Falling in love with food

Most moms prefer their children as far away from the kitchen as possible when they are cooking. Between homework, the chicken in the oven and finding dad’s missing sock, there really is no time to teach little ones the basics of cooking.
Ballito mom Lewaine von Alleman has a different view.
The bubbly owner of Fine Young Cooks is out to make the kitchen less daunting for little people.
“Teaching children the food groups and allowing them to touch, feel and see the colour of food is important.”
Johannesburg native von Alleman took over the Fine Young Cooks business from her son’s former cooking teacher four years ago.
“I have always loved cooking and sent Thailen for lessons when he was three. I was designing kitchens when his teacher asked if I knew anyone who wanted to buy the school. I said no and Thailen said ‘hey mommy, you can do it’.”
Von Alleman said that if children made the food themselves, they were more likely to try the foods they would normally turn up their noses at.
“Watching a fussy eater eat something just because he made it makes me happy. It is amazing watching people fall in love with food.”
Von Alleman also teaches domestic workers the basics of cooking and loves it when her students master a recipe.
Her dream is to get a food truck and take her cooking lessons into underprivileged communities, teaching people to eat from “ground to table” (from the veggie garden to the dinner table).
“You would be surprised what you can achieve with the simplest of ingredients and you do not have to be a chef to make delicious food. Everyone can cook!”