Henderson County 4-H Empowers Youth with Cooking Skills, Nutrition Knowledge, and Global Awareness

Many youth across Henderson County lack basic knowledge of food safety, nutrition, and cooking—essential life skills for long-term health and independence. Additionally, many have limited exposure to diverse foods and show reluctance to try healthier options.

To address this, Henderson County 4-H hosted two hands-on International Cooking Day Camps for youth ages 9–14. These camps provided a fun, educational opportunity to explore global cuisine while gaining confidence in the kitchen.

Campers learned vital skills including hand washing, recipe reading and adaptation, kitchen and knife safety, accurate measuring, and teamwork. Youth prepared dishes from five countries—Italy, France, China, Mexico, and Greece—creating recipes such as Italian salad with homemade dressing, French cheese bread, Chinese egg rolls, Mexican chicken enchiladas, and Greek chicken gyros. Each group also researched and presented fun facts about their assigned country.

Every camper sampled each dish, and nearly all the food was eaten. Youth were especially surprised at how much they enjoyed the homemade Italian salad—a recipe full of fresh vegetables many had never tried before. The overwhelming favorite, however, was the chicken enchiladas.

Each participant left camp with a recipe book in hand and excitement to recreate the meals at home for their families. In addition to cooking skills, youth gained confidence, practiced teamwork, and learned how to handle mistakes and adapt in real time.

“I didn’t think I’d like salad, but I want to make this one at home!” – youth particpant

This program not only equipped youth with essential life skills—it fostered cultural awareness, curiosity, and open-mindedness in a supportive environment. Through 4-H, youth are becoming more capable, confident, and connected—one recipe at a time.