Many people don’t learn to be healthy during their teenage years, let alone as young adults. It’s a whole lot easier to eat junk food than to plan meticulous meals with the perfect amount of nutritional value, and many people never find the right balance to set themselves up for a healthy life. 

If you have a teenager who is interested in cooking food that isn’t Pop-Tarts and microwave popcorn, you’re a lucky duck. Even knowing how to cook five or six different meals will help set them up for a future where they aren’t buying expensive restaurant food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The best way for a kid to feel empowered to cook is to have enough healthy food at home so that they actually can cook. If you only have hot dogs and frozen corn in the fridge, your kid is not going to be able to make a southwestern salad for themself, unless they buy the ingredients from their measly after-school job paycheck.