What are your earliest kitchen memories? I have a few that stick out to me. I remember making cookies with my sisters, cousins, and Nana every Christmas. Nana always kept her house super clean — so much so that we would later strive for not just a clean house but a “Nana Clean” house. But on Christmas cookie day there were flour and sprinkles everywhere along with the smiles on our faces. I remember making cinnamon rolls with my mom and being so impressed by the fact that she taught us to cut the dough log into rolls using floss. When did my mom have the time to learn these Julia Child-level cooking hacks? I remember making s’mores with my Girl Scout troop and learning the fine line between a perfectly toasted marshmallow and a marshmallow engulfed in flames.
These experiences were giving in the moment. They were fun, delicious, and brought me closer to the people around me. They also prepared me for a lifetime of preparing food for myself, my family, and my friends. I learned about measurements and recipes but also about the fun of winging it and adding my own creative twist to whatever I was making.
In The Kitchen at Second Harvest, we lovingly work with kids and teach them all those same things. Spending time in the kitchen is such a valuable tool for children as they develop their motor skills, social skills, confidence, and learn to problem solve. They practice basic skills like math and reading, too. We also focus on sharing nutrition knowledge through activities, discussions, and best of all, tasting how good nutritious foods like whole grains and vegetables can taste. Even picky eaters are more likely to enjoy new foods if they had a hand in making it themselves. We get often get feedback from parents that their kids are more open to new foods and helping with cooking at home after practicing those skills in The Kitchen.
Throughout the year we offer family cooking classes and get to work with kids from schools as well as organizations in our community. Three times a year, we offer kids cooking camps that help support our programming year-round. These camps meet for two-hour sessions, Monday through Thursday, and are designed for kids ages 8-12. We pick a different theme for each camp so it’s always a new experience for our return campers. This year we’re baking during the spring break camp, taking a USA road trip in June, and finishing with an Around the World Cooking Camp in July. The kids get to eat what they make and take home cookbooks to recreate the recipes in their own kitchens.
To learn more and register a special child in your life, click the links above or visit: https://secondharvestkitchen.org/.
