Schools

Kiddy Cook's Food In Schools Project is a hands-on unit of study that uses the theme of healthy eating to enrich the curriculum and develop thinking in a range of subjects.  We run cookery workshops for children aged 2 – 11 years to encourage them to learn about 'good' food and to explore new flavours in an educational and fun way.

"The experience provided by Kiddy Cook was rich and stimulating and the Reception children were captivated by both the experiments and the cooking, staying on task throughout. The tasks themselves were straightforward, yet exciting, meaning that they were accessible by all members of the class. Overall it was a wonderful afternoon, well planned, well carried out and generally great fun! The children can't wait for you to come back!!"
Helen Chappell  (Reception Teacher, Bowdon CE Primary School)

Each workshop encourages the students to discover the excitement that food can bring whilst relating it to its environmental impact, fair trade and more complex issues related to the global economy.  Children are encouraged to taste during the cooking process so they can see for themselves how textures and flavours change once cooked.  They get to conduct a 'volcano' experiment to learn how carbon dioxide works to make their cakes and biscuits rise.  They learn the difference between taste and flavour and think about the effect sound has on their ability to eat!

A typical school day will consist of Kiddy Cook running 4 workshops for approximately 15 children.  We'll arrive at your school and supply all of the ingredients, aprons and utensils (excluding an oven).  Most lessons last for 60 minutes and include a presentation, whole class and individual activities, and a show & taste component.

Sample lessons

Our sessions are many and varied and include Juicy Lucy – peel, chop and slice as we introduce you to some of the fruit and vegetables that can be juiced and then create your own 5-a-day drink. Eat local – what food grows in your neighbourhood? Can you find local produce in your local shop? Buy fresh food and make a 'local' recipe. Healthy Lunchbox – focus on healthy eating and making healthy choices. We show the children how to make a delicious and nutritious snack and introduce them to the importance of having 5 fruit and vegetable portions a day.

Outside the Curriculum

We are also happy to work with children who are having difficulty within the mainstream. We can provide session ideas for groups or one-to-one e.g. using the lesson before lunch they could come and make a healthy meal and eat it together.

Nurseries

Our nursery sessions are a way for children to experience fresh local produce, tasty and healthy snacks, and cooking in the classroom! Cookie Tots class leaders bring exciting, practical & interactive lessons about healthy eating through storytelling, songs, games & activities all based around food and cooking. These great classes promote healthy eating and food awareness whilst building confidence and encouraging independence. Different recipes give the children a chance to explore their senses and express their creativity and they get to take home what they’ve made.

Kiddy Cook hopes that at the end of these sessions, students will have developed the skills to make healthier food choices, a taste for new and diverse whole foods and a willingness to – and enthusiasm for – trying new foods. Cooking is an excellent way for children to build confidence whilst providing them with skills they can use again and again. It gives them an opportunity to be creative and to learn about ‘good’ food whilst having FUN in a safe and stimulating environment.