Jamie Oliver says teaching children to cook is 'as important as maths'. Is he right?
Jamie Oliver is embarking on a new project to improve childhood nutrition in schools by equipping children aged 11 to 14 with cooking skills he believes will be "empowering".
The TV chef, 49, launched a 10-week programme under his Ministry of Food foundation that teaches secondary school children to cook from scratch, with the goal of showing kids they don’t have to depend on convenience foods.
Speaking to The Times, Oliver said: "Teaching 11 to 14-year-olds how to cook empowers them with the skills to look after themselves."
"This is about teaching kids a fundamental life skill that’s just as important as English or maths. It should be at the heart of education. Food is so much more than just what we eat."
The Naked Chef star’s new initiative can also help children eat healthier, previous research suggests. Studies show that students who take part in cooking clubs adopt more positive eating habits, including improving how well they identify healthy foods and how much they want to eat them.
One study by Nottingham Trent University, which trialled a programme called the Healthy Lifestyle Project in 2023, found that children "developed their interest, confidence and competence across many aspects of food and nutrition" when they were engaged in practical cooking and nutrition lessons at school.
The researchers added that a similar programme to Oliver’s has a "positive effect on changing behaviour and attitudes towards making healthier food choices" - and that this effect expands to the children’s families too.
Schools that already have nutrition workshops have shown enthusiasm for programmes like these. Emma Gray, Head at St Margaret’s Junior School in Hertfordshire, tells Yahoo UK: "I think this new initiative is great. At our school we are already working with a qualified nutritionist who delivers regular sessions to our younger pupils, and we have found that they are slowly but surely making the connection between eating real food and experiencing good health.
"The impact of regular nutrition workshops on our young pupils has been very encouraging to date. The children can recount what they’ve learned, and they get lots of hands-on experience with healthy foods.
"From a communications perspective, the sessions encourage pupil voice and feedback as well as creativity from a young age. While children are young, it’s so important for schools to exploit this crucial window of opportunity to reinforce the importance of a healthy diet and help children to learn about food and cooking in a way that sparks their interest.
"The more they understand about the food they eat, the stronger the foundation for their educational outcomes and their future lives."
Kayla Daniels, founder of Kayla’s Nutrition, adds that cooking is a "fundamental life skill" and it’s important to teach children so that they are empowered to "take control of their health and nutrition".
"By learning to cook, they develop a deeper appreciation for food, understand healthy eating habits, and make informed choices," she says.
"In today’s world of processed and fast foods, it’s even more vital for children to know the ingredients and nutritional value of what they consume, helping them prioritise whole foods and balanced meals. This knowledge supports not just a healthy weight but also mental well-being, cognitive development, and long-term health. Cooking fosters creativity, problem-solving skills, and a sense of accomplishment."
Daniels also believes that, through cooking, children can enhance their motor skills through experimentation with ingredients, techniques and flavours, and even be introduced to maths and science through measurements and cooking processes - bringing their academic learnings into everyday life.
Cooking is also a family activity across many cultures and can act as a bridge between generations, therefore bringing families closer. Daniels recalls: "I learned to make pancakes and scones from my grandmother, and now, as a mother of three, I love teaching my children different recipes and explaining why I choose certain ingredients.
"When we cook and eat together, my children often ask questions about the foods, leading to fun learning moments. Sharing meals we’ve prepared deepens family bonds and gives children a sense of belonging and contribution."
She adds: "Teaching them to cook nurtures their relationship with food and helps them build a healthier, happier future. Cooking at home reconnects us with food in a way that supports both physical health and emotional well-being—values I want to pass on to my children."
Read more about health and nutrition:
Which vitamins and minerals do children need? (Yahoo Life UK, 6-min read)
Feeding your child peanuts from a young age can help reduce allergies later, new study claims (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read)
5 benefits of Brussels sprouts as Carol Vorderman admits to eating them raw (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read)
