On February 15, 2024, Family and Community Health (FCH) Extension Agent, Kashara Bell presented program offerings at the Wharton County Summer Interpretation Meeting in El Campo, TX. Bell reflected on implementing the Teen Cuisine curriculum in sessions hosted at Wharton County, Louise, and East Bernard libraries, reaching over 200 youth.
Kashara Bell, Wharton County Agent
Ida Carter, Family & Community Health Program Specialist
Bell stated, “During the summer of 2023, the FCH unit conducted 25 cooking workshops and served 216 youth in June and July 2023.”
“The participants got hands-on experience cooking on grills, hot plates, blenders, and griddles. Our goal was to encourage the participants to adopt healthy eating habits and broaden their food palate while doing so,” Bell said.
The Teen Cuisine curriculum aims to empower teens to adopt a healthier lifestyle by teaching them how to prepare nutritious snacks and meals. The program offers six 90-minute sessions designed to facilitate discussion and engagement by teens while providing a hands-on experience. Each lesson includes core activities focused on nutrition, food safety, food prep, and physical activity.
After receiving positive feedback from their evaluations, the FCH unit plans to continue fostering a cooperative relationship with the District 11 libraries.
Ida Carter
Extension Program Specialist II
idcarter@pvamu.edu