‘Big Chef, Little Chef’ serves up knowledge and nutrition

By Al Beeber on October 13, 2021.

Herald photo by Al Beeber - Miranda Jane helps here daughter Maeby grate cheese during the Family Centre's interactive Big Chef, Little chef program Tuesday at the Interfaith Food Bank.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com

An interactive cooking program for children at the northside Family Centre is one of several initiatives aimed at introducing people of all ages to food and nutrition.
Big Chef, Little Chef, operating out of the Family Centre space in the Interfaith Food Bank, is a program for kids aged three to six and their caregivers.
The Family Centre says the program “helps to strengthen the caregiver-child bond while also encouraging children to have a healthy interest in nutrition and making their own food. Early literacy, mathematical skills and exploration of the five senses help each child to grow in confidence.”
On Tuesday, three children and their caregivers were active in the Interfatih Chinook Country Kitchen on 3 Avenue North, grating cheese and doing other food preparation as part of the free program. All cooking material is supplied by the Interfaith Food Bank.
The program, says Kitchen co-ordinator Maren Cahoon, was started in 2005 as a joint venture between the Interfaith Food Bank and the Family Centre.
Classes focus on readily available ingredients and simple recipes and are open to all members of the community.
Adults wanting to participate in the adult cooking classes can contact Cahoon directly at marina.cahoon@famcentre.ca or by calling 403-320-8138. Caregivers wanting to register children in any of the three youth cooking classes, which include Kids in the Kitchen and Young Chefs, can register online at http://www.famcentre.ca
Since a learning garden was built on the grounds in 2013, summer and fall classes have allowed participants to use freshly picked garden produce in the meals they create.
Big Chef, Little Chef classes run mornings and afternoons while Kids in the Kitchen runs Friday afternoons. Young Chefs, for youth aged 11-14, runs during July and August.
Online cooking classes also run on Zoom every Thursday afternoon. At the Family Centre website, people can see links to Facebook and YouTube videos as different meals are created.
COVID-19, said Cahoon Tuesday, “taught us to adapt.” The Zoom sessions have been an effective way of reaching an adult audience.
In-person adult cooking classes – the next is on Thursday from 9:30 until 11:30 a.m. – offer information on healthy meal ideas as well as tips for stretching food plans on a budget. They also teach nutritional facts, food safety and new cooking techniques. Each class provides two recipes that can be portioned for four people. People are allowed to attend one class per week.

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