CookShop Classroom

In New York City neighborhoods where household income is low and access to healthy food is sparse, children often lack opportunities to find out where their food comes from, and to learn to enjoy healthy foods.  CookShop, the federally funded nutrition education program of the Food Bank For New York City, helps confront these challenges by helping low-income elementary school students gain the knowledge and skills needed to make and appreciate healthy choices.

CookShop Classroom's hands-on exploration and cooking activities currently reach pre-K through second-grade children in more than 700 New York City public school classrooms, and children ages six through 12 in after-school programs at schools and community-based organizations citywide.

CookShop Classroom students learn how fruits, vegetables and whole grains grow, what goes into a nutritious diet and how to transform whole foods such as carrots, wheat, apples and lettuce into simple, tasty, affordable meals and snacks. CookShop's curriculum includes opportunities for teachers to incorporate math, science, language arts and social studies into lessons.

All CookShop Classroom teachers and instructors receive comprehensive, interactive training and support, as well as all of the materials needed to implement the program successfully — including equipment, food, supplies and teaching tools such as Teacher's Guides, Big Books, Activity Books, and Family Newsletters.

For more information on CookShop Classroom for public elementary schools, contact Jen Byrd at jbyrd@foodbanknyc.org.

For more information on CookShop Classroom for After-School, contact Alexandra Chan at achan@foodbanknyc.org.