Culinary Camp for Kids #nokidhungry

Many times in our lives, we are asked to roll up our sleeves and pitch in our time and talents. It's what makes the world go round. Some people have artistic or musical talent. I have neither. Beyond coloring, I would not consider myself artistic. While I love working with kids, I have to rely on my sense of humor and love of nutrition to keep them entertained.This summer, I was asked by Design Impact, (www.d-impact.org, a Cincinnati based non-profit agency that fosters social change), to participate in culinary camp- a 5-week camp to help feed homeless kids in our city. This project really struck a cord with me. Did you know that Cincinnati ranks SECOND in childhood poverty? And with poverty comes food insecurity- the sinking feeling of not knowing where your next meal is coming from. Along with food insecurity comes malnutrition, stunted growth, and decreased ability to learn. We all know that our basic needs (read FOOD and shelter) need to be met in order to succeed. In our land of plenty, no kid should go hungry.The point of culinary camp was not only to feed homeless kids, but to teach them how food affects their health. It was meant to empower children to feed themselves and others with what they have. This involved a trip to the Free Store Food bank, who helped sponsor the program, to find out what foods these kids may have available to use. Design Impact and I developed a survey to find out what tools (appliances, etc.) kids had available to prepare meals, what foods they were allergic to and what foods were available that they would enjoy eating.I developed a few recipes and got to teach the last 2 classes of the 5-week camp. We made black bean roll ups, which the majority of kids really liked. The last class was a competition, where the kids were challenged to make the most creative pizzas. For a dietitian, it was a thrill to see kids trying mushrooms and peppers. I loved seeing them becoming confident in their cooking skills and learning about nutrition. What struck me most was a sweet, 10-year old boy named Julian. He told me he loved food and wanted to become a chef some day. At the end of class, we provided the kids with measuring cups and spoons. Julian in particular, was SO excited to receive them. For kids that have so little, this gift truly meant something to him.So when you sit down for your next meal, think of all the kids that don't have regular meal or snack times. The kids that go to bed hungry. The kids in your own backyard that want to grown up strong, proud, contributing members of society. Think of Julian.