As I work with teens and young adults, I am finding many of them don’t know how to cook the simplest of dishes. While eating out all of the time may sound fun, it gets expensive very quickly. To be able to eat frugally and in healthy ways, your kids need to learn how to follow a simple recipe. Why not have some fun with it and teach them about the Bible at the same time?
There are a lot of Bible stories connected to food. Many of the dishes are quite healthy, as junk food wasn’t really “a thing” in Bible times. Some are recipes which are similar to dishes your kids may already be eating, while others will encourage them to try new, healthy foods.
So grab an NIrV Bible, the ingredients and online recipes to have some fun, family devotionals with built in cooking lessons. Need some ideas? Here are some of my favorites (Included are links to the Bible story or Bible activity with scripture links to the NIrV, learning objectives, recipes and more.):
- Jacob and Esau and the Birthright. You can find the Bible story in Genesis 25 and 26. Here is the recipe I generally use when “cooking” this Bible story. You can adapt it slightly, but even picky eaters will enjoy it if you remove the cumin and cilantro and throw a little cheese on top of the hot stew before you serve it. It’s a little less authentic that way, but you don’t want to waste food either.
- The First Passover. You can find the Bible story in Exodus 11 and 12. You don’t have to cook all of the foods in a traditional Passover meal. You may choose to just teach your kids how to cook lamb or unleavened bread. (Note: For a more authentic recipe, substitute whole wheat or other unbleached flour for the white flour suggested.)
- Fire and Quail From God. This Bible story is one your kids may not learn at church. It’s found in Numbers 10 and 11. Even though we aren’t really sure what God sent for manna, many people make this cookie (Add 1/2 teaspoon of ground coriander for more authenticity.) that probably has a similar taste. You may have to ask your butcher for some quail. They usually come several to a box as they don’t have very much meat on them. It’s a bit of a splurge, but a lot of kids enjoy trying foods that are a little unusual, like quail.
- Esther. Chronologically, Esther is the last story in the Old Testament time frame. Since the time it happened during the Persian Empire, the holiday of Purim has been celebrated to help people remember and celebrate what happened. Today, many eat Hamantaschen cookies as part of the celebration. They are easy to make, but usually turn out a bit messy looking compared to the store bought version. This recipe, claims to help you and your kids make perfect hamantaschen cookies!
- New Testament Wedding Stories. Whether it’s the story of Jesus’ first miracle or one of the wedding parables, there are several stories and parables in the New Testament revolving around weddings and banquets. For these stories, consider cooking other authentic foods like couscous (If you prefer to make it from a box, opt for the garlic couscous. Otherwise, it tends to taste bland without other vegetables being added.) or dishes featuring dates or figs. Many recipes labeled “Middle Eastern”, feature foods that have been eaten in Israel and surrounding countries for centuries.
These are only a few of the stories in the Bible where various foods are mentioned. Don’t forget fish, cucumber, melon and even various spices in your search to cook through the Bible. Have fun teaching your kids to cook, but more importantly teaching them about God while you are working together.
Please note: Recipe links are accurate at the time of posting. Linking to a recipe does not imply endorsement of anything else on the site.