KID C.H.E.F. (Cooking, Healthy, Easy, Food) is a skills and knowledge-building program utilizing the nutrition recommendations of the 2010 Dietary guidelines and the new Choose MyPlate. This program focuses on teaching children about healthy eating and how they can learn to prepare nutritious easy foods on their own. It includes a series of 5 interactive sessions highlighting the key groups in the USDA’s Choose MyPlate for Kids: grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy and protein. Each sixty minute session focuses on one group and includes child centered discussions, hands on activities, recipe making and testing wearing chef hats and aprons and take home information for parents. Children will receive their own apron, chef hat, and oven mitt and drawstring bag of utensils to keep for preparing recipes in each class.
The new Choose MyPlate for Kids guide is utilized in this module because it brings nutrition and physical activity messages to elementary school age children. These messages are designed to help children 8 to 12 years old make healthy eating and physical activity choices. The intent is to provide an education experience for children to encourage them to make healthy food choices in school and to be able to prepare nutritious food at home.
The program is presented by the Community Nutritionist/Registered Dietitians and the Community Nutrition Educator in the Newark and Milford branches at the Food Bank of Delaware. As with the adult version of MyPlate, children are encouraged to eat a variety of foods from all the different food groups, but especially fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Protein and dairy choices should be lean, low fat or fat-free. Establishing healthy eating habits and promoting regular exercise at an early age will promote growth and development and could help prevent the next generation from becoming obese and dying prematurely.
Program requirements:
- Target audience of 8-12 year olds who are able to attend 5 consecutive, 60 minute classes.
- An adult (18 or over) to provide discipline during the session.
- Access to a kitchen or area with electricity.
- Signed agreement with the site.
- Signed permission slips from parent or guardian for child to attend sessions.
The program is free to all children who qualify. To sponsor a child for this program, contact Larry Haas, Development Director at lhaas@fbd.org. The cost of $72 includes the chef equipment and tote bag, food to prepare recipes and take home nutrition education materials and activities for the family.
For more information about hosting a Kid C.H.E.F. class:
New Castle County:
Beverly Jackey RD
(302) 444-8125
bjackey@fbd.org
Kyle Takayama
(302) 292-1305 ext 249
ktakayama@fbd.org
Kent/Sussex Counties
Jackie Hennemuth, RD
(302) 393-2013
jhennemuth@fbd.org