Success StoryCooking Class Builds Confidence While Teaching Valuable Life Skills to Middle Schoolers



Cooking Class Builds Confidence While Teaching Valuable Life Skills to Middle Schoolers

Author: Jacqui Denegri

Planning Unit: Fayette County CES

Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)

Outcome: Initial Outcome

Throughout the spring of 2018 the Nutrition Education Program partnered with Fayette County Public Schools to integrate cooking lessons for 6th to 8th grade students into their life skills class. The instructor had expressed that most of the families reported using boxed convenience foods. In addition to being less nutritious these prepackaged meals had left the children with little exposure to fresh produce. Using the Teen Cuisine nutrition curriculum the students were taught food safety, kitchen skills and meal planning. By preparing a different recipe each week, the students gained invaluable knowledge and confidence. This is evidenced by the fact that by comparing beginning and ending data at the end of the 7 week course 75% of the youth surveyed reported feeling more confident following the directions in a recipe. Additionally 66% felt they had increased their proficiency with measuring cups and spoons, which could lead to a lifetime of healthy food preparation.






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