Thirty-three per cent of the individuals served each year through the Cambridge Food Bank’s emergency Community Pantry are youth.
With that in mind, the local food bank will be running seven free kids cooking programs leading into the new year to help remove barriers associated with recreational programs and promote healthy habits.
“Each week a bag full of resources is packed specially for each program participant in every program we facilitate,” Amy Slack, operations manager at the Cambridge Food Bank said.
“Bags include food resources, cooking utensils, gardening resources, recipes and other craft opportunities. For now, we meet virtually, in the new year transitioning to a hybrid model and we're looking forward to getting back in person.”
From holiday baking and soup making, to trying Tik Tok recipes, kids will have the opportunity to explore the kitchen, while building confidence and a sense of pride in their work.
“With each workshop topic the real winner is the lesson and lifetime knowledge the participant takes away,” Slack said.
“By increasing children and youth knowledge when it comes to nutrition, kitchen skills, food budgeting and meal preparation, we're providing real life skills that are necessary to survive. Increasing children and youth access to healthy foods by providing food resources in programs also extends household food budgets.”
The need for the food bank has been growing, with over 2,000 new people accessing their resources this year. By working with young people in the city, they hope to teach skills that they'll carry with them through the rest of their lives.
“Our goal is early intervention for healthy habits by developing healthy habits from a young age,” Slack said.
“We aim to remove barriers so that everyone can attend, by providing ingredients, supplies, offering delivery and offering no cost to all programs. Our goal is to remove the stigma from accessing a food bank by providing learning and leadership opportunities, as well as increasing children and youth intake of fruit and vegetables.”
The seven programs are part of a larger initiative run by the food bank and directed at youth and families.
In the new year they're hoping to offer gardening workshops, youth yoga, youth dance, more cooking programs, wellness programs, family fun programs and family fun workshops.
More about the seven programs being offered:
Snack ATTACK
A 30 minute or less session on simple recipes that are perfect for an after-school snack. Participants learn about easy, school safe substitutions, as well as substitutions for any dietary needs.
Souper Supper
Participants learn how easy soups are to make with almost anything in their pantry, with the end result always being a nutritious meal that will feed the entire family.
Books and Little Cooks
This program focuses on a new story or book each week. A recipe is created based off a part the story that inspires cooking. Participants are encouraged to be open to creativity, listening skills, knife skills, kitchen knowledge and skills, and substitutions.
Tik Tok recipes
Participants will take the most loved and highest rated recipes from Tik Tok and bringing them to life in their homes. Participants learn knife skills, kitchen knowledge, skills and terminology, creativity in the kitchen, substitutions and exploring.
Holiday Baking
A workshop series full of the favourite and trending holiday treats. This program will teach you new ways of baking, substitutions and exploring baking creativity.
Candy Cane Celebration
This one-off workshop is a time to bake together with a candy cane theme.
JR Ambassadors
A unique opportunity for Cambridge and North Dumfries youth ages 10-16 to engage in youth led leadership initiatives, community involvement, skill building, special events and volunteering experiences. Our monthly meetings involve talking about Food Bank hot topics, as well as what is going on in the community and what we can do to help spread the word of the Cambridge Food Bank.
Contact Vanessa Toncic at [email protected] or call 519-622-6550 x109 to register for any of the programs.
For more information on the Cambridge Food Bank visit cambridgefoodbank.org.
