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TV or Kitchen Vegetables?
Can we provide a healthier and more educational activity for kids than long hours spent in front of the television and that would be sufficiently entertaining to hold their interest? Enter the concept of chef training for children.
Turn the TV Off
According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, children in the United States watch an average of three to fours hours of television a day. Research by Dr. Joseph Mercola, author of Total Health Program, shows that watching too much television at an early age decreases a child's ability to pay attention when they are older. Television commercials can also influence a child's eating choices with an emphasis on unhealthy fast food. Watching too much television can also take the place of healthy exercise.
Turn the Oven On
Julie Burleson and Suzy Nettles, co-owners of an herb shop and a catering company, may have come up with the perfect television substitute--the Young Chefs Academy. Established for children seven or older, YCA teaches children basic cooking skills. According to the owners, they also "add a heap of kitchen safety, a scoop of etiquette, a handful of napkin folding and table setting, a pinch of menu planning, and laughter to taste." Cooking provides a fun educational experience in reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic, as well as science, creativity, exposure to diverse cultures via food, and a sense of self-achievement.
Turn the Heat Up
An early childhood interest in cooking could boost future enrollments in culinary schools, and while you may be too old for the YCA, there's still time to nourish your own culinary ambitions. Beat the rush. With a culinary arts degree, you can find chef jobs available in a number of fields and in locations around the world. Perhaps you too could benefit from turning off your television, enrolling in culinary school, and getting your own chef training.
Sources
About the Author
Judi Sandall is a technical writer and a regular Chef School Review columnist. She is a graduate of the State University of New York at Binghamton, with a BA in English Literature and has been cooking up a storm since the third grade.
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