4-H Cooking Club

One of the most important life skills a child can learn is cooking. Cooking allows you to learn the importance of following directions, good nutrition, incorporating science and math skills into everyday situations, and teaches you the ability to take care of yourself.

The Carroll County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences was approached by the Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development about starting a cooking program for 4-H'ers. She mentioned that one of her 4-H volunteers had asked her about having a 4-H Cooking Club. After several planning meetings, it was decided that a 4-H Cooking Club would be a great idea and would serve a need with the youth of Carroll County. It was agreed that the program would consist of six, 1 ½ hour sessions.

The program started on Wednesday, October 11 and continued for six weeks. Each week two recipes were prepared from the 4-H cooking curriculum following the 5 My Plate areas. Participants learned to read and follow directions for a recipe. They also learned cutting and safety skills using a knife, the proper way to measure dry and liquid ingredients, the importance of hand washing techniques, stove and oven safety, table manners and the proper way to set a table.

During each of our training sessions we were fortunate to have at least 3 to 4 adult volunteers to help the agents with preparation, overseeing and clean up. This provided more time for individualized attention to the 4-H’ers.

At the sixth and final session, the students prepared an entire meal consisting of seven of the recipes they had learned to prepare. Parents and grandparents were invited to their final presentation. After the program was over one of the grandparents said, “I am so glad you taught them how to set the table. They set mine all week.” Another mother said, “The potato salad my daughter made in class was so good that we made the recipe at home.” A father said, “I think it is important that the kids learn to cook.  It was really good that it involved the whole family.”

At the completion of the program participants received a backpack containing several cooking utensils for their own use.

Over the six week program, 34 youth participated at least once: 27 females, 7 males and 7 adult volunteers.