“I learned that healthy food packed with veggies can actually taste good. I now eat healthier and pay more attention to what I put in my body and how it affects me. Before I would maybe eat one vegetable in a week but now I cook with them almost every day and I love them.” -Candy Moira, 2010 youth participant
Every day at “Food, What?!” we prepare and eat healthy food, fresh from our farm together. Like Candy said, every day we experience that healthy food, packed with fruits and vegetables, can actually taste good! Rather than telling youth what not to eat, we introduce them to healthy, nutritious and delicious options. We add vegetables and whole grains into the foods that youth already like: veggies on pizza with whole wheat crust, veggies in tacos, whole wheat veggie quesadillas, even vegetables in scrambled eggs. From there, we let the youth make their own choices about of what they like and what feels good in their bodies. As a result, many of the youth choose the healthier options. The proof is in the pudding –so to speak.
Tips for cooking with youth
Favorite "Food, What?!" Recipes:
Veggie Quesadillas
Zucchini Fritters (Pancakes)
Tortilla Lasagna
Veggie Fried Rice
Spanikopita
Recipes for the Classroom
If you want to bring a food component into a classroom, but do not have access to cooking facilities, here are some recipe ideas:
Smoothies
Salsa
Fall-Winter Fruit Salad
Yogurt and Fruit Parfaits
Veggie Quesadillas
Zucchini Fritters (Pancakes)
Tortilla Lasagna
Veggie Fried Rice
Spanikopita
If you want to bring a food component into a classroom, but do not have access to cooking facilities, here are some recipe ideas:
Smoothies
Salsa
Fall-Winter Fruit Salad
Yogurt and Fruit Parfaits
