Cooking Together Brings Us Together

Grandparents and grandkids share a special bond, and the kitchen can be the perfect place to strengthen that connection. Cooking together is more than just preparing a meal. It is an opportunity to spend time together, share family traditions, build skills, and create memories that last for generations.

Kitchen time can create quality time.

Life can be busy, and finding time together can sometimes be challenging, but we all need to eat, and cooking provides an opportunity to nourish our bodies and connect. Chatting while stirring a bowl, rolling out dough, waiting for something to bake, or sprinkling cheese on a dish provides an opportunity to build connections and deepen relationships.

Family recipes can tell a story.

Food is an important part of one’s family history and culture. A recipe passed down through generations carries memories, traditions, and stories from one generation to the next. Cooking a family recipe gives grandparents an opportunity to share family history, bringing back memories of the past while creating new memories.

Cooking Builds valuable skills.

Cooking provides kids (and adults) an opportunity to practice math, reading, critical thinking, and more. Cooking also teaches kids practical skills they will use throughout their lives, including food preparation, food safety, cleaning, etc. (Again, we all need to eat!). Provide kids with tasks that are age and skill-appropriate and supervise when necessary. Grandparents can also learn valuable skills from their grandkids like new ingredients, new recipes, new techniques, and new technology!

Cooking encourages healthy eating.

Kids are often more interested in trying foods they have helped prepare. Cooking together can introduce grandkids to new fruits, vegetables, whole grains and other nutritious foods in a fun, low-pressure way.

Cooking Supports independence.

Give kids opportunities to do as much as they can safely manage. Successfully measuring flour, cracking an egg, or preparing part of a meal can give kids a sense of accomplishment. A little spilled flour or a crookedly decorated cookie can become part of the memory. The goal is not a picture-perfect dish and experience but rather time spent together.

You don't need a special occasion to cook with your grandkids. Set aside an afternoon to make homemade pizza, prepare a favorite soup, bake muffins, or put together a simple snack. You can also establish a more routine practice, like setting aside a cooking day once a month or once a week. Your grandkid chooses the recipe one time, and you choose one the next! Take a picture of each finished recipe and write down a favorite memory from the day.

Years from now, the recipes may change, but the memories will remain. Sharing food, stories, and laughter in the kitchen can nourish much more than the body. It can help build confidence, preserve family traditions, and create a lasting connection between generations.

by Chelsea King; RDN, MPH; Nutrition, Food Safety and Health Agent, 2026