75°
73º | 86°
In a bid to promote healthy eating habits and agriculture literacy, HISD’s Nutrition Services Department has collaborated with Berry Elementary School to engage students in fun and educational cooking demonstrations. The initiative, spearheaded by HISD’s Chef Brittany Jones and registered dietitians Gabby Villarreal and Nathan Raska, aims to make healthy cooking enjoyable for elementary students.
During these interactive sessions, Jones, Villarreal, and Raska guide students through the preparation of simple and nutritious recipes that they can replicate at home. Some of the dishes featured in these demonstrations include bok choy noodle crisp salad, pizza-flavored popcorn, and chocolate brownies made from beets.
Raska emphasized the importance of these sessions, stating, "Meeting the kids where they’re at is both fun for us and easier for the schools, for the teachers, because they don’t have to do anything." He highlighted the enriching nature of the experience for the students, providing them with a break from the traditional classroom setting while imparting valuable knowledge about food and nutrition.
In addition to cooking demonstrations, the sessions also incorporate interactive activities to further engage the students. Raska led the students in a game of bingo, where they learned about various food groups by sorting different foods into the correct categories.
Reflecting on the overall objective of the initiative, Raska remarked, “The overall goal is to help our kids learn a little bit more about food, build an appreciation, and really foster a positive relationship with their food.” These efforts align with the broader mission of Nutrition Services and the HISD Food and Agriculture Literacy Center to educate students and contribute positively to the community.
For more information on the diverse educational initiatives undertaken by Nutrition Services and the HISD Food and Agriculture Literacy Center, interested individuals can visit their website.