Research shows that people who prepare and cook meals at home are more likely to eat the recommended fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains needed in a balanced diet. Building skills and cooking knowledge increases the likelihood that people choose to prepare home-cooked meals.

To encourage more home-prepared meals, the Martin County Extension Office hosted the workshop Savor the Flavor: Building Flavor with Herbs. The Savor the Flavor program focused on flavoring dishes with herbs. Extension developed this workshop as a way to teach people how to make home-prepared meals that are flavorful and exciting. These common pantry and garden staples are versatile, yet people commonly say they are unsure of the appropriate pairings for various herbs. The goal of this program is to increase knowledge about common types of herbs and incorporating them into food preparation and cooking. Ten people participated in the workshop and each participant received soil, basil seeds, and chive seeds to start a kitchen garden. The group also tasted a sample of fresh corn salad with basil and created their own Italian herb seasoning.

Of those surveyed, 100% indicated they better understood common pairings of herbs with dishes, and 100% stated they increased their level of understanding regarding ways to incorporate herbs into food preparation and cooking. Further, 100% expressed the intention to try a new herb as a way to prepare or add flavor to foods, while 100% expressed the intention to incorporate more herbs into cooking to increase home-prepared meals.