MORE Jersey primary school children will be able to learn practical cooking skills from September under a new classroom-based programme designed for schools without dedicated cooking facilities.
The initiative, called Food Explorers, will initially be introduced in a handful of schools before Caring Cooks of Jersey hopes to expand it across the Island.
It will run alongside the charity’s long-running Let’s Get Cooking programme.
Unlike the existing scheme, which relies on school kitchens, Food Explorers has been designed to allow practical food lessons to take place in ordinary classrooms, enabling schools without specialist facilities to take part.
Using a carousel approach, pupils will rotate through a series of activities, with one group preparing food while others complete classroom tasks linked to the recipe and wider learning themes.
Recipes will include fruit kebabs, flatbreads, sandwiches, wraps, stir-fries and couscous dishes, with pupils also learning about nutrition, ingredients and healthy food choices.
The programme was developed by Caring Cooks learning and development manager Rachael Higo after the charity recognised that not every child has the opportunity to cook at home and not every school has access to dedicated cooking facilities.
It builds on the charity’s Let’s Get Cooking programme, which has been running in Jersey primary schools since 2017.
Caring Cooks chief executive Yvonne Corbin said the charity’s core mission had always been to educate children about food.
“People often see the community support side of Caring Cooks of Jersey, but our main focus has always been education around food,” she explained.
“We know that children are much more likely to try new foods when they have prepared them themselves.
“Our ambition is simple. We want every child in Jersey to leave primary school with the confidence to prepare simple, healthy meals and an understanding of the role food plays in their health and wellbeing.”
Public Health Jersey has reviewed the programme and said it supports its aims ahead of its launch.
Beau Waugh from Public Health Jersey said: “Helping children build confidence around food from a young age is an important part of supporting healthier habits for the future.
“Food Explorers makes food education practical, accessible and engaging, and we look forward to seeing the impact it has in classrooms across the Island.”
Schools interested in finding out more about the Food Explorers programme can contact Caring Cooks directly.
