The food and nutrition project offers an instructional and entertaining lesson on how to cook the basics, before advancing to gourmet and international meals.
Youngsters will learn the heritage of many foods as well as consumer buying skills to get the most for their money.
In addition, theyll learn how to make healthy snacks and modify recipes to fit a healthy life style.
There is 4-H curriculum that can be purchased for anyone interested in the food and nutrition project. Here is a breakdown of what youth can learn at different levels:
Ages 7-8:
Why food is important
The importance of food safety
Common food preparation equipment
Ages 9-11:
Why nutrition is important in our daily lives
How to include exercise in our daily routine
How to prepare healthy snacks
Ages 12-14:
Plan and prepare foods, including vegetables, cakes and casseroles
Ways to incorporate exercise into daily life
Basic outdoor cookery skills
Ages 15 and up:
Food preparation and safety guidelines
The diversity of food preferences
How to prepare foods on the go
In addition to the curriculum, participants are offered the opportunity to attend project meetings held by volunteers. Each year, they demonstrate their hard work locally at the county fair and depending on age and placing, the Kansas State Fair.
The food and nutrition project is a great opportunity to learn important life skills.
For more information about this project or the workshop, contact Jennifer K. Terrell, 4-H Youth Development for K-State Research and Extension Southwind District at jkterrell@ksu.edu or 620-244-3826.
