Author: Lorie Dunn
Planning Unit: Grant County CES
Major Program: Nutrition and Food Systems General
Outcome: Intermediate Outcome
Students wanted to participate in the school’s cooking club, but some parents were low income and did not have transportation to pick their children up afterschool. The club was an attempt to address the 23.8% obesity rate of Kentucky children ages 10-17. As an alternative, the Super Star Chef curriculum was offered virtually to students with their parents present through Zoom. The SNAP Nutrition Education Senior Assistant from Grant County, along with the Family Resource Center Directors from Sherman Elementary School, offered a series of seven classes to families. By offering classes virtually, parents who did not have available transportation could participate. Because 21% of children in Grant County live in poverty and 100% of the students at all three schools receive free lunches, the family resource center provided scholarships for the groceries to prepare curriculum recipes if needed. Activities included learning knife safety and skills, kitchen safety, food safety, how to read a recipe, and measuring. As a result of the classes, 100% of the students improved in food safety practices, safe food handling activities, and improved physical activity. The students used their knife skills and measuring skills to prepare seven recipes which their families had for their evening meal. Classes were held on Zoom with the Family Resource Center director, the Grant County Senior NEP Assistant, and a responsible adult with each child to assure their safety in the kitchen. According to one parent, my child is more willing to try new foods”. Another parent stated that “my daughter helps me cook dinner every night”.
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