Kitchen Chemistry
“Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in His ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD” —Psalm 128:1-4
The kitchen can be one of the liveliest rooms in your house. It’s where the fancy meals are prepared for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. It’s where the everyday peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches are assembled. It’s the place that smells like warm chocolate chip cookies on rainy days and cozy chicken noodle soup on sick days. It’s where your kids eventually dabble solo, attempting their own recipes and favorite dishes.
But more than food preparation happens here. The kitchen has the potential to be the site of some of the happiest moments for your family. It’s not just about feeding hungry bellies; it’s about nourishing souls, strengthening bonds, and making memories.
The Homeschool Canteen
When Rachael and I were raising our children, we made it a point to share meals together as a family unit. Most families today don’t experience this kind of rhythm. With 96 percent of children attending public or private schools, mornings are often a mad dash. Breakfast might be a rushed bowl of cereal, a toaster pastry in the car, or nothing at all. Lunch is usually eaten in a cafeteria with peers, and dinner may be the only time the whole family gathers in one place.
But as a homeschooling family, your schedule has more flexibility. If you choose, the kitchen can become more than a food stop; it can serve as the canteen for your homeschool castle. Because you’re in charge of the daily timetable, you don’t have to rush through mealtime to get to the “next thing.” Instead, you can make breakfast, lunch, and dinner intentional times of learning and relationship building.
Family Food Traditions
One of the ways this played out in our home has been through mealtime traditions. These may sound simple, but over time, they become deeply meaningful.
For example, Friday night is pizza night at the Carman household. While takeout pizza is always an option, our family loves the homemade variety. We lay all the ingredients on the counter, and everyone makes a personal pie with their favorite toppings. Some of our kids go heavy on the cheese, most avoid onions, and nearly everyone adds sausage or pepperoni. The key is to arrange the toppings in a unique way so you can spot your pizza when it emerges from the oven. It’s messy, fun, and delicious—and the shared experience is the best part.
Another longstanding favorite is Saturday morning pancakes. We don’t get started until around 10:00 a.m., but everyone knows to be in the kitchen, ready to help. We make sure the table is set with toppings like pecans, chocolate chips, strawberries, sausage, butter, and several flavors of syrup. It’s not just breakfast—it’s a celebration.
These traditions have become more than meals. They are opportunities for fellowship. Around the table, we read the Bible or practice Scripture memory. We laugh, tell stories, and banter back and forth. Of course, there are times when tempers flare or unkind words are spoken, but even those moments become teaching opportunities. God uses them to remind us to be careful with our words, thoughts, and actions, and to seek His glory in all things.
Even cleanup time can be fruitful. Although we keep a schedule for dishwashing duties, Rachael and I often volunteer to stay and help when an important conversation needs to continue. Standing side by side at the sink, our kids open up in ways they might not otherwise. These post-meal talks have become some of the richest times of connection in our home.
Six Ways to Make the Most of Kitchen Time
Let me share six practical suggestions for how you can take advantage of the opportunities provided by your kitchen.
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Designate a Fun Meal on a Certain Day of the Week
Tradition is powerful. Kids love predictability and look forward to special meals. Whether it’s Pizza Friday, Taco Tuesday, or Omelet Monday, pick something fun and stick with it. (You’ll probably find that you love predictability, too!) Sunday after church is also a great time to make memories. Growing up, I remember meals of brisket, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, and homemade rolls. Even decades later, the thought of that Sunday dinner makes me smile.
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Include Kids in the Food Preparation
Teen girls often love to cook, but don’t leave out the boys. Let them all take turns preparing meals. Following recipes teaches reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving. Doubling a recipe helps them practice fractions. And discovering that salt is not a good substitute for sugar is a life lesson they won’t soon forget. Consider dedicating an entire school day to “kitchen chemistry.” You’ll be amazed at how much learning happens when your kids experiment with flavors, textures, and recipes.
