It is hard to transition from high school to college, especially when you are on your own for the first time.  The Eastern Kentucky University Upward Bound program invites students who

potentially will be the first in their families to attend college, to spend the summer on campus preparing for their college experience.

For the fifth year, the Madison County Cooperative Extension Family and Consumer Science staff was asked to teach basic cooking skills to these students. 

The Family and Consumer Science agent and the two nutrition assistants taught knife skills, safe food handling practices, and how to properly prepare pasta.  Students used these skills to prepare three complete meals that were shared in a family setting over the 4 week course. 

Of the 11 students who completed the course 100% reported they had improved their knife safety skills, understood portion sizes, understood why correct measurement was important, now use proper handwashing techniques, felt more secure and self- sufficient about food preparation and could read and follow a recipe.  10 of the students also reported that they knew how to read a food label and had saved money when grocery shopping.

Students mentioned  learning table manners, how to saute vegetables and how to zest a lemon.