“Curious Chefs” returns: Agapè Centre offers FREE cooking program to youth

Cornwall, Ontario – The Agapè Centre is delighted to announce the return of “Curious Chefs: Cooking Club for Kids.”

Back by popular demand, this summer’s sold out program will offer two more sessions starting February 24^th, thanks to a generous donation from the Rotary Club of Cornwall Sunrise.

The 5-week cooking class teaches healthy eating on a budget, and focuses on kitchen safety, healthy school snacks and lunches, portion size, the four major food groups, food labels, and of course, lots of cooking and eating.

The budding chefs will prepare an entrée and dessert at each session, with enough to spare to bring some leftovers home.

“We are very grateful to have the Sunrise Rotary sponsor another round of the Curios Chefs Program as it proved quite successful the first go around,” said Alyssa Blais, executive director of the Agapè Centre. “It’s important to the Agapè Centre to have food literacy programs as part of our core services,”

More than 75 children took part in “Curious Chef” during the summer of 2014, and the program was completely booked within 2 weeks of opening registration.

“I’m so excited that we will be offering more healthy cooking classes to the youth in our Community,” said Margaret Malyon, program facilitator. “I’ve heard from parents of past participants that their kids have taken an active role in wanting healthy choices for lunches and snacks at school, and that they help in the preparation of their own food.”

The program also offers creative activities and learning opportunities, like a “Fear Factor” every week that challenges the youth to try new or exotic healthy foods, like kale, tofu, or pomegranate.

“We were able to reach a lot of kids during the summer and I hope that this trend continues for years to come,” she said

The Rotary Club of Cornwall Sunrise is enthusiastic about this program too, and sees it as a significant step in the development of good nutrition habits.

“It is important that young people learn the value of nutrition and of well-prepared, balanced meals.” said club president Scott Sayers. “The skills they learn through this program will last a lifetime.”

Youth between the ages of 10-16 can participate free of charge, and will receive a kitchen starter kit, which includes a rice cooker, to take home at the end of the program.

The program will take place in the soup kitchen at the Agapè Centre on Tuesday nights from 4:00-6:30pm. The first session runs February 24 to March 24, and the second from March 31 to April 28.

To register, visit the reception desk at the Agapè Centre (40 Fifth Street West).

For more information visit www.agapecentre.ca or contact reception: 613-938-9297 ext. 26.

Programs are open to anyone in the community.