Cooking with kids empowers children to prepare their own healthy snacks and make their own nutritional choices. It gives them a chance to see others enjoying healthy food, and provides time to discuss nutrition concepts and what makes some food or food prep techniques healthier than others.  Furthermore, cooking and eating is a wonderful way to explore different cultures and their flavorful cuisines and customs.
Also check out all our Garden-Enhanced Nutrition Education Resources from the California School Garden Training Program GENE Workshop.

Cooking with Kids

• Suggestions for Classroom Cooking Success: tips from Kids Cook Farm Fresh Food
• Cooking Methods in the Classroom from Harvesting Health
• Age Appropriate Cooking Tasks for Children and Teens from Life Lab

Tools and Equipment

• Blunt tipped knives are a good option for students prepping food in the garden or classroom
• Montessori Services Food Preparation Catalog
• Curious Chef Cooking Tools for Kids
• Classroom Cooking Box Supply List from Gault School, Santa Cruz, CA
• Solar Cooking: Cook in the garden using the sun by learning to make an oven or buying a cooker
• Crockpot Cooking Tips ideas for cooking in your classroom with a crockpot

Recipe Resources

• Recipes from Life Lab Garden Classroom Programs
• Kids Cook Farm Fresh Foods: Download the complete book including seasonal recipes, activities, and farm profiles that connect food, nutrition and sustainable agriculture
• Hey Kids Lets Cook
• Cooking with California Foods in K-12 Schools
• Healthy Recipes from the Network for a Healthy California 

Food Safety Resources and Lessons

• Glo Germ: provides lesson plans on handwashing using Glo Germ
• CFAITC's Food Safety Guide: Lessons, book lists, and resources on food safety for grades 5 to 7
• Food Safety Music Videos: Includes songs, videos, presentations, and lyrics for download
• Policy, protocol, and extensive resources for harvesting from the garden at Life Lab's Garden to Cafeteria Page.

Downloads

Cooking with Kids Overview and Resources Tips for Cooking with Kids Cooking Equipment List From KCFFF Knife Safety Lesson Bulgur Salad Recipe KCFFF Bulgur Salad Station Cards