Hiring a helper can ease the daily load of house chores, childcare, and cooking. However, helpers often come from different countries, cultures, and food backgrounds. While most have basic knowledge of cooking and food preparation, they may not be familiar with our local flavours and eating habits. This is why proper guidance is important.
Introduce Your Helper to Your Family’s Food Preferences
Start by explaining your family’s dietary habits — for example, using less oil, less salt, no sugar, or any allergies or restrictions. Share what your children prefer to eat and their eating patterns. Also clarify how many meals she is expected to cook each day and the typical timing of each meal.
Meal preparation time can vary. For instance:
- A simple breakfast of eggs and toast may take only a short while.
- A heavier breakfast such as noodles, rice with soup, or porridge may require longer preparation.
Let your helper know if preparing ingredients the night before is helpful so she can manage her time better and get adequate rest.
Clear Meal Schedule & Planning
Inform your helper of the daily meal times so she can plan ahead. Typically, an experienced helper may take 1 to 1.5 hours to prepare a standard three-dish meal. If your helper is fresh, be prepared to give her more time and clearer step-by-step instructions.
General instructions like “cook vegetables and fish tonight” may not be detailed enough for a new helper. She may need to know:
- What type of vegetables, and how to cook them
- What type of fish, how to prepare or marinate it
- Whether any ingredients need to be prepared earlier
Due to cultural differences, it takes time for a fresh helper to adjust to our local flavours and cooking styles.
Guide Them on Children’s Meals
Let your helper know what your children enjoy eating — examples include pasta, fried rice, nuggets, steamed eggs, etc. This helps her prepare meals that encourage the children to eat well.
If you are a working parent, it is helpful to ask your helper to:
- Inform you in advance what she plans to cook for your child
- Send you a photo of the cooked meal afterwards
This allows you to monitor your child’s meals and ensure they are well taken care of at home.
Give Gentle, Constructive Feedback
As your helper learns new dishes, it is important to give constructive and encouraging feedback after each meal. Share honestly whether the food is:
- overcooked or undercooked
- too salty, too bland, or just right
- tasty enough
- cooked to your family’s preference
This helps her improve the next time she prepares the same dish. Avoid reprimanding or scolding her for mistakes, as harsh criticism can dampen her confidence and make her afraid to try new dishes. Cooking is not an easy skill, and not everyone is naturally talented — patience and guidance go a long way in helping a helper grow.
Support Your Helper in Cooking
Preparing three meals a day can be tiring and stressful, especially for a fresh helper. They may require more support, clearer instructions, and direct ideas on what to cook. Asking them to plan meals independently from day one can be overwhelming.
There are many cooking videos and online resources employers can share with their helpers. Simple recipes work well too.
At Human Dynamics, we have our own collection of a picture cookbook with step-by-step instructions for common home-cooked dishes. These resources help employers guide their helpers more effectively and make the transition smoother for both sides.
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