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Have Children Set the Table
This may seem trivial, but don’t underestimate it. Setting the table is a chance to practice responsibility, thoughtfulness, and attention to detail. As kids grow older, it’s fun to watch them add creative touches—folded napkins, flowers, or candles. These small acts communicate that meals are special and worth honoring.
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Read a Book or Memorize Scripture
One of the best things you can do at mealtime is to slow down and engage both your heart and mind. Keep a Bible or devotional book by the table. Read a passage aloud and ask a few questions to start a conversation.
We’ve often used mealtime to practice memory verses. When the kids were little, it was a verse or two, often connected to Awana. As they grew older, we tackled longer sections—sometimes ten or twelve verses. At first, it feels daunting, but after weeks of repetition, the words flow naturally. God’s Word becomes hidden in their hearts, ready to guide them for years to come.
Other helpful resources include catechisms, the Apostles’ Creed, or devotional guides like Training Hearts, Teaching Minds by Starr Meade. Apologia’s What We Believe series is another excellent tool for sparking biblical conversations.
Apologia’s What We Believe Series
What children believe is important – it shapes who they are and the choices they make. But it’s growing increasingly difficult for them to understand what is true and what isn’t. They are inundated with competing messages about truth, and every song, show, book, and game offers its own version of morality, identity and faith.
The What We Believe series is an incredible way to teach children the essential beliefs of the Christian faith, but it’s so much more! Using vivid illustrations and graphics and engaging lessons, this Bible-based curriculum will help you walk with your student as they develop a Biblical worldview and learn how to stand firm in the truth.
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Linger for Extended Dinnertime Conversations
In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to rush through meals. But some of the best conversations happen after the plates are clean and the last bites are gone. Ask open-ended questions. Encourage your kids to share what they learned that day, what they’re thankful for, or how they’ve seen God at work in their lives. These lingering conversations give you a window into your children’s hearts.
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Assign Cleanup Duties
Everyone should pitch in, including mom and dad. Never underestimate the power of modeling behavior for your children. Shared responsibility teaches humility and teamwork. And don’t miss the discipleship opportunities here. Deuteronomy 6 reminds us to teach God’s commands as we walk along the road, when we sit at home, and yes, even when we stand shoulder to shoulder washing dishes. Conversations during cleanup can be just as impactful as those around the table. Besides all these perks to relationships, the kitchen gets clean, and who doesn’t want that?
Don’t Miss the Kitchen Moments
Life truly does take place in the kitchen. This one room has the power to shape your children’s lives more than you may realize. It’s not only where delicious home-cooked meals are whipped up, set out, and enjoyed, but it’s also where faith is lived out in the ordinary moments—where laughter, learning, correction, forgiveness, and grace all mix like ingredients in a family recipe.
So don’t rush past breakfast to get to your math lessons. Don’t treat dinner like it’s just another box to check at the end of the day. Slow down, be intentional, create traditions, read Scripture, laugh often, and yes, wash dishes together.
The psalmist’s picture of the family table in Psalm 128:3 is one of fruitfulness and blessing. May your kitchen become that kind of place—where your wife is like a fruitful vine and your children like olive shoots around the table.
A Holiday Invitation
With Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner, there’s no better time to put these ideas into practice. These holidays naturally draw families to the kitchen. Stuffing-filled turkeys are roasted, apple pies are baked, and ooey-gooey cookies fill the air with sweet aromas. Don’t let the busyness of preparation rob you of the joy that can be found in these moments.
Invite your kids to help with the menu planning, food prep, and table setting. Use the opportunity to review the blessings of the year during Thanksgiving dinner or read the Christmas story together before enjoying your feast. And don’t forget the lingering conversations afterward—those unhurried times can become the most cherished memories of the season.
This year, be intentional. Make the kitchen more than a staging area for big meals. Turn it into a place where faith is shared, love is expressed, and gratitude is cultivated. When you do, the traditions you start now will echo for generations to come.
