“You don’t need to cook, my son. Your mom will make it.”

A common statement you will hear in most Indian homes. We talk about equality but still in many Indian homes, cooking is seen as mom’s job. Sons are usually told to focus on careers or sports. Yes, even daughters are stepping out for careers but cooking still remains their responsibility.

But reality shows like Laughter Chefs are changing the stereotypes. On the show, male celebrities are cooking and cleaning. 

By winning the show, Elvish and Karan have proved that even men can be the best cooks.

Why Boys Don’t Step into the Kitchen

Many boys grow up without basic cooking skills because they’re never encouraged to try. They often hear:

“Learn after marriage if you have to.”

And this makes them perceive cooking as uncool or cringe. And when they grow into adults,  they can’t make anything more than Maggi or tea.

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What Laughter Chefs Is Doing Differently

When your teenage son sees popular male celebrities flipping dosas and kneading dough, they start accepting that cooking is okay for men, and it can actually be fun.

The show makes the kitchen look less like a task and more fun.

The boys are trying dishes that they have never heard of.

They are laughing at their mistakes- probably the best part of the show. Don’t feel bad when something goes wrong; instead, smile and look for solutions.

Why Parents Should Teach Their Son to Cook

While we see cooking as a task, we don’t realise it teaches us valuable life skills

• Your son won’t have to depend on others for meals.
• Cooking requires planning and patience, which are important skills they will need in their professional life.
• Making a dish from scratch and ending up with a perfect one can help in gaining confidence.

When we talk about equality at work, why not in the kitchen?

How You Can Encourage Your Son To Cook At Home

Let them enter the kitchen once they cross the age of 7, a perfect age when they are ready to start safe tasks.

• For younger kids, they don’t need to get directly into the process where fire is involved; let them help clean the vegetables, or just apply butter on the sandwich.
• Invite him to the kitchen when you are making something special.
• Let him try making his favourite.
• Praise the effort. Mistakes are part of the process.

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Shows like Laughter Chefs are normalizing a simple truth - life skills don’t have a gender. Whether it’s your daughter fixing a bulb or your son making breakfast, both deserve the same encouragement.