'Kids In The Kitchen' Healthy Cooking Class Nourishes Minds And Bodies

MOUNT VERNON, NY —Feeding Westchester teamed up with the Mount Vernon City School District to bring pre-K families a special interactive "Kids in the Kitchen" presentation.

The event began with a presentation about the five food groups and encouraged students to try different foods. Parents also had the opportunity to learn a few tips about the benefits of good nutrition and healthy meal planning tips, and how to create simple, healthy snacks for their children.

See Also: Never Too Many Chefs In This Kitchen: New Culinary Lab Sizzles

"We hosted a healthy cooking class to promote positive nutrition for our students and families," Gayle White-Wallace, Director of Pre-K, Gifted snd Talented and Special Projects, explained.

Students and their families then moved into the kitchen where they made pizza and zucchini brownies.

"Different types of food make our bodies run differently," Monique Marshall, registered dietitian and manager at Feeding Westchester, told the pint-sized chefs. "The types of foods that we put into our bodies, will determine if we are strong and healthy."

Mount Vernon High School culinary students, along with culinary teacher, Chef Samantha Cohen, were there to help the families as well.

"It’s great to see the smiles on their faces," said Stessy Lovinsky, a junior at Mount Vernon High School.

"They are the next generation of chefs," Senior Makayla Williams agreed.