As a professional chef with food allergies, I know how important it is to cook and eat healthy. I changed my health and life through food. After being diagnosed with allergies to dairy, gluten, and sugar I had to go back to the drawing board.
I learned to find healthy alternatives to traditional ingredients that I would have never sought out otherwise. I still have a gourmet palate, and that is why it took me 10 years to create a revolutionary way to cook and bake that is much healthier than what I was familiar with from childhood. I decided to share this with the world in my cookbook and on my blog site, No Wheat No Dairy No Problem. Then, I started teaching cooking classes.
I find so much joy in teaching cooking to children and teens. I love teaching adults, but there is something about the high level of curiosity and excitement in kids that is so fun. In teaching kids’ cooking classes we discuss a myriad of subjects that reaches far beyond cooking. We chat about math, science, the environment, pesticides and neuro-endocrine disrupters, blood sugar and health, nutrition, meal planning, food and kitchen safety and sanitation, composting, gardening, and more.
Cooking Camps Immerse Students in Rewards of Cooking
The upcoming Cooking Camps for kids and teens at the Westside New Leaf Community Markets will expand children’s knowledge and minds as well as build their self-esteem. The sheer joy and elation that they walk away with each day and by the end of the week is priceless. They will have the confidence and enthusiasm to cook an entire meal for themselves, their family, and friends. They will have learned new skills that can be applied for immediate gratification and satisfaction.
The Kids’ Cooking Camp teaches them at an early age, hopefully before the teen junk food stage, that they are empowered to make healthy choices. They can be more independent and make food for themselves when they need or desire. Rather than just ordering fast food and going for the packaged convenience food, if you can call it food, they can cook healthy, nutritious, and delicious food.
I introduce the students to healthier alternative ingredients to white flour, white sugar, and dairy, and they love it. On the last day of the week-long Kids’ Cooking Camp, when I ask the kids to share with the class what their favorite things were about the week, I am pleasantly surprised at their answers. They all talk about the new ingredients and skills they learned! I thought they would name the desserts and yummy food, yes they did love that too, but they took away the more important concepts.
Getting kids off on the right foot and onto a path of thriving is what is so important to me. Building their self-esteem is more important than even cooking. I think they look an inch taller by the end of the week due to feeling more confident and proud! That touches my heart the most, to know that I am reaching them at a deep level and giving them life skills they will always have to take wherever life may lead them.
Teens Class Teaches Sautéing, Baking, and Braising
In the Teens class, students will learn basic cooking techniques -- sautéing, baking, and braising -- and gain the knowledge to make delicious meals, from breakfast, lunch, and dinner to snacks and dessert. The class will make new versions of teen’s favorites -- Oven Fried Chicken, Asian Stir Fry, Chili, Cake Decorating and more. This will also be an Allergy Friendly Class: No Gluten, No Dairy, None of the top 8 allergens, yet so delicious you will not even believe it's allergy friendly, with vegetarian options too.
Cooking Camp Dates
Kids Age 7 – 12 Cooking Camps will be offered: June 17 – 21 (11 am – 2 pm), July 8 – 12 (11 am – 2 pm), and August 5 – 9 (11 am – 2 pm)
Teens’ Cooking Camps will be offered: July 22 – 26 (11 am – 2 pm), and August 19 - 23 (11 am - 2 pm)
The cost of camp is $150 and includes lunch daily and will be held at New Leaf Community Markets at 1101 Fair Ave.,Santa Cruz. Pre-registration is required. To register, visit www.newleaf.com or call 831-426-1306 ext. 0.
By Chef and Cookbook Author Lauren Hoover-West
