I got to study something I love: food.
For my thesis project, I created a nutrition education intervention for 5th grade students.
Yes, the students learned about nutrition.
Stephanie Brown
After college, I sought out other opportunities to bring nutrition education to students.
Instead of building my lessons around nutritional science, cooking is now at the forefront.
Lets Move!came at a time when the prevalence ofchildhood obesitywas on the rise.
Stephanie Brown
Children especially dont have much control over their environment and meals.
So I decided to focus on prevention by way of teaching them how to cook.
This program uses healthy, nut-free vegetarian recipes to give school-age studentshands-on experience on cooking with whole foods.
Stephanie Brown
As I teach these classes, Ive seen how excited the students are to cook.
And the messier the recipe, the better.
While nutritional science isnt the focus of these classes, I talk about ingredients along the way.
One of my favorite moments in these classes is when the students taste the food theyve made.
We all eat together and I give them some time to take their first few bites.
Then I ask if they like or dislike the food.
Usually, there will be a student or two who nervously says they dont like it.
What dont you like about it?
A 2019 study published inAppetitesuggested that when children prepare foods themselves, theyre likely to eat more.
Cooking is a compelling activity that could affect childrens food preferences over time, according to the researchers.
There are more factors at play than I imagined as a 20-year-old.
This recipe for chewy fig and oat energy balls was adapted from a recipe in my classes.
Its great to make with a group because theres something for everyone to do.
Let some kids start chopping the figs while others measure out the ingredients.
Once the prep is done, everyone can get to roll their own energy ball.
This recipe also works with a smaller group.
Dried figs are available at many grocery stores and online.
(I get mine from Trader Joes.)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
2015;4(2):187. doi:10.4103/2249-4863.154628
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Childhood obesity causes & consequences.
Lobstein T.The language of obesity just makes matters worse.Nat Hum Behav.
