Cooking Matters Minnesota (formerly known as Operation Frontline Minnesota) plays a critical role in Share our Strength®’s strategy to end childhood hunger. Cooking Matters is a hands-on, cooking based nutrition education program that teaches low-income families how to prepare healthy and tasty meals on a limited budget, using foods that are commonly available in stores and from emergency food providers.
In Minnesota, this program is delivered by University of Minnesota Extension. We connect volunteer chefs and nutrition educators with community partners to teach low-income adults, teens, and kids.
The goals of the program are to…
Surround kids at risk of hunger with nutritious foods where they live, learn, and play.
Together with local organizations, strive to help families help themselves.
Increase access to public and private programs.
Teach families how to prepare tasty and nutritious foods on a limited budget.
Promote daily physical activity and the importance of family time.
Interview with CeAnn Klug, Cooking Matters Coordinator, highlights the program.
About the Courses
Cooking Matters offers six different courses targeting low-income audiences of different age groups (adults, teens, and kids). Each course meets one time per week for 6 weeks.
Courses give participants hands-on cooking experience and valuable advice on making the healthiest food choices possible with limited resources. Teen and adult participants are given a bag of groceries to take home so they can practice what they have just learned…and at the same time provide a nutritious, home-cooked meal for their family!
Each course is taught by a local chef who volunteers their time and talents and a Community Nutrition Educator from the University of Minnesota Extension. Additional volunteers work behind the scenes to ensure that the course is a success. Learn more about volunteering
Watch a video clip from an Cooking Matters Course
Listen to an audio clip about the Cooking Matters Program (U of M Moment)
COOKING MATTERS FOR ADULTS, offered in English and Spanish, teaches low-income adults how to prepare and shop for healthy meals on a limited budget. This program is often paired with Start By Eating Right, an addendum for adults with children under 5. A second addendum for individuals living with HIV/AIDS and their caretakers will be available in 2010. More than 70 percent of Eating Right participants said they eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains after the course than before.
COOKING MATTERS FOR TEENS teaches teens how to make healthy food choices, and prepare healthy meals and snacks. Nearly 75 percent of graduates said they eat more fruit and 54 percent said they eat more vegetables after taking the course.
COOKING MATTERS FOR KIDS teaches kids aged 8 to 12 about healthy eating, how healthy eating affects their performance, and how to make easy, nutritious foods at home. Nearly 90 percent of participants learned at least one new thing about cooking.
COOKING MATTERS FOR FAMILIES teaches school-age children and their parents about healthy eating and the importance of eating together as a family. Ninety-three percent of children said they were excited to cook with their parents and 99 percent of adults would recommend the class to other families.
STEP UP TO EATING RIGHT teaches teen parents how to make healthy food choices and prepare nutritious foods for themselves and their babies. Graduates increased their use of Nutrition Facts labels when they shop and chose healthier foods like low-fat milk and whole grains.
Learn More About Volunteering
Instructor and support role volunteers are needed. Local chefs are encouraged to contact us if you would like to share your time and talents to help us eliminate childhood hunger. Volunteer finance instructors are needed to teach basic family budgeting in one of the series of classes. Additional volunteers are needed to help manage class groceries/materials, set-up and clean-up classes, and work with students as needed.
To find out more or get involved contact: CeAnn Klug
Cooking Matters Coordinator
University of Minnesota Extension
612-625-8284 cdklug@umn.edu
