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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Letting DD cook a meal once a week?

44 replies

mumtoateen · 19/07/2014 17:39

DD(15) studies food tech GCSE and loves cooking, she's bought up the idea before, but just wondering, should I let her?

OP posts:
Chopsypie · 19/07/2014 17:40

Definitely!
I took over most of the cooking by 15/16 as I was first in from work

Iggly · 19/07/2014 17:40

Yes why on earth not?

I was cooking from about 11/12.

holmessweetholmes · 19/07/2014 17:41

Why wouldn't you? I don't see how it could be anything other than a good idea!

thecuntureshow · 19/07/2014 17:43

Why wouldn't you? Does she not already help/contribute/make her own food anyway? Bizarre if not!

Takver · 19/07/2014 18:25

Of course! In theory dd (12) makes dinner once a week on Sunday evening, though atm she is having day long rehearsals at the weekend so it's dropped of the agenda for the last couple of weeks. My only stipulation is that I get a veto on the food bill, but she's pretty sensible.

Floundering · 19/07/2014 18:30

God yes, takes the weight of you & gets her good experience for when she leaves home.

I sat down with both mine at that age & did a few weeks meal plans with their input, stocked up the cupboards & freezer & let them choose one each (at least) to do per week.

No reason why you can't do batches of basic bolognese sauce ,say, that she can then defrost & make into a pasta dish, lasagne or chilli on a night you are in late or MNing with a glass of wine busy.

Also think its a valuable skill for DS' s . Now my eldest is at Uni she's brilliant at budgeting & cooking for herself. It's not the most varied of menus (pasta features heavily) but at least it balances out the crap!

NoraRobertsismyguiltypleasure · 19/07/2014 18:34

Yep, I had to cook a meal every week for 6 from the age of 12. There's a lot of meals that really aren't that difficult, especially for a 15 yr old.

Purpleroxy · 19/07/2014 18:36

Which meals do you think are suitable?

Floundering · 19/07/2014 18:56

Basics first- roasts (not difficult but the co-ordination of the various bits is a good lesson!)

Spag bol, macaroni cheese, curries, chilli, cottage pie, fajitas. Let them choose with you when you meal plan once they have the basics.

Moreisnnogedag · 19/07/2014 19:01

I cooked for my dad every meal from about 14 whilst my mom worked away.

HolgerDanske · 19/07/2014 19:04

What? Of course! If she wants to it's all the better as she'll happily do it.

Don't understand why you would feel like you shouldn't?

atticusclaw · 19/07/2014 19:04

DS1 cooks every weekend and he is nine. Easy things like risotto, curry, pasta.

ShineSmile · 19/07/2014 19:20

Of course! It's life long skills cooking.

ElephantsNeverForgive · 19/07/2014 19:21

Of course you should let her, DD1(16) has cooked the odd meal and done some baking since she was 14/15.

DD2(13) isn't quite as confident and declines to operate, our match lit, ancient gas stove in ber own.

Dishes, I'd start with a favourite from school. The one thing DD2 does do is macaroni cheese.

Delphiniumsblue · 19/07/2014 19:21

What possible reason could you have for not allowing it?!!

Delphiniumsblue · 19/07/2014 19:22

Clear out of the kitchen and leave her to it!

Chocaholicmonster · 19/07/2014 22:03

Of course you should let her! In a years time she's legally old enough to live by herself for goodness sake! I don't understand why this would be such a hard decision you'd have to ask the people of MN! Confused

Now's a good age for her to be learning life skills & it's refreshing to see a teenager wanting & willing to do something like this.

BackforGood · 20/07/2014 00:17

Why on earth wouldn't you ? Confused

My 3 have all had to cook 1 evening meal a week each since they were 14,12, and 9.
Can't believe you are even asking. Genuinely - why wouldn't you ? Confused

Clearlymisunderstood · 20/07/2014 00:22

I was cooking once a week at a minimum from 14. I'd let her choose what she wants to make though as long as she doesn't want ridiculously extravagant ingredients. Spaghetti carbonara was one of the first things I learnt to cook because I liked it but it was something my mum never made.

DramaAlpaca · 20/07/2014 00:28

Yes, definitely let her.

My three teen boys each cook one evening meal a week for the family and it's great practice for them.

fuzzpig · 20/07/2014 00:39

Yes, do it! About time too :o

Sassyb0703 · 20/07/2014 09:30

My 12yr old has been cooking family supper once a week since starting secondary school. All family members are expected to pull their weight with cooking. If you are first home/no school/work/uni then your responsibility to get supper under way, leaving it for those out working to do when they come in knackered is not acceptable. This rule applies for all family over age of 11...

DisgraceToTheYChromosome · 20/07/2014 10:56

God yes!

Insist on shoes if there's hot fat, and make sure she washes up the prep utensils.

Picturesinthefirelight · 20/07/2014 11:01

Dd is 12 & loves cooking her 'speciality dish' hone made barbecue chicken with rice & veg, for the family.

I encourage it.

Original poster
mumtoateen · 20/07/2014 13:35

She does food tech GCSE, so thinks she already gets enough practice Hmm She does cooking every week

OP posts: