Involving others in planning and preparing meals helps you cook more often.
On this page
- Benefits of involving others
- How to involve others in planning and preparing meals
- Get involved in food-related activities
Benefits of involving others
Planning and preparing meals with others helps to nurture healthy eating habits that last a lifetime. These habits include the ability to prepare healthy food.
Involving others in planning and preparing meals lets you:
- share food and cooking traditions
- spend quality time with loved ones
- learn and share important food skills
- make preparing meals and snacks more fun and less work
- explore healthy new foods that you might not normally try
- feel more connected to those around you including:
- different generations of family
- others with a common interest
Think of all the different people in your life you could connect with through food. It could be your:
- family
- friends
- coworkers
- neighbours
- roommates
- community members
How to involve others in planning and preparing meals
There are many ways to engage in fun, food-related activities with those around you. Try to involve others by trying some of these ideas:
- have a friend over for a cooking date
- invite your relatives to share the history of a favourite family food or recipe and teach you how to prepare it
- organize a potluck with your neighbours, coworkers or friends. Try different potluck themes to showcase everyone’s skills and specialties.
- host a cooking event for kids. Let them plan the menu, write the grocery list, shop for food and cook the meal, with your help of course.
Get involved in food-related activities
It doesn’t all have to be about cooking. There are other ways to participate in healthy food-related activities and share your knowledge. You can:
- Start a community garden in your neighbourhood where everyone can grow fresh vegetables.
- Plan to go grocery shopping with a friend or neighbour. It can help make this regular task more social.
- Participate in a recipe exchange with your friends. Share your easy weekday meal ideas or your special holiday favourites.
- Share your skills with your community. Many communities have food organizations looking for volunteers who love to prepare food and share their knowledge with others. You can help:
- plan, plant or harvest a garden
- prepare meals and snacks for participants
- organize cooking workshops or demonstrations
- promote the knowledge and use of traditional and cultural foods
Visit the Food guide for life for tips to:
- Involve Kids
- Improve food skills