What does getting ready for school have to do with cooking? Can food really teach us to love our neighbor? You may already know Ruhama Shitrit, the creator behind everyone’s favorite Jewish comfort food account, Ruhama’s Food. But you may not know that, in addition to being a parent and a chef, Ruhama is also a Jewish educator with more than 25 years of teaching experience. She recently retired from her position at a New England–area day school to pursue content creation full time. She crafted this special piece with tips about getting ready for the school year for PJ Library subscriber families and partners:
Ve-ahavta lerei’acha kamocha. (You shall love your neighbor as yourself.) This is really at the core of what I do with my social media account and what I share. Food is love. And through my videos and my recipes, I share the love of my time together with my family, my love of my home, Israel, and, of course, my love of being Jewish. (This also plays into why I will always post the recipe in Hebrew as well as English).
I’m all about positivity and bringing joy into cooking, especially during times that people may perceive as hectic, like getting ready for back to school, family gatherings, and holidays. Good cooking doesn’t have to be complicated. I like to show recipes that make people feel empowered to cook, to enjoy food, and to share it with others. Preparing a meal shouldn’t add stress. In fact, I see cooking with my family (and all of my followers on social media) as a way to spread positivity, joy, and empowerment. When my children help me cook, we feel closer as a family.
I wanted to share some of my favorite tips for getting kids involved in and excited for helping in the kitchen, starting with packing their own lunches.
When my children have cooked with me, I have always spoken to them as adults, my partners in creating the meal. I give them simple, age-appropriate jobs to do. For example, if I’m cutting up tomatoes, Noa, my daughter, will also have a plate and a safety knife nearby so she can cut some up as well. We talk as we work — it’s amazing the things your children will share with you as they help stir, measure, and prepare a meal.
Preparing school lunches can feel very hectic and stressful for many parents; I know this. If I can give you one very big piece of advice, it’s this: Pack lunch the night before. Just as we get ready for our Jewish holidays ahead of time but don’t cook once the chag (holiday) begins, so too, does my family get our lunches ready ahead of time. This gives us time in the morning to enjoy, not to worry about the rush, and to focus on the “big things,” whether that’s an upcoming test or just picking the right shirt to wear. You never know how your morning is going to go, so take five minutes at night to pack lunch together. Bring your kids in on the decision making: Should we add apples or berries for snack? Hummus or eggs for protein? Pita or bread? You will build a memory, and your kids will feel like they were a big part of “cooking” the meal they take to school the next day.
The second thing I share with fellow parents: Don’t worry so much about “healthy” choices or packing “the right thing.” Pack what you know your kids will enjoy and what will keep their bellies full so that they can focus on learning at school. When you prepare dinner at home, you can focus on variety and trying new things.
And finally, let your kids steer the planning (with a little bit of guidance from you). If you’re a family who likes to take time on Sundays to meal-prep or plan your dinners for the week, try making a lunch schedule then as well. Be sure to make Fridays a day for something special. In our house, that’s always been when I send pita with a little chocolate spread.
Every time you cook with your children, whether you’re preparing a large meal for a holiday or just packing a simple lunch together, you create opportunities for conversation, bonding, and learning together. You also model for your children how you like to speak to others and how you’d like them to show up in the world.
This year marks a new beginning for me, moving from being a teacher to being a full-time content creator (and cookbook author). I hope you and your family enjoy a beautiful new beginning together. Let’s cook together soon.
About the Author
photo by Heidi Aaronson
Ruhama Shitrit is the social media influencer and food blogger behind the popular Instagram page RuhamasFood, which has more than 500,000 followers. Ruhama loves sharing simple and delicious recipes inspired by Israeli cuisine and Middle Eastern flavors. Born and raised in Israel, the mother of four lives with her family in Boston, Massachusetts.
July 30, 2024