Kid C.H.E.F. (Cooking, Healthy, Easy Food) is a skills and knowledge-building program adapted from the University of Delaware’s Extension module Exploring MyPyramid. This program focuses on teaching children about healthy eating and how they can learn to prepare nutritious easy foods on their own.
To sponsor a Kid C.H.E.F., please contact Larry Haas, Development Director at lhaas@fbd.org or (302) 294-0185. The cost to sponsor a child is $72.
The Kid C.H.E.F. module includes a series of five interactive sessions highlighting the key groups in the USDA’s MyPyramid for Kids:
- Grains
- Vegetables
- Fruits
- Milk
- Meat
- Beans
Each session is sixty minutes 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, oven mitt and drawstring bag of utensils to keep to prepare recipes in each class.
The MyPyramid for Kids guide is utilized in this module because it is easily recognized and it brings nutrition and physical activity messages to elementary school age children. These messages are designed to help children 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 Nutritionists/Registered Dietitians in the Newark and Milford branches at the Food Bank of Delaware.
Kid C.H.E.F. Activities
Each session will include a game or hands-on activity to reinforce the material covered.
Examples include:
- Food Pyramid Ball Toss
- Name that Grain
- Vegetable Bingo
- Guess What Fruit I am
- Meat & Bean Concentration
Each child will receive a chef hat, apron and mitt to keep along with a tote bag of
cooking utensils. With adult supervision, children will prepare a recipe highlighting foods in the pyramid group discussed that day. Sample recipes include:
- Ham and Pineapple Pizza
- Vegetable Fried Rice
- Ten-Minute Vegetable Soup
- Strawberry Banana Smoothie
- Pocket Tacos
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.
For more information about hosting a Kid C.H.E.F. program at your site, contact:
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