Cooking Club – Silver Lining Fostering Agency

Embracing Food Culture for Foster Carers

Food is more than just sustenance; it is a powerful symbol of identity and a vital link to cultural heritage. This connection is well-recognized in the field of migrant and refugee studies, but it is equally crucial for care leavers from ethnic minorities who might also experience a sense of cultural dislocation.

Encouraging Cultural Connections

Foster parents and social workers play a crucial role in supporting young people to maintain their cultural connections. Here are some ways to encourage this:

1. Explore Cultural Recipes Together: Spend time with your foster children exploring recipes from their cultural heritage. This can be a bonding activity and an educational experience for both of you.

2. Celebrate Cultural Holidays: Use traditional foods to celebrate cultural holidays and special occasions. This reinforces the significance of cultural traditions and creates lasting memories.

3. Visit Cultural Food Markets: Take trips to cultural food markets or specialty stores. This not only supports local businesses but also helps young people feel a sense of belonging and pride in their heritage.

4. Encourage Sharing: Allow your foster child to share their cultural dishes with friends and family. This promotes inclusivity and understanding within your household and community.

5. Provide Resources: Make sure your foster child has access to cookbooks, online resources, and cooking classes that focus on their cultural cuisine.

Meals that remind foster children of home can be deeply personal and vary widely depending on their background and experiences. Here are a few factors to consider when trying to create a meal that evokes a sense of home:

1. Cultural and Regional Foods: Familiar dishes from a child’s cultural or regional background can provide comfort. This could include traditional meals, snacks, or even specific ingredients they are used to.

2. Family Recipes: If you have access to any recipes from the child’s biological family or previous foster homes, recreating these dishes can help provide a sense of continuity and comfort.

3. Favourite Foods: Simple favourite foods, even if they are common dishes like pizza, macaroni and cheese, or chicken nuggets, can provide a sense of normalcy and comfort.

4. Celebratory Meals: Meals that are associated with positive memories, such as holiday dinners, birthday cakes, or other celebratory foods, can be particularly comforting.

5. Participation in Cooking: Allowing the child to participate in the cooking process, choosing recipes, and helping prepare meals can make the experience more personal and enjoyable.

6. Consistency and Routine: Having regular mealtimes and familiar dishes can help foster children feel more secure and at home.

Understanding the child’s preferences and background is key to creating meals that can evoke a sense of home and comfort. If possible, ask the child directly about their favourite foods or any dishes that remind them of home.

The best day of the week to cook with children depends on your family’s schedule and preferences, but many families find that weekends, particularly Saturdays or Sundays, are ideal. Ultimately, the best day will vary based on your family’s unique schedule, but weekends are generally a good starting point for many families. Here are a few reasons why:

1. More Free Time: Weekends usually offer more free time compared to weekdays, making it easier to plan and enjoy the cooking process without the rush of school or work.

2. Family Togetherness: Cooking together on weekends can become a fun family activity, allowing everyone to participate and bond over meal preparation.

3. Relaxed Atmosphere: The more relaxed atmosphere of weekends can make cooking with children more enjoyable and less stressful.

4. Opportunity for Learning: With more time, you can teach children cooking skills and involve them in different aspects of meal preparation, from measuring ingredients to decorating dishes.