Researchers tested an online cooking program called “Up for Cooking” with 73 Dutch families. Parents and kids attended four online cooking classes where they learned to plan, shop for, and prepare healthy meals together. After the program, parents felt more confident cooking healthy food and their kids got more involved in meal preparation. Parents also improved their skills in choosing and making nutritious meals. While the results look promising, researchers say more studies are needed to see if families keep these healthy cooking habits long-term.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Does an online cooking class program help families learn to cook healthier meals and feel more confident about healthy eating?
  • Who participated: 73 Dutch families with parents and children. 39 parents completed surveys before and after the program, and 11 parents were interviewed about their cooking habits.
  • Key finding: Parents significantly improved their ability to select and prepare healthy meals, and felt much more confident cooking with their children. Kids also became more involved in helping prepare meals at home.
  • What it means for you: Online cooking classes may be a helpful way for families to learn healthy cooking skills together, especially if you want your kids more involved in meal prep. However, this was a small pilot study, so results may not apply to everyone, and we don’t yet know if families keep these habits going long-term.

The Research Details

This was a pilot study, which means it was a small test to see if an idea works before doing a bigger study. Seventy-three Dutch families signed up for an online cooking program called “Up for Cooking.” The families attended four online classes that lasted 1.5 hours each. Before each class, families received the ingredients they would need to cook during the lesson.

Researchers measured success in two ways. First, they gave parents questionnaires (surveys) before and after the program asking about their cooking skills, knowledge about healthy eating, and how confident they felt cooking healthy meals. Second, they interviewed 11 parents to ask them about real changes they noticed in how their families cooked at home.

The researchers used a statistical test called the Wilcoxon Signed Rank test to see if the survey scores actually improved in a meaningful way. They also carefully read through the interview answers to find common themes about how families changed their cooking behavior.

This research approach is important because it combines two types of information. The surveys give numbers that show whether skills improved, while the interviews tell the real-life story of how families actually changed what they do at home. This combination helps researchers understand not just whether something works, but how and why it works for real families.

This is a pilot study, which is a smaller, exploratory test. The strengths include that it measured both skills and real behavior changes, and it used a before-and-after design to track improvement. However, only 39 out of 73 parents completed the surveys (about 53%), and only 11 were interviewed. This smaller number of people who finished the study means results are less certain. The study was also done only in the Netherlands with Dutch families, so results might be different in other countries or cultures. There was no comparison group (like families who didn’t take the class), so we can’t be completely sure the class caused the improvements.

What the Results Show

Parents showed significant improvement in two important cooking skills: selecting healthy ingredients and actually preparing healthy meals. This means families learned to make better choices at the grocery store and could put those choices into action in their kitchens.

Parents also reported feeling much more confident and knowledgeable about cooking healthy meals with their children. This confidence boost is important because when parents feel capable, they’re more likely to keep cooking healthy meals at home.

The interviews revealed something especially encouraging: children became more involved in meal preparation after the program. Parents reported that kids were helping more in the kitchen and seemed more interested in cooking. This is valuable because when children help prepare meals, they often eat healthier and develop better eating habits.

Overall, families reported positive changes in their cooking behavior at home, suggesting the online classes had real-world impact beyond just the class sessions themselves.

The fact that the program worked online is noteworthy. Many families can’t attend in-person cooking classes due to schedules, transportation, or other barriers. This online format made it possible for busy families to participate. The program also provided ingredients to families, which removed a barrier that sometimes prevents people from trying new recipes. These practical features may have helped make the program successful and accessible.

Previous research has shown that cooking classes can improve healthy eating habits, but most studies have focused on in-person classes. This study adds to that knowledge by showing that online cooking classes can also work. The finding that children’s involvement in cooking increased is consistent with other research showing that when kids help prepare meals, they develop better food skills and healthier eating patterns. However, most previous studies have been larger and longer-term, so this pilot study is an important first step in understanding online cooking interventions.

Several limitations should be considered. First, only about half of the families who started completed the surveys, which could mean the results don’t represent all families fairly. Second, there was no control group (families who didn’t take the class) to compare against, so we can’t be completely certain the improvements came from the program rather than other factors. Third, the study only measured changes immediately after the program ended—we don’t know if families kept these healthy cooking habits months or years later. Fourth, all families were from the Netherlands, so results might be different in other countries with different food cultures. Finally, this was a small pilot study, so results need to be confirmed with larger studies before we can be very confident.

The Bottom Line

If you’re interested in learning to cook healthier meals as a family and want your kids more involved in the kitchen, an online cooking program like this may be worth trying. The evidence suggests it can help you feel more confident and improve your cooking skills (moderate confidence level). However, since this is a pilot study, treat it as a promising option rather than proven fact. Consider trying it if you have the time and resources, but also look for other evidence-based nutrition programs in your area.

This program may be especially helpful for: families who want to cook healthier meals together, parents who want their children more involved in meal preparation, busy families who can’t attend in-person cooking classes, and people who learn better in online settings. It may be less suitable for families without reliable internet access or those who strongly prefer in-person instruction. The study was done with Dutch families, so results might vary for families from different cultural backgrounds.

Based on this study, families saw improvements in cooking confidence and skills after just four 1.5-hour sessions (about 6 hours total). However, we don’t know how long these improvements last. You might see immediate confidence boosts and skill improvements, but maintaining these changes long-term likely requires ongoing practice and reinforcement. Plan to continue cooking together regularly to keep the benefits.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track the number of times per week your family cooks a meal together at home, and note which healthy recipes you try. Also track your confidence level (1-10 scale) in selecting and preparing healthy meals weekly to see if it improves over time.
  • Use the app to set a weekly goal for family cooking sessions (for example, “cook together 2 times this week”). Create a simple meal plan each week with healthy recipes your family wants to try, and check off each meal you prepare together. Share photos or notes about what you cooked.
  • Monitor your family’s cooking involvement monthly by noting which family members participate and how their involvement changes. Track which healthy recipes become family favorites and which ones you return to regularly. Set quarterly check-ins to assess whether your confidence in healthy cooking has continued to improve and whether your family’s eating patterns have become healthier overall.

This research is a pilot study with a small sample size and no control group, so results are preliminary and should not be considered definitive medical advice. The study measured short-term changes only, and long-term effects are unknown. Results were from Dutch families and may not apply to all populations. Before making significant changes to your family’s diet or cooking practices, consult with a healthcare provider or registered dietitian, especially if anyone in your family has food allergies, dietary restrictions, or medical conditions affecting nutrition. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical or nutritional guidance.