Cook More Often

  • Benefits:
    • Less reliance on highly processed foods
    • Learn new skills
    • Save money on meals out
    • Choice!
  • Cook once, eat twice, batch cooking, time-saving tools
  • Plan ahead
  • Teach children to cook!

Limit foods high in sodium, sugars or saturated fat

There are many benefits to cooking:

  • Allows you to control the amount of sauces and seasonings that are added to the food.
  • You can make foods that you and your family like and will eat
  • You can choose healthy ingredients like: fruits, vegetables, whole grain foods, protein foods (choose protein foods that come from plants more often)

Being able to cook is an important life skill. Having the opportunities to learn practical, hands-on skills, build confidence is an important part of being able to get healthy food on the table. There are many benefits associated with teaching children to cook at an early age:

  • They are more likely to continue to cook as they age
  • They are more likely to try new fruits and vegetables
How to support food skills in schools?

Provide opportunities for children to learn food skills. Cooking classes are a great way to do this. Check out the Health Unit’s You’re the Chef program here: www.wechu.org/ytc. This program is great for students in grades 4-12.

Another great way for children to learn key food skills is through gardening. Gardening provides a unique way for children learn about food, nutrition, natural sciences, and many more areas. Pair up gardening with cooking classes for a more engaging experience.