Children Learn to Cook at Rutgers Cooperative Extension’s ‘Junior Chef’ Program

COURT HOUSE – Children ages 8 to 12 spent time this summer having fun while learning the basics of cooking at Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cape May County Family & Community Health Sciences’ (FCHS)Junior Chefs Cooking Camps.   Two sessions were held this summer for aspiring young chefs, Junior Chefs I for beginners and Junior Chefs II for those more experienced in the kitchen. Classes took place at Rutgers Cooperative Extension, 355 Court House-South Dennis Road, Cape May Court House, New Jersey. Both sessions were full.
Children are growing up with fast food and junk food at their fingertips, which is part of the reason why child obesity is on the rise! However, children are more likely to experiment with and taste food they have helped to prepare.  Through discussing healthy food choices and providing children opportunities to prepare healthy foods, we can help children to develop lifetime healthy habits.
Marilou Rochford, MA, CFLE, Rutgers Cooperative Extension Family & Community Health Sciences Educator said, “For children today, healthy eating means eating more fruits and vegetables, whole grains and beans, and choosing leaner types of animal foods and low-fat dairy.”
Rochford added,  “Our camps are a series of hands-on cooking classes that are engaging from start to finish. Our goal is to build awareness of healthy kid-friendly, good tasting and easy to prepare recipes and meals and to have fun too!  An added benefit of the classes are that we get to watch the children’s self-confidence grow as they learn new skills.”
For more information about programs offered by Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cape May County Family & Community Health Sciences, call 465-5115 ext. 3609.
Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cape May County helps both youth and adults improve their knowledge and skills, enhance their quality of life, and resolve problems in areas of food, nutrition, health and wellness; food safety; agriculture; environmental and natural resource management; and youth development.  This is accomplished through the use of science-based knowledge and university research.  Rutgers Cooperative Extension is an education organization within the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and is an equal opportunity program provider and employer. 
Rutgers Cooperative Extension’s education programs are offered to all without regard to race, religion, color, age, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or disability.