Simple Frugal Strategies to get your teen interested in helping on food prep or cooking a dish is relationship building tips. Sometimes we say “no” to stuff that is intimidating to us. Include them in all planning, recipe selections and guest invitations is an open door to inviting them to be a contributing part of Thanksgiving.
Cooking the turkey and all of the grocery shopping that has to be done can put anyone into overwhelm. To get your teen involved and on a level playing field of interest simplicity will breed excellence. Make this Thanksgiving more simple. That way if they remember last year and all of the work to be done makes them want to run, then inform them this is going to be low key.
Talk with your Teen with the Thanksgiving Plans
To avoid a state of overwhelm with these simple frugal strategies, discuss with them the steps to planning. I use a holiday planning binder. Using this binder helps me to have recipes on hand, remember crafts we did last year, and I keep some special memories in the binder as well. My teens help with a lot on the morning of Thanksgiving. Someone decorates, one sets the table, and another helps with cooking. I give them a choice of making a dish, or a dessert.
Last year my oldest teen made the pie. It turned out very well and he enjoyed it. This year I hope to have one helping me plan what we will eat, and another writing a list for ingredients we need to get. I will use my binder for this also. Allow them to see how much planning goes into the meal, and how to cut corners at the grocery store.
Simple Strategies to get them Cooking
A few simple frugal strategies to get them cooking is first, buy them an apron. Make it feel like they are part of the household cooking crew. Second, my advice is to not worry too much about how the dish turns out. Be super supportive and cook right next to them. I would not be overly helpful.
My children like to take the lead in things, and recently I am letting them. It’s ok if it doesn’t turn out good. That is part of the learning. I know, you’re saying “but it’s Thanksgiving”. My response to that is if someone doesn’t like the dish, simply don’t eat it. Be very, very encouraging to your teenager. At some point we were all learning to cook. In addition to that don’t make expensive recipes. Make easy one dish recipes like macaroni and cheese. That is a good frugal meal that most people love.
Focus on One Skill at a Time
Next, instead of trying to teach them how to follow a recipe, or cleaning up as they go, focus on what you want them to learn. Just like when you homeschool have an objective to teach them. For me, it is to follow directions. Once they have accomplished that part, everything else is easier. Anyone that can learn to follow directions has a gift for life.
Therefore, after I teach them to follow directions, I allow them to take the reins on the recipe. We don’t do anything big or very detailed. The first dish they make is salad, cranberry jelly, or making the rolls. None of those are super hard to learn. Salad does involve a lot of cutting of vegetables so I watch over that while they cut their first time, that is another simple frugal strategy.
Expect Progress, Not Perfection
Finally, enjoy this time with your teen. Soon enough they will be grown. Talk with them, laugh and worry about the mess at the end. Over the years’ I have learned to take things in stride and focus on the important part of them helping with the Thanksgiving dinner. That is the journey. I get to the be the one teaching them and one day I will be going to their home, with their family, eating dinner. It is a blessing for sure to know I was privileged to teach my teen and create a time of bonding.
Expect progress, not perfection. That way everything is good. We are all growing and learning. The important part is to have our kids’ with us as we go.
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