Carroll County Family and Consumer Services Extension Agent collaborated with nine administrators and teachers from the Carroll County School District to offer the Recipes for Life Program to 142 fifth-grade students. Nine volunteers worked with students in a hands-on educational setting to teach important life skills. A pre-test/post-test evaluation was conducted to determine learning outcomes. As a result of the program, students gained the following knowledge and skills:

1. Eighty-eight percent recognized the recommended handwashing steps.
2. Seventy-nine percent identified safe knife handling techniques.
3. Eighty-five percent identified the correct technique for accurately measuring ingredients.
4. Eighty-three percent identified the sequence of steps in preparing a recipe.
5. Ninety-four percent recognized the food groups that comprise MyPlate.

In addition, as a result of attending the Recipe for Life program, students plan to make the following behavior changes:

1.  Seventy percent plan to eat more fruits.
2.  Fifty-eight percent plan to eat more vegetables.
3. Eighty-four percent plan to try new foods.

Feedback was collected from school administrators, teachers, and volunteers. Numerous teachers stated the students learned a lot from the program. When the students returned to school, they shared with other students what they learned and how much they enjoyed the program. One volunteer stated the students’ behavior was excellent and they paid attention to the information and skills they learned. One administrator shared his appreciation for the program and felt the students learned valuable life skills.