Food is about family; it connects us in more ways than we may ever realize. So makes sense then to start a family food tradition around preserving food.
Canning is more than just a way to preserve food. It’s a beautiful way to create lasting memories & family food traditions. Adding such a routine to your family’s life won’t just keep pantry shelves stocked. It gives you something to look forward to; something tangible to pass on to the kids.
And above all just good, solid, quality time to share knowledge & family stories over really great food.
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It’s important to have some sort of family tradition to hang your purse on, right? They hold a special place in our hearts because of the sense of belonging they give us. And that’s a comfort in itself.
A family tradition doesn’t have to be complex. It’s simply an intentional time for the family to be together (& sometimes do something).
Hiking.
Spring planting.
Crafting holiday treats or decorations.
Tons of ways to intentionally get the family together regularly & seasonally for some fun.
And doing so creates a safe space for all members. It opens the door for meaningful conversations & problem-solving. These pockets in our lives are where some of our favorite memories are born.
For me, my favorites are usually centered around the kitchen table. Growing up, my favorite family food tradition was being part of all the cooking & baking in the kitchen around Thanksgiving. It still sorta is.
But since coming into adulthood (& starting my own family) I’m always incredibly excited to start our own traditions.
I didn’t grow up around canning. But I put a pretty high-value tag on making sure my kids do. And not only do I get to share the experience of building greater food security with my parents & kids, I get to share it with other women like you.
You truly can change the culture of your family with a tiny stepping stone like preserving food together.
Related Blog Post: Here’s Why You Should Include Your Family in the Kitchen
Choosing the Right Time to Start Canning as a Family Food Tradition
Canning food at home & turning it into a family food tradition is actually a great idea. It’s something that can be done year round.
At the peak of harvest time, there’s lots to do. So for the ones who don’t really like being outside in the hot weather or summer sunshine (like me), canning is great. In the fall & winter, there’s end-of-season produce & frozen food stock that can be canned. Hunted meats, fishing items & foraged foods can also be preserved.
It’s almost like there’s something perfect in each season to turn into shelf-stable food. So anytime is a good time to kick off your own family canning tradition.
Making Your Canning Tradition Fun for Everyone
It’s gotta be fun & enjoyable for everyone or else it’ll be a time of high-anxiety & stress real quick.
So be sure to have age & skill-appropriate tasks outlined ahead of time for everyone. Kids can help wash or sort produce, while older kids can fill jars.
I share a few other tips on how you can make canning fun for everyone that will help too. But the gist is to create a vibe. Like a really welcoming ambiance or festive atmosphere.
Jumpin’ music, maybe even some decorations for the jars. And of course, you gotta pay the people in treats or taste tests too.
When you hype it up & have a positive attitude, your family will pick up on that. But if you’re running the show like a miserly old Scrooge, can you blame anyone for not wanting to be around?
Don’t be intimidated by having young children either. Yesssss girl, it might try your patience. But it’s good for them to be in the mix too. I often baby wear during my preservation sessions (canning included). And now that I’m in deeper than the Wild Thornberries of toddler-hood, they actually help out.
Remember, this isn’t a family food tradition if the family isn’t included. Even if that’s some books or toys in a safe place close to the kitchen action where they can see. Being a part of the activity is fun even if they’re just watching for a bit.
Related Blog Posts: 5 Simple Tips to Make Canning Fun Even if You’ve Never Done it Before & 5 Big Ways to Include Your Family in the Kitchen
It’s OK to Learn Together
Imagine all the ways you can connect/re-connect over food by canning together!
This is your golden ticket opportunity to teach your family (& yourself even) about food preservation, nutrition & where food really comes from.
You can explore recipes together or local farms, markets & venues. Even experiment with flavors!
My personal journey with all this has been incredibly enriching in the past few years. So I can only imagine the appreciation a child/teen would gain from all the effort of preserving food.
Family Food Traditions Create Lasting Memories
No new family food tradition is really complete with photo evidence.
So don’t forget to capture the experience! Take pics throughout the canning process & maybe even start a family journal about it.
The food you preserved, recipes you tried or flavors you experimented with. Create a mini scrapbook documenting the journey. Not only will it jazz all of you up to do it again, but the data will help you be more efficient the following season.
Ohhhh the stories you could tell & include. I’m seeing personalized recipe cards as well. It might just turn into a family heirloom. ❤️
A Quick Word on Safety
While canning is a fun & very rewarding, productive activity, you can’t minimize safety. I think it’s totally ok to learn together as a family because knowledge empowers.
But maybe that’s outside your comfort zone which is cool! Either way, stick with proper canning techniques & safety guidelines all along the way. Print out the key steps or parameters & post them to a cabinet door during the session. And remember that you know the maturity of your counterparts – if some kids aren’t ready to wash, chop or cook produce…change up the tasks to something they can do.
Related Blog Post: How To Quickly Spot Spoiled Food: Safe Canning Tips
Key Take-Aways
Adding a family food tradition like canning to your routine does double duty: stocking your pantry shelves & connecting with family on a meaningful level.
Go about it by being clear on the tasks everyone can/wants to do, livening up the atmosphere with some music or jar decorations. And use the time to share stories, learn about food & maybe even create a family scrapbook. It’s ok to not know just where to start, but it’s not ok to not start.
🌱 Start Small. Start Now. Start where you are with what you have. The rest will follow. 🌱
If you want to be more self-sufficient, start with your food.
But you don’t have to give up good food to do it!
The Eat Good Food All the Time e-course is here & FREE!
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