What if one of the best tools for raising capable, confident kids is already sitting in your kitchen?

In this episode, Ginny talks with Jack and Emmy Zhang, founders of Cooking for Levi and authors of Weeknight Winners: Family Dinners, about how cooking alongside their five-year-old son, Levi, has become about so much more than food. What started with Jack sharing his love of cooking has grown into a family rhythm that builds connection, confidence, curiosity, language, and real-world skills.

Jack and Emmy share practical ways to involve kids in the kitchen—even when they're young or parents aren't confident cooks themselves. From pouring and stirring to choosing ingredients, exploring foods from around the world, and eventually learning more advanced skills, small opportunities to contribute can have a lasting impact. They also discuss how food naturally opens doors to sensory exploration, vocabulary, geography, culture, and meaningful family conversation.

It’s a joyful reminder that children don't always need another activity or screen to keep them occupied. Sometimes they simply need to be invited into the things we're already doing.

Grab the cookbook here!

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