A showcase of my culinary skills!
Mittelweiden daycare, run by the Caritas association in Koblenz, has embarked on an exciting journey towards sustainable and child-friendly nutrition. Over a period of ten months, 100 children aged two to thirteen participated in the "I can cook" project, which aimed to introduce sustainable foods and unknown spices to the young minds.
The project was a collaborative effort, supported by the Sarah Wiener Foundation and Barmer health insurance. The foundation, dedicated to promoting healthy, sustainable eating habits among children and young people, provided educational materials, expert guidance, and resources for the cooking project. Barmer, a major health insurance provider in Germany with a commitment to preventive health care and promoting healthy lifestyles, supported the initiative financially and offered health expertise.
The project was more than just a cooking class. Each session saw the children actively participating in preparing various dishes, from healthy fruit skewers to whole grain noodles with spicy sauce, fresh bread with dips, and baked oats with berries. The menu was carefully crafted to include regional and seasonal products, fostering a connection to food from an early age.
Melanie Priesteroth, the kindergarten teacher, continued to work as a 'taste ambassador' in the kindergarten, ensuring that the children enjoyed every bite. The cooking experience was considered important for the children's personality development, as it encouraged creativity, teamwork, and self-confidence.
The project days, organized by the kindergarten, were designed to give children a sense of achievement. In addition to cooking classes, these days included visits to farms, supermarket shopping training, and other educational activities. The children were proud to have prepared the dishes themselves, sitting at the laden table after each session.
The sustainable cooking project at Mittelweiden daycare is a shining example of how early education can foster a lifelong appreciation for healthy, sustainable eating habits. Through hands-on learning and collaboration with reputable organizations, the children are equipped with the knowledge and skills to make informed food choices, contributing to their overall well-being and helping to create a more sustainable future.
- The Sarah Wiener Foundation, a partner in the project, focuses on promoting education about healthy, sustainable food-and-drink and cooking among children and young people.
- As part of the lifelong-learning aspect of the project, the children were also taken on visits to farms to learn about other sources of food-and-drink and the farming process.
- In addition to gaining practical cooking skills, the children learned about the importance of healthy-cooking and the benefits it has on their health and lifestyle.
- The project not only enhanced the children's home-and-garden knowledge but also equipped them with skills that can be applied in education-and-self-development throughout their lives.
- Recipes for the dishes cooked during the project were carefully documented, providing other parents, daycares, and schools with resources for implementing similar sustainable cooking initiatives.