FoodWIse and Community Works are partnering to offer an 8-part cooking class series for teens as a part of their after school respite program.

During the cooking class series, Community Works will join at the Extension office’s kitchen where Grace Gallagher, FoodWIse Nutrition Educator, is teaching Around the Table. Around the Table is designed to teach youth from grades 6-12 important life skills to promote health, with a special emphasis on trauma-informed approaches. Students will get hands-on experience with kitchen skills, such as cutting, measuring, baking, etc. Teaching teens life skills doesn’t just build independence, but it also builds social emotional learning skills. In addition to hands-on cooking, FoodWIse has incorporated mindfulness strategies throughout the entire program.

Teaching teenagers important life skills is critical because they will be on their own, or may already be on their own. By teaching teens the knowledge and skills to make informed food and lifestyle choices, Educators are helping them to increase their confidence to apply these skills at home.