Category: Cooking and Food Skills
Five great reasons kids should learn how to cook
As parents, raising a child who is a picky eater can be challenging especially if you’re trying to develop a healthy eating style. What if it didn’t have to be difficult? Google can show us many ways to avoid picky eaters, but reading doesn’t create results, actions do.
The Cambridge Food Bank believes that raising a child who genuinely enjoys eating nutritious food takes practice. Our Wellness Hub features a weekly youth program run by Vanessa, to help support parents in the Cambridge and North Dumfries area to raise children who are nutritionally diverse in their eating styles.
Here are Vanessa’s top five reasons kids should learn how to cook
- Kids build confidence and comfort in the kitchen
- Kids are more likely to try new foods prior to forming an opinion of them
- It expands their pallets to more nutrient-dense foods
- It increases their kitchen knowledge, safety, and terminology
- It creates a sense of pride
The youth program is disguised as fun for kids but contains many educational lessons.
Parents share their child’s 2022 program experiences
- “Ada has learned how to do many things in the kitchen. She now has the confidence to make the family breakfast.”
- “The Food Bank programs provided simple and healthy recipes that children loved to make. The reality is, if my child makes it, she’s going to eat it. So the inclusion of so many fruits and veggies has made her diet more diverse.”
- “Vanessa makes the classes so much fun plus they get to snack and try new foods while they cook. Also, the look of pure pride on her face when she makes a delicious meal for her family is priceless.”
- “My daughter loves the programs because she likes to eat, wants to know how to do more in the kitchen and because Vanessa is awesome!”
- “I have so many stories to share about our experiences with the Food Bank classes. It has made cooking time, family time. But my favorite story has to be where my daughter and her friend spoiled their dinner on veggies and a healthy yogurt dip they made with Vanessa. Let me say that again, they spoiled their dinner on veggies!!! Unheard of. As stated before, these classes are great and I tell all the other parents about it. My daughter’s friends are constantly asking to come over for the classes and quite a few of these recipes have become family favorites.”
Visit our website to learn more about the 2023 Wellness Hub, contact Vanessa at 519-622-6550 ext. 109 or vtoncic@cambridgefoodbank.org
**This cooking program is provided at no cost and all supplies are included.
Squash – Types, Benefits and Recipes
Fall is the season of squash. The produce section of any supermarket prominently displays various squashes – butternut squash, acorn squash, and spaghetti squash to name a few.
Types of squashes
Squashes come in many varieties– from small zucchini to large pumpkins. They also have
a variety of colours, shades of yellow, green, and orange and are a delight to see. Commonly available squashes are butternut squash, acorn squash, zucchini, spaghetti squash, Hubbard
squash, and Kabocha squash. Some other types are Delicata Squash, Carnival Squash, Gold Nugget
Squash, Buttercup Squash, Banana Squash, Autumn Cup Squash, Ambercup Squash, Sweet Dumpling Squash and Turban Squash.
Health Benefits of Squash
Squash is nutrient-rich and mainly contains vitamins A and C. It provides numerous health benefits,
some of which are listed below
- Good for Heart Health: Squash contains magnesium which helps to reduce the risk of heart
attack and stroke. Magnesium along with potassium helps in reducing high blood pressure.
Vitamin C and beta-carotene levels help in preventing the oxidation of cholesterol. - Prevents Cancer: The high content of antioxidants in squash helps in eliminating free radicals
from our bodies. The beta-carotene in squash provides protection from pollutants and
chemicals that can lead to cancer. Squash contains Vitamin C that prevents premature aging and
cancer. It also inhibits cell division. Squash also contains vitamin A which provides protection
against lung and oral cavity cancers. - Healthy Bones: Squash contains loads of manganese and vitamin C. Manganese helps in building
bone structure and increases calcium absorption. Vitamin C is involved in the production of Collagen which is important for building bone mass. - Good for Eyes: The dietary lutein in squash plays an important role in preventing the onset of
cataracts and macular degeneration. - Improves Colon Health: The high amount of fibers in squash helps in taking toxins out of our
bodies. - Diabetes: Squash has a low glycemic index and is helpful in stabilizing sugar levels. Certain squash
varieties like pumpkin contain a polysaccharide known as pectin. Pectin helps in regulating blood
sugar levels thus preventing the risk of Type2 diabetes. - Rich source of Carotenoids: squashes contain a high level of carotenoids, mainly beta-carotene,
lutein, zeaxanthin, and lycopene. These carotenoids help in the prevention and treatment of age-
related macular degeneration, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases.