Kids Cooking for Life

Kids Cooking for Life

​Our program is designed to inspire lifelong healthy cooking and eating habits in children.
 
We believe that by teaching children the importance of good nutrition as well as the joy and fun of eating food they have prepared with their own hands is one of the most effective ways to address the childhood obesity epidemic as well as the rapidly rising rate of lifestyle diseases such as type 2 diabetes.
 
Teaching throughout the Bay Area on-site, trained instructors with a wealth of knowledge and experience in nutrition, culinary arts, agriculture and elementary education lead our classes. Children are exposed to all aspects of food preparation and sanitation, learn about where our food comes from, master knife skills, learn to read and understand nutrition labels, and learn about heart health, diabetes prevention and much more.
 
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Kids Cooking for Life's Unique Model
We work to make an impact on children’s lives particularly when they are still developing behaviors they will likely keep for a lifetime.  What makes our program unique?

• Experiential skill-based learning
• Classes link to academic core subjects, such as biology, chemistry, health & nutrition
• Strong partnerships with local farms, schools and hospitals
• Extensive staff knowledge of nutrition, agriculture and culinary skills

 
 
KCL Key Strategies
1) To work with elementary-aged children within the school day. Schools have    their choice of either an eight-week course or a one-time cooking and nutrition demonstration. Teaching classes within the school day in partnership with classroom teachers reinforces KCL’s model (see above) and reaches the greatest number of children in an educational setting.
 
2) To work with children’s hospital programs to support chronic disease prevention for children that have been diagnosed with the early onset of obesity and/or type 2 diabetes
 
Program Impact
After participating in the KCL program, students have real-world skills they can share with their family and friends. 
Research shows that children who are active and eat healthy are:

• Better prepared to learn and demonstrate improved test scores;
• Miss fewer days of school;
• Have higher self-esteem;
• Have a lower risk of preventable diseases like obesity, Type II diabetes, heart disease and some types of cancer.

 
KCL program evaluation indicates our students:

• Enjoy the educational experience
• Demonstrate a greater awareness and appreciation of healthy food;
• Are able to replicate many KCL recipes at home;
• Can decipher nutrition labels;
• Develop an awareness of the importance of counting calories;
• Are able to recognize appropriate portions sizes

 https://www.kidscookingforlife.org/

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