The Kentucky 4-H Passport Kitchen program young people from Kentucky the opportunity to experience the food cultures of different countries in a self-paced experience. As part of the 4-H Passport Kitchen program, young people in Grayson County received five country kits to explore culinary treats. These kits provided all the needed instructions to complete a recipe, a video explaining the recipe, one ingredient for the recipe, information about the country, and a passport to record added research. The self-driven and on-your-own design of the program allowed young people and their families to engage in it as part of their mealtime experience. The materials in the kits also gave young people and their families the opportunity to explore cultures that are oftentimes not their own.

The exploration of other cultures and views is a critical part of a young person's development and helps them form a prosocial orientation as well as a growth mindset. Exploring cultures different from their own helps young people understand there are many ways of doing a single thing, and while these ways are different, one is not necessarily better than the other. 100% of youth who participated reported learning about another culture. Exploring through food provided an opportunity for young people to experience this exploration using the shared experience of eating. The combination of a food-driven cultural exploration along with the ability to participate in the program as a family unit doubled the impact. Young people were able to explore cultures outside their own as well as receive the benefit of regular family mealtimes. 

Research tells us that having regular meals with caring adults provides a host of benefits to the development of young people. Regular family meals foster a sense of security and togetherness and help nurture the development of young people into healthy, well-rounded adults. When family meals are frequent an increase in motivation, personal identity, and self-esteem in young people occurs. Family mealtime also helps decrease high-risk behaviors and makes young people more likely to understand, acknowledge, and follow the boundaries set by their guardians. These social benefits are also matched by the health benefits of family mealtimes. Eating studies show family dinners increase the intake of fruits and vegetables; families who eat dinner together tend to eat fewer fried foods and drink less soda; and family meal frequency is linked to the intake of protein, calcium, and some vitamins.

In our increasingly interconnected world, young people must acquire the knowledge and skills to engage effectively. Local economies now rely more than ever on international resources, and those who thrive in this interconnected economy are adaptable individuals who embrace multiculturalism. Passport Kitchen is a program designed to help young people take their first steps in developing these skills. It not only promotes family mealtime but also fosters life readiness skills. By collaboratively working with individuals from 15 different countries, educational packets were created to explore culture through an interest in foods. 26 young people (15 families) in Grayson County participated this year, learning about the following countries Germany, Brazil, Laos, Ojibwe, and Poland. After completing the program, 78% of youth reported participating in a multigenerational format, 65% demonstrated a skill they had learned, and 89% could identify positive aspects of cultures beyond their own

 References 

 4-H Thriving Model Educator Resources – 4-H PLWG Standing Committee on Positive Youth Development. (n.d.). https://helping-youth-thrive.extension.org/tip-sheets/

The Importance of Family Dinners - UF/IFAS Extension: Solutions for Your Life. (n.d.). https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/archive/hot_topics/families_and_consumers/family_dinners.shtml