There are so many things your kids need to know — unfortunately, how to feed themselves isn’t always high on the list. You may be doing them a real service by teaching them to cook. Cleveland Clinic Wellness reports on a new study that suggests that teenagers who know their way around the kitchen are more likely to eat healthfully once they’re out of the house:

Researchers looked at data from thousands of people who were surveyed at ages 18 to 23 about their cooking skills and later, when they were 30 to 35, about their cooking and eating habits. In their 30s, those who had rated their cooking skills as “adequate” or “very adequate” as young adults were more likely to prepare meals that included vegetables and eat meals as a family, and less likely to eat fast food, than those who had reported poorer cooking skills.

Encourage your teenagers to take home economics classes if their school offers them, or invite them to help the parent who usually prepares meals. You could be doing their future selves a lot of good!