Cook Together, Eat Together

Becoming a healthier eater should be our number one concern.  Eating more fruits and vegetables is a critical behavior for a healthier you and prevent health problems.  Despite the importance of eating more produce, it is also one of the most difficult eating behaviors to change. It has been reported that cooking more meals at home is related to increased fruit and vegetable consumption.

Cook Together, Eat Together, is a great program to promote better health and how to cook family meals, this program was offered at the Rowan County High School Foods Class, 12 youth participated and 10 addition students attended to taste test. As a result of the program, 100% of participants reported eating more healthy foods such as whole fruits and/or brightly colored vegetables, while 80% prepared healthier, home-cooked meals. In addition, 60% adopted one or more practices to reduce food shopping costs associated with home-cooked meals such as comparing prices, planning meals, and making shopping lists.

Over the long term, these cooking and eating behavior changes may lead to sustainable changes in cooking and eating norms in a community. 

80% of the class tried at least 3 foods that they had never tried before and 90% of those students discussed that they would eat those foods again.