In an article from the Tasting Table, entitled 20 Foods Every Twentysomething Should Learn to Make, Baily Bennett looks at simple alternatives to freeze dried noodles, take-out, and Mac n Cheese that all adults should know how to cook.  We’d like to drop the age bracket just a little and say that these are recipes a teenager can learn in a snap. If they can master a smart phone then they will have no trouble working the oven.

There’s no better time than now to get your teen in the kitchen – its a win/win for everybody. Firstly it takes the mental pressure off you in deciding what to cook (if you are anything like me this is almost a catatonic state by Wednesday evening), it takes the physical pressure off so you don’t have to be chained to the kitchen sink (and you can enjoy a chilled glass of vino on the couch instead), and you are fostering their independence. You know, that thing that enables your teen to start looking after themselves so they are equipped for life in the real world – aka a life without a personal chef.

To get inspired, check out these simple, tasty meals.  Don’t worry if they don’t get it right the first time or the reality isn’t quite the same as the perfectly styled image (been there, didn’t nail that!).  Just encourage them to keep trying and avoid the temptation to rescue. Cheers to not having to do it all!