My name is Ethan Imara Omukhango, though at home they call me Chef Etan. I have just turned 8 years old, and I still love cooking very much.
Last year, my first nominee journey shared how my early allergies, my time in the kitchen with my mum, and my family’s support helped shape my love for food and cooking. That journey became my first book, Cooking With Family, which encouraged families to preserve memories, traditions, and recipes together. I was very happy that the book was nominated last year.
This year, my journey continues. I am still learning, still growing, and still spending a lot of my time in the kitchen. But now, my story has become bigger than simply learning how to cook. It has grown into learning how food can also teach us about God, faith, and life.
Growing in Skill and Confidence
Since my first book, I have become more confident in cooking and more excited about what I can do. One of the biggest things that happened this year is that I was allowed to cook for 50 people in our reading club for children and teens.
I cooked for them three times, once every month, and the children loved it. This made me feel very proud of myself because I had never cooked for so many people before. It showed me that I can keep growing and doing more than I thought possible.
Cooking for a large group taught me responsibility, courage, and planning. It also reminded me that the gift God has given me is not just for me alone. It can bring joy to many people.
From Family Recipes to Biblical Lessons
My first book focused on family recipes, memories, and the importance of preserving family legacy through meals. After that book, my dad and I began asking a new question: what lessons can we learn from the foods mentioned in the Bible?
That question opened a whole new adventure for me.
As we talked more, we realised that food in the Bible is not only about what people ate. It can also teach us about health, obedience, provision, gratitude, wisdom, and God’s care for His people. That is how my second book, Food in the Bible, was born.
How One Book Became More Than One
When we finished working on the manuscript, my publisher, who is also my mum, Dr Muthoni Omukhango, told us it was too long. So instead of stopping, we decided to split it into two books.
That means I am now the author of three books, and that made me very happy.
For me, this was a very exciting moment. It showed me that ideas can grow when you give them time, and that sometimes a big dream becomes even bigger than you first expected.
A Book That Feeds Both Body and Spirit
In Food in the Bible, I invite children and families to go on an exciting journey through Scripture by looking at the foods found in God’s Word.
Each part of the journey is filled with delicious discoveries. Readers get to learn about different foods, how they can benefit the body, and what they can teach us spiritually. So the book is not only about yummy food facts, but also about important biblical truths that help us grow in God.
That is what makes this book special to me. It feeds both the body and the spirit.
It is a double blessing.
A Child Author Growing in Purpose
As I grow older, I am beginning to understand that cooking is not just something I enjoy. It is also becoming part of my purpose.
I believe God made me creative, and I am thankful to Him for giving me the ability to cook, learn, and share these lessons with others. Even when I fail, make mistakes, or create a big mess in the kitchen, I am encouraged to keep trying.
That is something I have learned on this journey: growth does not come from always getting everything right. Sometimes it comes from trying again, learning again, and trusting God to help you improve.
The Family Behind the Journey
I am very grateful for the family that God has given me, because they help me keep going.
My dad, Patrick Omukhango, encourages me to go out and try new things. My mum, Dr Muthoni Omukhango, helps me cook and is also my publisher. My older sister, Abiah McKenna, watches inspiring cooking shows with me. My younger sister, Ella Amani, is my food taster and plays with me.
My extended family and family friends are also very supportive, and I am thankful for every person who cheers me on.
This journey may have my name on the cover, but it has been built with the love, encouragement, and faith of many people around me.
A Continuing Legacy
My first book, Preserving Family Legacy, encouraged families to fill blank spaces with recipes and keep memories alive for future generations. That dream still matters to me very much.
But now I can see that legacy is not only kept through family meals. It can also be passed on through biblical lessons, shared discoveries, and the values we teach children while they are still young.
That is why Food in the Bible is an important continuation of my first journey. It takes what began in the kitchen at home and stretches it into a wider lesson about faith, learning, and purpose.
Looking Ahead with Joy
I am still a young chef, but I have already seen that God can use small beginnings in a big way. What began with food restrictions, curiosity, and time in the kitchen has now grown into books, cooking for groups, and teaching others through food.
I hope Food in the Bible will inspire children and families to read the Bible more closely, think more deeply about the food God created, and enjoy learning lessons that strengthen both body and spirit.
I also hope it will encourage other children to believe that they are not too young to start doing something meaningful.
Conclusion
My 2024 nominee journey is not the beginning of my story, but the continuation of it. Last year, I shared how cooking and family helped shape me. This year, I am sharing how cooking, family, and faith are helping me grow even more.
Through Food in the Bible, I want to show that food can do more than fill our stomachs. It can teach us, connect us, and point us back to God.
I am thankful for how far I have come, and I am excited for what is still ahead.
Chef Ethan
Aspiring Chef
