Developing cooking skills in adolescents has been linked to stronger nutrition skills and more fa...

1. The stronger a students self-esteem, the more focused they will be on making healthy choices and experiences.

2. Past studies have linked an increase in family meals with better grades and higher levels of self-esteem (Studies Suggest Giving Cooking Skills, 2015).

3. More family meals encourages positive interaction during sensitive periods, which are when a child's brain is most sensitive to experiences.

3.1. Positive experiences lead to strong, healthy brain function.

4. The Kinnect-Ed Program was developed by Food Network host Sandi Richard and is a 90-minute course that outlines the basis of nutrition and offers cooking demonstrations (Studies Suggest Giving Cooking Skills, 2015).

4.1. A focus is on interactive demonstrations with the students, as well as an understanding of the negative impacts of excess fat, salt and sugar.

4.1.1. The positive experiences associated with learning to cook as a team, and cooking with your family, encompass both strong physical and emotional brain development.

5. More family meals during adolescents has been linked to stronger nutrition choices in adulthood (Studies Suggest Giving Cooking Skills, 2015).

5.1. The brain is not fully developed until at least age 25. Therefore, understanding how to strengthen the brain through proper nutrition is essential at a young age.

6. Educators and school boards are necessary for the support and fostering of nutrition and cooking programs within the school (Studies Suggest Giving Cooking Skills, 2015).

6.1. Teachers should incorporate recipes, measuring, and nutrition into lessons where appropriate. Furthermore, they should encourage family meals.