Children who help to prepare their own meals eat significantly more vegetables than those who are not involved in cooking according to an article in Appetite Journal. Cooking programs have been used to promote healthful eating among people of all ages.

Children in Hickman County are taking part in more after-school activities and many parents go straight from work to sports practice, music practice and more. Consequences of this change in family behavior are believed to contribute to increased rates of obesity in children, teen and adults due to un healthy snacking and lack to family meals prepared at home.

The Hickman County NEP concluded that families need to be encouraged to share more evening meals together and children need to be taught simple cooking skills.

In an effort to assist children and families cook and prepare nutritious foods at home, the Hickman County NEP Assistant collaborated with the Hickman County Elementary School to offer a Microwave Cooking Class as part of Kids in the Kitchen initiative. The objectives of the class are to teach healthy cooking techniques, microwave food safety, nutrition using the “My Plate” recommendations, and healthy snack preparation.

Fifty six children, ages 9 – 13, participated in four - two hour class as part of the Falcon Flex Program. Several of the participants had not received cooking instruction prior to attending the class. Participants indicated through an open response discussion that they were planning to prepare the recipes and utilize the microwave to prepare their own snacks. Parents confirmed these surveys with informal comments on how much the students were sharing information that they had learned at the microwave cooking class.