A recent survey by Samsung Family Hub found that 56% of the parents questioned are keen to get their children to cook, in the belief that they'll be more likely to eat a balanced diet if they prepare it themselves. Kids today are spoilt by the easy availability of fast food and ready meals. Mum and Dad are probably also too drained from a day at work to put a nutritious meal together and when they do get one on the plate, 63% were faced with kids simply refusing to eat it. The survey, in association with Masterchef 2015 finalist Emma Spitzer, devised 25 simple dishes that children ought to be able to make by the age of 11. Spaghetti bolognese comes top of the list, followed by scrambled egg on toast. Stir-fry, pizza, macaroni cheese, sausage & mash and sponge cake follow close behind. In most cases, they're easy put-together dishes, but these in themselves will teach kids some idea of harmonious, tasty and balanced meals. What's rather a surprise is lasagne, stew, roast chicken and chilli con carne: I suspect there's a great number of rather older 'kids' about 31 or so who would find these a challenge, let alone 11-year-olds. See the whole list of 25 dishes and how to make them here. With the Christmas holidays coming up, why don't you spend a bit of it teaching your young ones a few simple cookery techniques, it'll hopefully get them interested in food and on the road to healthy eating in their future.