Cooking Matters

In partnership with Share Our Strength, Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana launched Cooking Matters in January 2011.  The Cooking Matters program consists of practical nutrition information, hands-on food preparation, and food budgeting and shopping. All participants receive recipes and other educational materials from the lessons, and adult and teen participants take home a bag of groceries to practice what they’ve learned in class at home.

Cooking Matters provides at risk families the skills, knowledge and confidence to make healthy and affordable meals through a hands-on six week series of classes.   The classes are taught by volunteer culinary and nutrition experts that teach participants how to select and prepare nutritious low-cost ingredients.  Cooking Matters is comprised of six curriculums that include; Cooking Matters for Adults, Cooking Matters for Teens, Cooking Matters for Families, Cooking Matters for Kids, Cooking Matters for Child Care Professionals and Cooking Matters for Young Parents.

To date, Second Harvest has conducted classes for adults and teens with plans to expand to other age groups in the near future. 

Cooking Matters relies heavily on volunteer support from local chefs, Dietitians and classroom assistants.  If you are interested in volunteering with this vital program, please contact Julie Schwartz at jschwartz@secondharvest.org or Tanya O’Reilly at toreilly@secondharvest.org. 

If you would to like to donate to the Cooking Matters program we would like the following items:
o Mixing bowls
o Pots and pans
o Mixing spoons
o Baking dishes
o Cookie sheets
o Kitchen towels
o Aluminum foil
o Plastic bags – quart and freezer sized
o Plastic wrap
o Plastic forks, spoons and knives
o Paper towels
o Plastic cups

For more information about the Cooking Matters program, please contact Julie Schwartz at 504-729-6330.