Brittany WagerProgram Coordinator

Why is cooking part of farm to school?

Creating positive experiences with fresh, healthy food through connections to local

food and farms

Growing Minds Cooking• Train chefs, community

cooks, and teachers (Best practices guide)

• Connect chefs and community cooks with schools and teachers

• Help chefs and teachers source and feature local food

• Provide food stipends and cooking equipment

• Offer children’s books to check out, recipes, curriculum connections

• In 2011 ASAP coordinated 30 chefs and community volunteers to work with 53 teachers and more than 1,000 students.

•Chef and teacher responsibility

•Logistics - schedules, set up, materials/equipment, allergies

•Goals and Classroom Connections

•Recipe – seasonal, developmentally appropriate

•Recruit extra hands

Chef-Teacher Communication

Communication with Chefs

Key Questions:Logistics: When? How much time? How many kids? Set up? Determine the recipe togetherProvide the recipe and farm information ahead of timeCommunicate your goalsAsk about the chef’s goals and expectations

Tips for Selecting Recipes for Children

Are the hands-on skills age and developmentally appropriate?

Do you have access to needed equipment? Does the recipe connect with children’s interests

or classroom projects? Does the recipe promote healthy food choices?  Does the recipe feature seasonal and local

products children can find in the garden, on a local farm, or in the grocery store?

Is the recipe affordable for all families, and does it use familiar ingredients they have at home?

Introducing Recipes to Children

Write the recipe on the board, including farm names

Have examples of ingredients in their raw form

Show the kids the equipment and explain the use

Read the recipe aloud, discussing each step Discuss rules and/or safety considerations

and have children identify these for specific steps

Include all children in the clean-up process!

Safety Tips

Connecting with Curriculum

Talk about fractions and parts of a whole.

What parts of a plant are edible?

Write a review of the recipe.

Have a taste test of different varieties.

How to Connect Cooking Classes with Local Food

Examples:

•ASAP Get Local Program

• Farmer Visits / Information

• Correspondence: Letters

to the farmer, farmer interviews

•“I tried local” stickers

Farmer Profiles

Questions?

Brittany WagerASAP

Growing Minds ProgramAsheville, NC

(828) 236-1282 brittany@asapconnections.org