Traditionally, meals promote social interactions while strengthening our bonds with other people.
Now, it's time to embark on new culinary adventures in the workplace - these 10 cooking team building activities will give all team members a full belly and a happy heart.
3 Benefits of Culinary Team Building Activities
Purposely blending good and team bonding activities positively impacts teamwork and morale.
The most common benefits of team-building activities, cooking classes, and collaborative activities with food involved are the following:
- Cooking for yourself brings notable health benefits, such as supporting your immune system, reducing the risk of several illnesses, and providing you with more energy to manage health problems (Health Guide).
- A study conducted by Frontier in Psychology shows us how cooking behavior and well-being are highly related to each other. The academic journal demonstrated that cooking, as an essential human behavior rooted in evolution, engages cognitive, planning, perceptual, and mechanical skills, offering a unique avenue to foster psychosocial well-being.
- Cooking together enhances team spirit, boosts team morale, and creates a more creative team at work. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) explains how therapists use cooking to treat anxiety, depression, and other psychological problems, demonstrating how delicious experiences can be both fun and beneficial to the entire team.
10 Best Cooking Team Building Activities
It's time to explore a series of team building activities that involve cooking and food - these 10 fun, engaging, and creative team building activities are exactly what your team needs.
1. Around the World Cooking
Let's start this list with an activity that promises to bring the flavors of different nations into the office: Around the World Cooking by Teamland.
Around the World Cooking consists of an expert-led cooking class that explores traditional meals from all over the world, fostering diversity and recipe exchange in the workplace.
Discovering the culinary traditions of your team members improves the company culture and creates stronger connections among team members, fostering respect and enhancing existing relationships.
- Activity Duration: From 30 minutes to 1.5 hours.
- Group Type: Small and medium-sized hybrid teams (remote and in-office).
2. Gingerbread House Building Competition
Building gingerbread houses from scratch is one of the most fun activities to participate in during the month of December.
Gingerbread of Greatness is a highly energetic and fantastic cooking team building event that celebrates the joy of the holiday season. For extra motivation, the team that builds the most amazing gingerbread house will get a sweet prize.
If you are running a remote team, worry not - Teamland will send all team members a basket of ingredients they need to build the gingerbread houses by choosing the Virtual Gingerbread Builder activity.
An expert with extensive knowledge about building gingerbread structures will guide team members toward creating fun designs, ensuring an effective team building activity for everyone.
Unleash your creativity, allow your team members to express their ideas, and have fun while cooking something sweet that everyone will enjoy.
- Activity Duration: From 1 to 2 hours.
- Group Type: Small and medium-sized hybrid teams (remote and in-office).
3. Healthy Eating Workshop
Foundations of Healthy Eating by Teamland is a workshop focused on discovering exciting options for healthy meals.
As mentioned before, eating healthy is the cornerstone of well-being and sustaining a vibrant, energetic lifestyle.
Teamland's experts will teach your team members practical nutrition tips, recipes, and dishes that will help them keep their hearts strong and brains sharp.
Increasing your team's culinary knowledge is a great way to not only enhance their cooking skills but also foster a shared appreciation for diverse cuisines, especially if some of them have dietary restrictions.
- Activity Duration: 30 minutes.
- Group Type: All group sizes and types (remote and hybrid).
4. Sushi Making Class
Making sushi is not easy - following the ancient techniques of professional Itamaes is a challenge that not everyone is always suited for.
But that is about to change thanks to Teamland's Sushi Making 101 Class, an interactive workshop that provides team members with bamboo rolling mats, chopsticks, sushi knives, and all the knowledge they need to make their own sushi at home.
Teamland brings the Sushi Cooking School directly to the workplace, and with the help of an expert sushi maker,everyone will learn how to impress their guests with an unforgettable dining experience filled with Asian flavors.
- Activity Duration: 1.5 hours.
- Group Type: Small and medium-sized hybrid teams.
5. Edible Paint Night
Edible Paint Night is an artistic culinary experience that perfectly blends the marvels of art pieces with delicious food.
Instead of just cooking or painting, team members will express their feelings by creating their own unique work of art in a premium chocolate canvas.
Although Edible Paint Night has no rules, it is possible to turn this event into a friendly competition that sparks joy inside the office.
Use cocoa butter-based paints to unleash your inner artist, celebrate new company goals, and enjoy a night like no other with unrepeatable flavors.
- Activity Duration: 1 hour.
- Group Type: All group types and sizes (remote and in-office).
