The mission of the Super Star Chef series is to provide a fun and educational experience for youth to gain knowledge and learn skills that will lead to success in the kitchen.  The Shelby County Cooperative Extension Service partnered with the UK Nutrition Education Program to implement the three day Super Star Chef Program for 17 youth participants.  The Super Star Chef program was coordinated by the Family and Consumer Sciences Agent who also provided daily lunches for the participants.

Participants learned safety in the kitchen; reading and using a recipe; cooking techniques; knife skills; nutrition facts; and dietary and physical activity information for making healthy lifestyle choices.  The program evaluations revealed that the program enhanced participants understanding of the nutrition concepts and increased their confidence in their cooking ability.  All (100%) reported that they can identify healthy foods and that they plan to drink more water every day.  Also, about 94% of the participants reported that they plan to be more physically active and eat more fruits and vegetables.  Several parents have reported that their children have continued to use the skills learned during the program to help with meal preparation and healthy food choices at home.