The rise in the cost of living has many families on a tight budget. One of the increases in the cost of living is food. Food is a significant expense in the United States. Many families can not afford to eat out due to the high cost of food. It is important to asses your eating habits and to look at your finances and make a budget.

Research shows that it is cheaper to cook meals than it is to eat out in a restaurant. One of the ways KSU EFNEP Fayette County participated in finding ways to reduce the cost of living was by doing a cooking camp with the teens at Gainesway Summer Camp. The teens ranged from 5^th through high school aged teens. Twenty-five students participated in the healthy cooking camp. The teen express camp prepared healthy meals from vegetarian through lean protein style cuisine. The teens learned food/knife safety skills. Also, the teens learned how to bake, saute, and prepare healthy dinner and lunch meals. The participants worked with a variety of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins and bean skillet cuisine. The students learned chopping and mixing skills. The teens worked with fruits and savory spices. Eating out is fun and may provide convenience for families on a tight schedule. Cooking at home is more feasible and could provide quality time for families. Out of the twenty-five students, fifteen completed all seven cooking lessons. This healthy cooking camp will prepare teens with life skill including healthy cooking meal ideas, food/knife safety, portion control, time management, budgeting skills, and the importance of including a balanced meal.