Cooking for Life: Young Adult

Cooking for Life: Young Adult was designed to provide at-risk teens that are transitioning into independent living with the skills needed to prepare healthy, nutritious meals on their own. As many low-income teens become self-sufficient, they need to acquire the skills that will ensure they are eating well within limited budgets. The program uses innovative strategies and a theory based curriculum to provide life-skills training to Vermont teens. Since the Cooking for Life: Young Adult program began in 2004, over 524 at-risk teens have participated in 49 series offered throughout Vermont.

Target Audience

Participants are at-risk teens and young adults ages 15-22. The program is offered with organizations that work with the target population, such as alternative education programs, teen centers, and G.E.D. programs. To find out more about hosting a Cooking for Life: Young Adult series, visit: Hosting a Cooking for Life Class.

Class Topics

Cooking for Life: Young Adult classes meet once a week for six weeks. During each session, participants work with a nutrition educator and a local chef through hands-on activities to acquire the knowledge, skills, and changes in behavior necessary to achieve adequate diets on limited budgets.

The Cooking for Life: Young Adult curriculum was developed by dietitians at the Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger and the University of Vermont’s Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program and is based on the Social Cognitive Theory of Behavior Change, which states that new behaviors are learned through a combination of our environment and our behaviors. The curriculum implements a variety of constructs from this theory such as record keeping, reinforcements, and observational learning. Topics covered include: The Food Guide Pyramid Fats in the Diet Fruits and Vegetables Food Safety Meal Planning Grocery Shopping Body Image

Recipes made during class correspond to the nutrition topic for that week. Click here to view a complete class outline along with a list of weekly recipes (.pdf).

“The thing that I like most about the program was trying the food in class and then bringing the groceries home to cook it on my own.” — Cooking for Life Participant