-cook-before-they-leave-home#post-2540424 Wed, 04 May 2016 06:50:25 +0000 MoonMoon 2540424@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, especially because he's a boy, and every time I hear about men who don't cook, I die a little inside. He's not even 3 but he has his little step in the kitchen &amp; cooks with us most nights. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-expect-your-los-to-know-how-to-cook-before-they-leave-home#post-2540423 Wed, 04 May 2016 06:50:02 +0000 honeybear 2540423@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lamariniere: Me, too! I knew how to boil water and do basic stuff, but my meal plan then was part of my compensation for working with the residence office, so I figured it was silly to spend money buying groceries. </p> <p>The best cooking demonstrations I got were actually from my host mother when I studied abroad. I suspect that it's a little easier to "teach" home cooking when you're dealing with a single cuisine, because the techniques/flavors tend to repeat themselves. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-expect-your-los-to-know-how-to-cook-before-they-leave-home#post-2540422 Wed, 04 May 2016 06:46:00 +0000 nana87 2540422@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I definitely expect that lo will learn, though I don't think it'll be actively us teaching-- she just already likes to "help" cook. Dh loves to cook and we cook all the time. I learned to cook in high school-- I actually got high school credit from a vegan cooking club with friends-- and dh learned from his mom but didn't really cook until after college. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-expect-your-los-to-know-how-to-cook-before-they-leave-home#post-2540421 Wed, 04 May 2016 06:44:58 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2540421@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Absolutely!<br /> I had a friend in college that didn't know how to buy an apple. I had to take her grocery shopping a few times before she finally figured out how to do that.<br /> Forget cooking. She lived off of Uncle Ben's rice/noodle bowls for a year.<br /> Gross. </p>