Young chefs learn healthy habits
Olivia Acosta, Martin Braun, and Aiden Garza grate, chop, and mix while preparing a dish called Confetti Corn.
The trio is part of the ‘Culinary Health Education for Families’ program at Colonial Hills Elementary.
The ‘CHEF Program’ was founded just a few years ago right here in San Antonio.
“Not only are we telling them what to eat but we are showing them how to make these delicious foods,” Katy Bowen, Director of Community Outreach with CHEF said.
“We have partnered with schools in order to really get this program off of the ground to encourage children and their families to eat healthier, to cook more at home as opposed to coming home and sitting in front of a T.V. or a video game. Instead, everybody is in the kitchen; everybody is helping,” she added.
Bowen is a Registered Dietician and previously worked with School Nutrition Services at NEISD.
She says it’s important for kids to try foods between eight and ten times before they decide if they actually like it.
“Children have probably the strongest taste buds. As we age, our taste buds kind of desensitize. If you around a grandparent or someone who is more elderly, you’ll see that they add a lot of salt or other seasonings to food. That’s because their food tastes more bland because their taste buds are a little desensitized, whereas children- their tastebuds are almost hyper-sensitized,” Bowen said.
While trying her confetti corn, fifth-grader Olivia said she could taste a variety of flavors.
“The corn is super-cold; I can really taste the bell peppers and the onions,” she said.
Students like Olivia are not only trying new foods, but preparing them.
“My parents don’t really think of me as a cook but like, I’m pretty good at it!”
Every student on campus is involved in the CHEF program with Coach and Health teacher Terri Pitts.
Pitts is the daughter of an avid gardener and said helping kids understand where their food comes from is fundamental.
“Some kids answer that they think produce comes from HEB! Well, obviously it doesn’t,” Pitts laughs.
She said she hopes to take families back to the dinner table.
“We’re trying to bring that back. Where families are sitting down at the table, cooking together and eating together. That’s one of the dreams I want to see because I grew up that way. That’s how I’d like our kids to grow up too,” Pitts said.
It’s a truly garden-to-table program.
Pitts and Bowen said they enjoys seeing the kids participate.
“It’s outstanding to see these experiences that these children have.”
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