Food Education Program
When Father Fred's Operations Manager, Norm Bamberg,
mentioned that some of his clients did not know what to do with a potato, we realized rescuing food was not enough.
To really give that potato a chance to be eaten, the person receiving it needed to learn how to cook it. That was the day the Food Education Program was born!
Since March of 2010, community volunteers, with a love for food and a knack for teaching, have been giving weekly food samplings at Father Fred during client open hours.
Recipes using healthy ingredients are developed by these volunteers and prepared off-site at a licensed kitchen (the lead volunteers have completed ServSafe Training and are well versed in safe cooking techniques.)
Recipes and all the ingredients necessary to prepare the sampled dish are given to the clients during the demonstration. The response has been fabulous!
At first, clients were hesitant to sample the food. Glazed carrots, rhubarb lentil soup, tabouleh and rice fritters are not familiar dishes for lots of people.
After weeks of coaxing and persistance by the volunteers, folks started sampling before the sample table was even fully set up!
Today we give out an average of 70 samples per week and often give 45-50 bags of groceries with recipes to the clients.
Our goal is to utilize rescued food as well as normally stocked pantry commodities in our demos. We are compiling a comprehensive recipe base often using seasonally fresh foods. We also are encouraging pantries to stock the oils, vinegars, soup bases and seasonings that are necessary ingredients for cooking with fresh foods.
Next, we are planning to expand food preparation demos for Goodwill Inn clients.
If you are a talented cook willing to share tips with folks who have not had a chance to learn kitchen basics, contact Cathy Cooley-Wedow at 231-944-6717 to learn how you can help.
Remember, the best way to good health and happiness is healthy eating! Help us give everyone a chance for good health too!
Food Rescue of Northwest Michigan ~ Putting good food to good use.
About Food Rescue :::
Copyright 2008-2011 - Food Rescue of Northwest Michigan
Food Rescue of Northwest Michigan
2279 South Airport Road W. Traverse City, MI 49684
Phone (231) 995-7723 Fax (231) 922-2053
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