6. Cooking Challenge
It's time to demonstrate your team member's cooking skills in a Cooking Challenge that will add a flavorful twist to your team-building experience.
The fastest team to prepare the dish wins, but besides focusing on the time limit, it is also necessary to consider dish quality.
There's a wide range of dishes that could be prepared by team members, which includes someone's favorite recipes or an innovative dish.
You can act as the competition jury and guess the secret ingredient in the dish to add an extra layer of fun; the challenge can be as easy-going or complicated as you want.
Cooking Challenge promotes healthy competition among participants, teamwork, and workplace cohesiveness.
- Activity Duration: From 2 to 3 hours.
- Group Type: All in-office group sizes.
7. Baking Class
Baking is a marvelous way to showcase the love we have for others through food.
Teamland's Baking Class teaches team members how to bake cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and other pastries from their home comfort.
We'll provide all the materials you'll need, such as cake boards or a cake spatula, while an expert baker reveals their sweetest baking secrets.
Team members will use the colorful ingredients in the cake decoration kits to bake pastries as desired, turning this baking class into an effective option to express your team's culinary creativity.
- Activity Duration: From 45 minutes to 2 hours.
- Group Type: All group sizes and types (remote and in-office).
8. Cocktail Making Class
Cocktail classes are fun, vibrant, and highly energetic. Although making cocktails is not technically cooking, it's also a great way to enhance team bonding, encourage creativity, and add a refreshing twist to team-building events.
In Teamland's Cocktail-Making Class, all team members will learn how to make delicious cocktails for a cozy evening or a vibrant party night.
Of course, this DIY cocktail party includes both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage choices for all team members.
Including drinks into team bonding activities adds an extra layer of closeness and unity, fostering a more cohesive work environment and strengthening the relationships between all team members.
- Activity Duration: From 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- Group Type: Small and medium-sized hybrid teams.
9. Charity Cooking Team Building Activity
Helping others in need is always a great way to fill our hearts with joy while contributing to positive changes in our community.
Find a local shelter, school, or nursing home that needs your team's help, and get ready to cook for those who don't have a warm, delicious dish at hand.
Choose the dish you'll cook by asking for feedback from team members, make a list of the basic ingredients needed to prepare the dish, and start cooking.
Prepare a delicious lunch, bring it to the charity organization, and witness how your team's actions are appreciated by those who have not been as fortunate as you.
- Activity Duration: From 2 to 3 hours.
- Group Type: All in-office group sizes.
10. Custom Cooking Team Building Challenge
Sometimes, it's impossible to find a predetermined activity that suits your team's needs.
Luckily for everyone, Teamland's Custom Team Event has got you covered.
If you don't want to engage in a common team building activity, and, instead, are looking for more tailored culinary team building events, we'll help you turn your thoughts into reality.
Make your team members bring their iconic family dish, create a brand-new, exciting cooking competition, or foster the creativity skills of your team members with unique culinary classes - nothing is off-limits for Teamland's experts.
- Activity Duration: As required by your team.
- Group Type: All team sizes and types.
Summary: Top 10 Team Building Activities Cooking Classes & Events
Cooking as a team creates authentic bonds among team members in all industries.
Remember to change the activities over time and explore new events - integrate a virtual wine-tasting event to try delicious wines (Sommelier Wine Tasting) or break the routine by letting Teamland send you a basket of mystery ingredients to cook together.
This is a quick summary of the 10 best cooking team-building activities:
- Around the World Cooking: Explore global cuisines in a team-led cooking class, fostering diversity and teamwork.
- Gingerbread House Building Competition: Compete in building the most amazing gingerbread house, celebrating the holiday season.
- Healthy Eating Workshop: Discover nutritious meal options and well-being tips for a vibrant lifestyle.
- Sushi Making Class: Craft delicious sushi at home with expert guidance in this interactive workshop.
- Edible Paint Night: Express creativity on chocolate canvases, turning it into a delightful and artistic competition.
- Cooking Challenge: Showcase cooking skills in a flavorful competition, emphasizing both speed and dish quality.
- Baking Class: Learn the art of baking cakes, cupcakes, and cookies from home with expert guidance.
- Cocktail Making Class: Learn to make delicious cocktails, including both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options.
- Charity Cooking Team Building Activity: Engage in a charity cooking activity, preparing dishes for a good cause.
Custom Cooking Team Building Challenge: Tailor your team building with unique culinary challenges, from iconic family dishes to customized cooking competitions.
