Cedar Park, Texas, is a terrific place to live thanks to its proximity to awesome activities, like cooking classes. Learning to prepare the family’s meals comes with loads of benefits, and you may even raise a couple of adventurous eaters at the same time. So get your children in the kitchen at these five places where they can try out their skills behind the stove.

The Kitchen House

Image via Flickr by shixart1985 Licensed CC BY 2.0

Children can learn many lessons behind the stove, like various math concepts. Counting, measuring, and calculating fractions naturally unfold when your budding young chef learns to navigate even a simple recipe. That’s why we recommend The Kitchen House on the corner of Dandridge and Blue Ridge.

Don an apron and join other Cedar Park families atthis creative cooking venue. It specializes in educational programs and workshops for learners of all ages created by a registered dietitian. Help inspire your kids to cook with engaging weekly classes, week-long camps, and one-day workshops.

This entertainment event space is also a memorable place to host your child’s next birthday party. Your young guests will learn about nutrition while they master various culinary techniques that focus on improving math and science skills. Academics aren’t the only area parents will see their children improve. This program also helps kids build confidence in and out of the kitchen, too.

Faraday’s Kitchen Store

Make cooking your family’s new tradition. Preparing the family meal is an excellent way to spend quality time with the kids, plus it’s the ideal way to celebrate your cultural heritage. Give your kids an advantage with one of the area’s most sought-after cooking and knife skills classes.

The professional instructors at Faraday’s Kitchen Store on Shops Parkway in Bee Cave have been hosting in-store culinary classes for more than a decade. Its great Summer Chef Camp is open to children ages seven to 15. The series features nine different four-day sessions each summer. The store’s cooks have experience in children’s culinary instruction, nutrition, and food safety.

This venue also offers both demonstration-style and hands-on lessons for parents throughout the year. Talented chefs will inspire you to move past your culinary comfort zone with the skills to prepare mouthwatering meals at home. Faraday’s small class sizes help maintain a light and intimate atmosphere. Sign up for workshops like Pizza Making, The Food of New Zealand, and All About That Bass! You’ll even get the chance to sample your creations before you leave.

Sustainable Food Center

The Sustainable Food Center (SFC) is an incredible local organization that offers free cooking and nutrition classes to support the Texas community. Unfortunately, our state’s obesity rates are skyrocketing, and so are food-related diseases. According to Texas Health and Human Services, an average of 31.8% of Cedar Park residents are overweight. That’s why the passionate instructors at SFC provide these programs to local families.

This course is unique because its teachers start with steadfast local cooking traditions that may not be healthful and teach students aged 10 and older ways to incorporate wholesome ingredients that fuel growing bodies. The center also offers free gardening education, so your family can access fresh fruits and vegetables.

The Happy Kitchen is a free six-week class offered in English and Spanish. Peer facilitators will teach your family how to take advantage of different food systems concepts, like farmers’ markets. During this complimentary class, you’ll also learn what produce grows well in our hot, dry climate.

Teachers will explain the importance of staying safe while cooking by showing them how to hold kitchen tools safely, use oven mitts to protect hands from heat, and turn appliances on and off correctly. Then, you’ll use healthy recipes from the SFC’s cookbook “Fresh, Seasonal Recipes” to create a delicious and nutritious meal. You’ll even get a complete set of ingredients to take home, so you can practice your new recipes for the family.

Central Market

Learn how to cook at Central Market in North Lamar. Studies show that cooking can help young kids learn math concepts quicker and even build language skills after some time in the kitchen. Creating meals with your little ones can help boost their self-confidence and lay the foundation for lifelong healthy eating habits.

Expert cooking school instructors provide fun courses for every age, whether you’re looking for a date night activity for mom and dad or some quality time with the kids. Learning how to cook never tasted so good than at Central Market’s class. Your kids will perfect their pairings, practice new techniques, and expand their repertoire in this teaching kitchen.

Central Market’s virtual cooking school is a terrific alternative for in-kitchen classes. Your busy family’s aspiring chef will master the basics from home. For example, celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with the store’s series of virtual cooking classes. Notable chefs like David Chang and Ozlem Warren share their stories and recipes.

The Black Vegan Company

Most Cedar Park parents don’t want to have to sacrifice flavor to improve their family’s health. Our local Texas cuisine is part of our culture and identity, so giving up the delicious foods we grew up with is challenging. Owner Robin Beltran of The Black Vegan Company understands this concern and introduces students to vegan meal solutions that are flavorful and good for you.

The kids can level up their kitchen skills while discovering that healthy dishes can be as tasty as the foods they’ve always eaten with this company’s in-home cooking lessons. Beltran will help your family prepare a delicious meal together in just one hour. She’ll provide personal hands-on guidance or invite your child’s friends and make it a party.

Well, mise en place! You’ve just discovered the best places near home to try out kids cooking classes. What do your think of the schools we selected? Did we forget your family’s favorite place to learn a new recipe? Let us know if we did. We want to share your ideas with other Texas parents.