C.H.E.F. – Chef Kimberly VanKline

For Our Future

Cook Healthy Eat Fresh (CHEF) empowers youth from all backgrounds to eat and live sustainably by teaching children how to cook healthy meals for themselves and their families.

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CHEF is a

culinary education program designed to empower low-income families to make healthy eating choices by educating children and their families about nutrition, agriculture, cuisine diversity, essential culinary skills, and dining etiquette through practical and interactive lessons about healthful eating.

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According to research

conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture, daily: less than 15% of school children eat the recommended servings of fruit, less than 20% eat the recommended servings of vegetables, about 25% eat the recommended servings of grains while only 16% of school children meet the guideline for saturated fat.

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The CHEF Vision

To empower youth to know the source of where their food originates and to have confidence in their culinary skillset to educate, share, and grow in the culinary/hospitality industry. CHEF is designed to educate youth about agriculture, healthy cooking, nutritional needs, dining etiquette, culinary tours, global cuisine education, and entrepreneurship.

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CHEF will

provide youth with the knowledge and ability to learn how simple it is to create a healthy meal through hands-on activities and food preparation. CHEF offers accessible nutritional information to children and their families, empowering them to make sensible, healthy food choices. CHEF will partner with farmers, vendors, and business owners in the local community

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CHEF School Programs

CHEF offers programming for children, ages 8-13, and tailors the curriculum to the specific ages (in groups of 8-10 and 11-13). Most lessons last 2 hours and include a presentation, whole-class, and individual activities, and a tasting component. Classes meet once a week for six weeks. Students experience fresh local produce, tasty and healthy treats, and actual cooking right in their classroom.

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Our curriculum

is tailored to the region and season and works together to get students thinking about the source of their food and introduce them to the pleasures of eating locally grown food and healthy alternatives to traditional snacks. Ultimately, CHEF increases students’ awareness, appreciation, and knowledge of healthy eating. Our program exposes students to various positive food choices while honoring each child’s individual choice and preference.

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Quarantine Kidz Cookbook:

activities, tips, & more

Cook Healthy, Eat Fresh is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating children from all backgrounds about agriculture, healthy cooking, nutritional needs, dining etiquette, culinary tours, global cuisine education, and entrepreneurship. CHEF offers accessible nutritional information, education, and demonstrations to children and their families, empowering them to make sensible, healthy food.