Cooking with Kids - BIG little Project by DocuFilms

COOKING WITH KIDS BIG little Project

he Cooking with Kids ‘BIG little Project’ is an exciting new collaboration with photographer Gabriella Marks and creative director Robert Nachman. It captures the joyful and essential role grown-ups play in helping kids develop healthy relationships with food. This launch features just a few of the many Superchefs who help us each year and some of the ‘littles’ in their lives. The Project will continue to highlight the chefs, educators, farmers, family members and volunteers who make time year in and year out to share their knowledge and love of cooking with the children of Northern New Mexico. For over 25 years, in small moments and big ways, Cooking with Kids has educated and empowered children and their families to make healthy food choices. From a small group of volunteer healthyeating advocates and Santa Fe chefs organized by Lynn Walters to today’s embedded educator program, Cooking with Kids has become an integral part of the school schedule for over 5,000

kids each year. Cooking with Kids continues to grow. Each year, more schools ask for the program. We also have shared lesson plans with educators in 48 states, Puerto Rico and Canada. Our funding comes from children’s education and health grants, community support and the generosity of corporate and individual donors. In the years ahead, we would like to serve more schools throughout New Mexico and find underwriting sponsorship for our National Curriculum Outreach so that we can share the big things we have accomplished here in New Mexico with little kids everywhere. To learn more about ® Cooking with Kids, to view the Big little Project film, or donate, visit cookingwithkids.org Special thanks to our Superchefs and their little ones. And to Gabriella Marks and Robert Nachman for bringing this concept to life. Production of and promotional support for the Big little Project Film has been underwritten by Docufilms.org, a 501(c)(3) focused on celebrating stories of those who make a difference.

COOKING WITH KIDS BIG little Project

Chef Shane Alexander Bishop’s Lodge, Auberge Resorts Collection

first saw Cooking with Kids in action when my oldest son, Jameson, asked me to come to his class. Once I saw the kids really getting engaged and beginning to understand the connection between food and nutrition, I was glad to volunteer as a Superchef. Helping kids be connected to their food is important. Because what you eat has a huge impact on mood, stamina and energy. It literally changes how you function as a human.

BIG CHEF Shane little chefs Dylan & Jameson 4

COOKING WITH KIDS BIG little Project

Chef Kathleen Crook Market Steer Steakhouse

had some great chefs along the way that I probably drove bonkers with how many questions I asked. I wanted to pick their brains and get knowledge.

I think that’s the same thing that I want to pass on with the Cooking with Kids program. It’s important, and it’s a life skill kids can use forever.

BIG CHEF Kathleen little chef Sharlotte 6

COOKING WITH KIDS BIG little Project

Chef Jen Doughty Santa Fe School of Cooking

hat I take away with Cooking with Kids is that it’s so important that they realize where their food comes from and what it takes to make food.

I think it opens their minds for a brighter future. Looking at the big picture, it helps them understand what it takes to have a healthy body and a healthy community.

BIG CHEF Jen little chef Aria 8

COOKING WITH KIDS BIG little Project

Chef Mark Kiffin The Compound

e have kids, and we want to help other kids. We’re trying to use our voice to try to help them with the Cooking with Kids mission.

So we’re trying to get the message out there and say hey, you like us, you love our restaurants, you support us. Well, then support this.

BIG CHEF Mark little chef London 10

COOKING WITH KIDS BIG little Project

Chef Fernando Olea Sazón

e all want to create healthy generations, so let’s start with Cooking with Kids. Let’s participate in these programs. You have some free time, come volunteer. If you don’t have free time, donate. Cooking with Kids opens doors to give children opportunities – not only the kids, but also for their families.

BIG CHEF Fernando little chefs Julian & Elliot 12

COOKING WITH KIDS BIG little Project

Cristian Pontiggia Sassella

oday, kids are more interested in technology, iPads, video games, things like that. Our aim is to teach them that cooking can be just as fun and exciting. I enjoy sharing a passion for cooking and realizing it’s possible to make healthy dishes they actually like. Cooking with Kids helps them build respect for eating something they’ve been a part of making, rather than bought off the shelf. They can take pride in the things they’ve made.

BIG CHEF Cristian little chef Leo 14

COOKING WITH KIDS BIG little Project

Chef Fernando Ruiz NANDOLLC

ooking with Kids needs to be implemented not just in New Mexico, but nationwide. It should be a part of all school curriculums. Kids, they’re sponges. They’ll take in the good and the bad. The reason I like the program is, of course, teaching them how to cook. Teaching them to respect the food and respect where it comes from.

BIG CHEF Fernando little chef Mayah 16

COOKING WITH KIDS BIG little Project

Chef Johnny Vee Las Cosas Cooking School

here’s always a Cooking with Kids instructor in class to help the kids and guide the chefs. It’s so much fun to get the kids engaged and share with them how to cook. We’re a little extra jazz. I’ve never had a kid say, no, I’m not going to try that. They’re always so curious. It’s like planting a seed. I love seeing them storing information away.

BIG CHEF Johnny little chef Grey 18

COOKING WITH KIDS BIG little Project

Chef Rocky Durham Palace Prime

hen you walk into a grade school classroom full of amazing young minds wearing your whites, all of a sudden, you’re a superhero.

I love that you can build in any lesson you want into a cooking class. We can teach history. We can teach about different cultures. And that’s a major component of the Cooking with Kids curriculum. BIG little photo coming soon.

Chef Martin Rios Restaurant Martín

’ve been involved with Cooking with Kids for at least 15 years. When I go to a school and spend time with the kids, it’s just fun seeing them running around, working together and making something they are able to eat. I get to spend time with the kids when they’re laughing and having fun. I’m learning how to become a better teacher, and that’s one of my primary goals for sometime in the future, to become a teacher. BIG little photo coming soon.

COOKING WITH KIDS BIG little Project

Cooking with Kids educates and empowers children and families to make healthy food choices through hands-on learning with fresh, affordable foods. We provide fun and positive experiences with healthy foods in school classrooms. We help school cafeterias use local food, cook from scratch, and successfully introduce new foods into the lunchroom.

Our programs are free to families.

Many families in Northern New Mexico can’t afford the risk of introducing healthy foods that their kids may refuse to eat. We know kids will eat their veggies. Most children need repeated, positive experiences with new foods in order to accept them. Cooking brings academics to life! Hands-on learning provides opportunities for students to practice essential literacy and math skills. We’re great at what we do, and we’re ready to grow. Independent researchers have found that Cooking with Kids’ unique hands-on approach increases kids’ preferences for fruits and vegetables. Cooking with Kids is recognized nationally as a leader in hands-on nutrition education for children. Teachers, parents, and kids want Cooking with Kids in their schools.