Let's Get Cookin'

Do you want to help kids in your school learn important food skills? The Let’s Get Cookin’ program is designed to support educators and school community members in teaching kids (grades 5 and up) how to prepare and cook food. Let’s Get Cookin’ is offered in collaboration with Middlesex London Health Unit.

How do I get started?

Before jumping in to Let's Get Cookin', it's important to get approval from your school or organization to run the program. Some important things to know:

• All facilitators and volunteers must complete our E-Learning Training Module and quiz before running the program. This takes about 30-45 minutes to complete.
• The more helpers the better. We require at least one facilitator for every five participants (1:5)
• The program is 7 sessions long; each week participants will prepare 2 recipes to enjoy together.
• The program can be run with a small group or with a class of students (provided there are enough facilitators/volunteers).
• There are food costs involved in running the program. For a classroom of students, the cost is estimated to be approximately $400.
• Recipes do not require a stove, but access to a sink for handwashing and electrical outlets (for electric skillets) is required. Equipment to run the program may be available to loan from Southwestern Public Health.

If you have questions or need support, contact the Healthy Schools team or call 1-800-922-0096

How do I get trained to run Let's Get Cookin'?

Our E-Learning module takes about 30-45 minutes to complete.

In the module, you’ll learn:

• program design and facilitation
• basic food and kitchen safety
• cooking session overview

At the end of the module, you’ll complete a short quiz to check what you’ve learned. Once you finish the quiz, you’ll get an email explaining how to access the Let’s Get Cookin’ Facilitator Portal. This portal has all the information and resources you’ll need to run the program.

Access the e-learning module for Let’s Get Cookin’ (downloads Powerpoint file .pptx)

As a trained facilitator, here’s what you’ll be responsible for:

1. Get your supplies ready:

• Purchase or gather the equipment needed for your cooking sessions.

• Buy the groceries for each session, following the session’s shopping list 

2. Organize participants:

• Recruit participants or decide how participants will be chosen

• Make sure consent forms are sent home, signed, and stored properly (based on school policy)

3. Prepare your space:

• Clean and sanitize the cooking area, equipment, and dishes before and after each session

• Work with your school custodian or principal to get the approved sanitizer and learn how to use it safely

4. Run the sessions:

• Set up the room and materials before each session

• Lead an orientation session and all cooking lessons

Access the facilitator portal

If you’ve already signed up as a Let’s Get Cookin’ facilitator, you can access the facilitator portal. It has everything you need, like shopping lists, recipes, and other resources to help you run your session.

Need to borrow cooking equipment?

Don’t have cooking tools for your session? No problem! Southwestern Public Health lends out equipment kits for Let’s Get Cookin’ facilitators. These kits include all the basics, like utensils and small appliances. To borrow a kit, contact the Healthy Schools team.