You may not have considered yourself much of a cook in your life “pre-allergies,” but when your child (or other family member) is diagnosed with a life-threatening food allergy, you find yourself picking up a kitchen habit. While you’re honing your chopping skills and toning up your piping technique, cupcake by cupcake, invite your kids to the counter and have them help out.

Lay the Foundation

Whether your child’s allergies are lifelong or not, being competent in the kitchen is a life skill worth developing. If he grows to be a food-allergic adult (and there’s no way to predict if he will or won’t outgrow the allergies he’s been diagnosed with as a kid), the same pre-packaged food choices he’s limited to today will be food choices he’s limited to tomorrow. Knowing how to prepare his favorite meals from scratch (with or without adaptations) and having enough comfort in the kitchen to courageously try new recipes will serve him well.

Plus, it’s Quality Family Time

Sitting down for a family-friendly film or breaking out the board games are great ways to spend time together as a family, especially when you’re navigating pandemic-related restrictions on public activities. Do you know what else is a great hands-on, family activity? Cooking. Sit down together to brainstorm a list of recipes you all want to test drive. Figure out the potential adaptations you might…