Reaching More with Nutrition Education
UF/IFAS Extension Collier County on the Southwest Coast of Florida is one of Collier County’s divisions receiving American Rescue Plan (ARP) grant funding provided through the U.S. Department of Treasury and Collier County Community and Human Services Division. With this, our local Extension has established the Smart Cooking program for adults. And our 4-H Youth Development team is providing the Cooking Challenge program for youth.
These hands-on cooking classes teach participants:
- food safety
- basic knife skills
- nutrition
- development of recipes from available and seasonal local foods
Youth also learn and practice:
- presentation skills
- team building
- decision making
- leadership
Focus
Classes are offered in Immokalee, Golden Gate and East Naples working with community partners who host our impactful, nutrition educator-led, hands on cooking classes for eligible participants. Efforts are focused to serve low income and negatively economically impacted Collier County residents and SNAP eligible participants. Outcomes include increased access to healthy foods, reduced food insecurity, and better nutrition for participants and families.
Benefitting the Community
Besides providing valuable nutrition education, Smart Cooking and Cooking Challenge classes implement a variety of cooking methods and equipment. Those successfully completing a cooking class will receive cooking equipment, major food items, and/or kitchen tools used in class to practice and make the recipe at home. These gained skills translate into increased confidence in the kitchen to use more locally grown foods plus “healthy-ing up” new and favorite family recipes.
Learn More About UF/IFAS Extension Collier County and American Rescue Plan
For more information, please contact UF/IFAS Extension Collier County at 239-252-4800 or contact Collier@ifas.ufl.edu .
“FINANCED IN PART BY U.S. Department of Treasury, UNDER FEDERAL AWARD NUMBER M59600058, and COLLIER COUNTY COMMUNITY AND HUMAN SERVICES DIVISION”.
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