What’s cooking at the food bank?
Program sees clients and their children learn about nutrition
The Glace Bay Food Bank invited parents and their children to come cook with them, and they did.
Kim McPherson, a volunteer at the Glace Bay Food Bank and co-ordinator of the community garden, said they received a grant of $8,000 from Telus to run a 12-week program called Come Cook Together that included clients of the food bank and their children between the ages of seven and 12 to come in to learn how to cook healthy meals together.
“It was to provide nutricion, education and self-worth and empower families to cook and eat healthy and to give new skills to apply to the future to have less dependence on food banks.”
The program was run three times a week with groups of six at a time.
She said through the program they also taught parents and kids how to make jam and how to garden, as well as howe to grow their own food.
“Harvesting and using vegetables, herbs and fresh fruit from the garden directly into the cooking class educates the class members how to cook healthy and eat what they grow.”
She said it was also about getting parents out of the house.
“(It’s about) preparing them for the future, physical exercise, stress relief, a sense of community belonging, self confidence and opportunities for social exchange.”
On Wednesday of this week, a celebration was held at the food bank to mark the end of the program and included a pizza party and treat bags for the kids.
Joey Michalik, a volunteer at the food bank and co-ordinator of the cooking part of the program, said they made all kinds of meals, including homemade veggie pizzas and even a campfire stew.
“It’s hamburger, potatoes, carrots, potatoes, turnip all thrown in together.”
He said they made a wide variety of things, including cookies, their own smoothies and even apple crisp.
Michalik said the focus was meals of things one might find around their house.
“I also tried to give them different options of other things they could use. Things you might not think you could put together and make something good with.”
He said they are pleased with how it went, and they believe a lot of positives came out of it.
“When the kids are saying they can’t wait for next week to come, that’s a good sign. That’s what it’s all about.”
Michalik said he also really enjoyed the program.
“I’m kind of sorry it’s over with.”