SuperStar Chef is a 3-day hands on cooking and nutrition program designed to empower limited-resource youths with basic cooking skills which lay the foundation for healthy eating habits. Cooking is also a life skill that supports math, science, language, social emotional development, physical development (fine motor skills) and cognitive development.

The Todd County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Education and the Todd County Nutrition Education Program (NEP) Assistant partnered with three Todd County Family Resource and Youth Service Center (FRYSC) centers to offer the 3-day SuperStar Chef Camp. The Todd County Extension NEP Assistant and FCS Agent delivered the instruction about hands-on food preparation skills, kitchen and appliance use, food safety procedures, nutrition education, and physical activity. Four adults served as group leaders.

Fifteen youth, ages 9-12, participated in the program. Most of the students who participated were from limited resource families who were enrolled in the schools Backpack Program or their parents had participated in NEP programs.

Pre- and post-test were administered to all students. The results also showed, for both children and youth: 92% improved their abilities to choose foods according to the Federal Dietary Recommendations; 62% gained more knowledge of safe food handling; 40% improved their ability to prepare simple, nutritious, affordable food; and 69% gained skills necessary to improve their physical activity practices. Additionally, 92% said they would eat more fruit; 58% intended to eat more vegetables and drink more water/less soda; 75% planned to try new foods; 67% planned to be more physically active; and 58% aspired to spend more time in the kitchen preparing meals.