Introduction
I have always loved to cook. My background is in early education and I enjoyed working as a nursery teacher, but I found that cooking was always my favorite way to relax, so I decided to combine my two passions. When my own three children were young, cooking together was our favorite activity to do together. As a family, we created countless memories in the kitchen and established many fun traditions that we continue today. As my children began to grow up and cook on their own, I realized that not only was cooking together a fantastic way to bond, they developed a life skill that benefits them every day. I found myself thinking how nice it would be to be able to combine my two most favorite activities: cooking, and spending time with children. Seven years ago I began by contacting schools directly and informing them of my idea for kid’s cooking classes. In New Jersey, most preschools and daycares offer various enrichment electives during the day for students. When I got my start, cooking and nutrition classes were not even on the radar. Cooking can require a lot of materials-particularly with messy young tots! At the end of each class my room can be a big mess. My motto is, the more fun the lesson, the messier the classroom gets. But I narrowed down the necessities and began carting all my equipment directly into the schools. I don’t need a kitchen. I can work in any classroom, and all I need is a table, some chairs, and electricity.
What GPKids Cooking offers is something many children do not have a lot of experience with at home. I have discovered that when children have more responsibility with their meals, they are far more likely to try new foods. This notion has become the cornerstone of my program. Over the years, I have perfected dozens of original and healthy recipes that cater to children’s allergies and I have taught over a thousand Little Chefs. My kids continue to surprise me with their ability to prepare their own healthy food. I love what I do, it’s very rewarding to see how children can really cook if you let them.
Benefit of GP Kids Cooking for Children
Believe it or not, every healthy snack can be turned into an edible craft project…and I don’t just mean a big mess! As my Little Chefs learn to prepare their own food, their newfound responsibility helps to solidify their self-esteem. They learn to trust in their own abilities, and are more likely to see themselves as capable when trying new things in the future. GP Kids Cooking is designed to encourage young children to try new foods with a strong emphasis on healthy and safe cooking.
Unfortunately, in today’s busy world, we spend less time in the kitchen than ever. Families often attempt to simplify their lives by ordering food in without realizing the detrimental effects this can have on their family’s health. In fact, in 1970, Americans spent 26 percent of their food budget eating out and by 2010, this number rose to 41 percent. During the same time period, obesity rates in the United States more than doubled. My program recognizes the importance of healthy cooking and attempts to reverse this trend. Our Little Chefs get so excited about cooking that they go home and want to share their experience with their parents and siblings.
