After the summer, getting back into the kitchen can be the best way to get back into your routine. Arredo3 is bringing a new recipe book to the kitchen, designed for children and teenagers: simple, colourful and nutritious recipes to make together or on your own. And with a charitable cause in mind.
September has the feel of new beginnings. School is back, along with commitments, early mornings and days structured around fixed timetables. After weeks spent by the sea, in the mountains, enjoying leisurely lunches and al fresco dinners, the family finds itself settling back into the daily routine. And what better way to get back into the swing of things than by spending time together in the kitchen?
It was from this idea that “Colourful Cooking”, the new project from Arredo3 designed to mark the start of the new school year by celebrating the pleasure of eating well and, above all, of preparing food together.
This book is the result of a collaboration with Simona Stoppa, the author of the texts, and the nutritionist Ileana Gervasi, the project’s scientific adviser. A recipe book aimed at children and teenagers that presents the kitchen as a space for play, discovery and sharing, where learning about food can be just as much fun as eating it.
Colour as an ingredient
Red, green, yellow, orange: in “Cooking with Colours”, food is discovered first and foremost through the eyes.
The decision to organise the recipes according to colour makes the book easy to use and intuitive, and encourages young children to become familiar with fruit and vegetables by starting with what they know best: colour.
Because teaching children about a balanced diet does not necessarily mean imposing rules. Rather, it can mean creating opportunities for them to learn about food: to look at it, smell it, touch it, cut it, mix it and, finally, taste it.
This is one of the fundamental principles underpinning the contribution of the nutritionist Ileana Gervasi: During childhood, important eating habits are formed, and hands-on experience can help children and young people approach food with greater curiosity and confidence.
Let’s all get cooking
The real special ingredient of the project, however, is sharing.
“Cucina a colori” features recipes that can be prepared with parents, as well as dishes that teenagers can make on their own. The result is a journey that gradually guides young people towards greater awareness and independence.
The recipes are explained using simple text, pictures and practical tips, with little tricks designed to make it easier to deal with the typical reluctance seen in children. How, for example, can you persuade someone who says they can’t stand vegetables to give them a second chance?
The secret is to turn mealtimes into an experience that begins long before you sit down to eat.
An alternative to the smartphone
In an increasingly digital world, preparing a recipe also means treating yourself to a break. Your hands and your attention are focused on a tangible activity, whilst time seems to slow down.
Kneading dough, washing vegetables, setting the table, waiting for a cake to bake: these are simple actions that can become little family rituals. And they can transform the kitchen into a place where the family can truly come together, away – at least for a while – from the television, video games and smartphones.
The message of *Cucina a colori* is therefore much broader than that of a simple recipe book: Eating well can also mean enjoying each other’s company.
A good habit that lasts all year round
The project coincides with the start of the new school year, but it is not designed to be tied to the school calendar.
The idea is to support families throughout the year with ideas for fragrant breakfasts, colourful lunches, nutritious snacks and dinners to share. Because it is precisely the repetition of these small, everyday gestures that can help build a more mindful relationship with food.
And in this sense, the kitchen becomes a real training ground for independence: you learn to choose ingredients, follow a recipe, organise your time and, of course, look after yourself.
The joy of doing good
Finally, there is one ingredient that makes the project even more special: solidarity.
The proceeds from the sale of “Colourful Cooking” will in fact be donated to the City of Hope Foundation, an organisation dedicated to promoting and supporting scientific research into paediatric diseases, with a particular focus on oncohaematological conditions.
The book thus becomes a project that combines nutrition education, family life and social commitment. It is a practical way of turning an everyday action – choosing and buying a cookery book – into a contribution to research.
Now we're back from our holidays, let's meet in the kitchen
This, ultimately, is Arredo3’s invitation. Returning to the rhythm of everyday life need not mean giving up the pleasure of sharing.
It might mean finding the time to enjoy a leisurely breakfast, preparing the next day’s snack together, trying out a new recipe, or letting a teenager gain their independence in the kitchen, one dish at a time.
Because a good habit can stem from something as simple as a single gesture. And sometimes it all starts with nothing more than an apron, a recipe and lots of colours.
“Cucina a colori” is available exclusively in print on Amazon. The proceeds from sales will be donated to the Città della Speranza Foundation.
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