By Philip Maina, Chief Commercial Officer, Kenchic PLC
NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 14 – Every young person has a different story. Some are navigating university life, others are starting their first jobs, building businesses or learning to manage life on their own. Our circumstances may differ, but our aspirations are often remarkably similar: to be healthy, independent, financially secure and able to build a better future.
This is the thinking behind this year’s International Youth Day theme, “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.” It is a reminder that while young people may face different realities, there are fundamental things we all need to thrive. One of them is often overlooked: knowing how to take care of ourselves.
Among the many skills young people are encouraged to develop, from digital literacy to financial management and entrepreneurship, cooking rarely receives the attention it deserves. Yet knowing how to prepare a simple, balanced meal is not just a household skill. It is a practical investment in independence, health and everyday wellbeing.
For many young people, particularly those living away from home for the first time, food can quickly become an afterthought. Busy schedules, limited budgets and the convenience of fast food or takeaway meals can make it tempting to choose whatever is quickest. But convenience does not always have to mean compromising on the quality of what we eat.Learning to cook changes that equation.
You do not need to be a professional chef, own an expensive kitchen or know dozens of recipes. A few basic skills can make a significant difference. Knowing how to prepare eggs, cook chicken safely, combine vegetables with everyday staples and make use of what is already available at home can give a young person more control over both their meals and their spending.
This is particularly important when we talk about healthy eating. There is sometimes a perception that nutritious food is expensive or complicated. In reality, a balanced meal can begin with familiar foods and simple ingredients. What matters is learning how to combine them thoughtfully.
Protein is an important part of that conversation. Eggs and chicken are examples of versatile protein sources that can be incorporated into meals in different ways. An egg can turn a simple plate of vegetables, rice or noodles into a more substantial meal, while chicken can be paired with staples such as ugali, rice or chapati alongside vegetables.
The point is not that every young person needs to follow a particular recipe. It is that young people should have the confidence to look at what is available, understand what their body needs and prepare something for themselves.
This is where cooking becomes more than a life skill. It becomes an expression of independence.
There is also something empowering about being able to prepare a meal from scratch. It teaches planning, budgeting, patience and creativity. It encourages young people to understand the food they eat rather than simply consuming what is most convenient. These are lessons that extend beyond the kitchen and can influence how we approach other areas of adult life.
We should also recognise that young people do not all have the same access to food, cooking facilities or financial resources. That is precisely why conversations about healthy eating need to be realistic. Telling young people simply to “eat healthy” without considering affordability, access and time does little to help them.
Instead, we should make healthy eating practical and achievable.
That could mean teaching basic cooking skills in schools and universities, encouraging young adults to learn a few affordable recipes or sharing simple ideas that show how everyday ingredients can be used in different ways. It could also mean helping young people understand that nutritious meals do not have to be elaborate.
International Youth Day is an opportunity to celebrate young people and the role they play in shaping the future. But celebrating youth should also mean equipping young people with the skills they need to navigate that future.
We often talk about empowering young people to become entrepreneurs, innovators, leaders and changemakers. Those ambitions matter. But empowerment also happens in the small, everyday decisions that allow someone to take better care of themselves.Knowing how to cook is one of them.Our backgrounds may be different. Our opportunities may be different.
Our challenges may be different. But the aspiration to live a healthy, independent and fulfilling life is something many young people share.
This International Youth Day, perhaps we should therefore look beyond the big skills that prepare young people for the world of work and pay more attention to the everyday skills that prepare them for life.
Because sometimes, building a healthier and more independent future can start with something as simple as learning what to cook for dinner.
