In New York, you can have a birthday cooking party, culinary rentals for the party or even a culinary walking tour.  In San Francisco, there is a cooking school for teens with an option for summer cooking camps.   

It all started years ago with Emeril Lagasse showing what a joy cooking can be.  We have been watching the Food Network Reality Show each summer to see who is the next Food Network Star.

My teenager loves watching Guy Fieri as he travels around the country visiting diners.  These shows are great learning experiences on how a Restaurant becomes a success and finding new foods to make.  Guy keeps the viewer interested in a variety of foods. 

Teen cooking classes offer hands-on experience while sharing a new hobby with parents, as well as meeting other teens with similar interests.  I recently read of teen cooking competitions taking place in Southern California.  There is even a free cooking class for those on the autism spectrum that includes feel and smell stations.  This is for one hour and happening in the Los Angeles area.   

With more competition shows on cable networks spotlighting cooking in the kitchen, outdoors and at events it is sure to spark an interest in teens to pursue a career in this expanding field.  Even the shows that take you on  a tour of food preparation plants and the history of food are educational and filled with fun facts for teens to gain insights from.

The knowledge will help them be independent cookers with less emphasis on take out and fast food, which in turn will help lower the obesity epidemic in young kids.  Smarter food choices are possible for today's teens. 

Teen girls have many cooks, chefs and television personalities highlighting food in a trendy and hip way.  Cookbooks are great resources for them as gifts.  Etiquette classes are also something to consider for teens.

Lunchables contest for summer camp.

Bonnie is a freelance writer/editor that has many Autism Family Adventures and writes about Autism Spectrum Disorders