According to 2017-2020 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, the obesity rate for children ages 6 to 11 is 20.7%. Recent research has indicated that teaching cooking skills to children encourages healthier food choices, which can lower obesity rates. In an effort to address this problem, last summer the Pulaski County Family Consumer Science agent collaborated with the Nutrition Education Program Senior Assistant to present SuperStar Chef Camp at the Pulaski County Extension Office. This three-day camp for students ages 9 through 12 is designed to teach kitchen safety, food safety, nutrition concepts, and physical activity. In addition, the students practiced food preparation skills with supervision.  

Seventeen students (3 males and 14 females) attended all three days and completed the program.   Overall, pre/post survey comparisons of participant responses showed that the program enhanced participant understanding of the nutrition concepts covered in the program. As a result, over three fourths (76%) improved their diet quality, 83% gained knowledge to how to prepare simple, nutritious food, over half (53%) gained more knowledge on food safety practices, and 59% improved their physical activity practices. The students were excited to come in each day and find out what recipes they were going to prepare. One parent shared, “My daughter came home after the program today and prepared the recipes for us.”