Foodwork Alliance Holds Kids Cooking Camp

ZANESVILLE, Ohio — The FoodWorks Alliance hosted local youth at their facility today for a “Cooking Day Damp.”

Interim Director, Bill Huston said the goal of the cooking course is to help provide kids with beginner cooking techniques, but also to teach them the value of home cooking and how fun it can be.

“We’re working in conjunction with the United Way who gave us a grant to have these cooking camps, our goal is to hit 200 youth. And we teach them how to shop, how to cook. Our goal is not only is it fun to cook, but you can cook for four people, like that dinner that we’re doing today that we’re teaching them– $10 for four people,” said Huston.

Huston added that they want to reach as many kids in the community as possible about the benefits of eating healthy, and doing so while being cost effective. Each kid that attends the cooking camp goes home with a care bag that includes a frying pan, a bowl with dish towels, measuring cups, spoons and a spatula, as well as a gift card that he hopes will be used to purchase fresh, local ingredients the kids can cook with.

Additionally, Huston expressed their willingness to go to other locations to hold that cooking camp provided they have ta kitchen to do so. He wants to making the cooking fun and help the kids develop a lifelong skill that will provide them with a healthy lifestyle and additional family time.

Instructor Sharon Zink emphasized that the pride and satisfaction that comes with having a hand in your own food preparation will allow you to experiment more and try new things.

“I love cooking, but I love introducing kids to the magic of cooking. And while we’re doing the magic part of it, then we can talk and introduce the value of making your own meals as opposed to buying them,” said Zink.

Zink is the Owner/Chef for “From the Hearth” catering and said she learned her passion for food at a very young age; it all began with a simple “Easy Bake Oven.” She wants to pass along techniques such as appropriate knife skills to kids at a young age, and provide them with healthy alternatives to the many processed foods that kids eat these days.

The Foodworks Alliance currently has three more courses scheduled for April 8th, May 6th, and June 10th. The courses are free to all children and are held at the FoodWorks Alliance at 2725 Pinkerton Rd. For more information go to www.foodworksalliance.com or call Nora Hoffert at (740)453-3649, ext. 2.