Create healthy habits now that will last a lifetime

 You can empower your kids to make healthy choices when they learn essential cooking skills in a fun and safe environment. Sautéing, dicing, chopping, roasting and whipping are just a few cooking techniques students learned in our Super Star Chef camp.  

A total of 22 youth participated in our three day camp. A pre-posttest design was employed to examine the impact of the program on students’ nutrition knowledge and cooking self-efficacy. The post-participation survey also assessed students’ intention to drink more water, eat more fruits and vegetables, try new foods, and be more physically active.

Overall, pre-post comparisons of participant responses to the assessment instrument showed that the program enhanced participant understanding of the nutrition concepts covered in the program.  After participating in the SSC program, all but one of the respondents (about 96%) reported that they can identify healthy foods, and that they plan to drink more water every day, and be more physically active.

“When the students taste foods prepared in new ways and are engaged in the cooking process, they are more likely to try it and enjoy the dish,” said Debra Cotterill, director of the Kentucky Nutrition Education Program.  This was evident in feedback from parents after the day camp.  Several reported their child made the dishes prepared for their family and are engaged more in family meal prep and planning.