The KICK - Kids in the Community Kitchen Program Toolkit

This toolkit is designed for anyone who is looking for a fun and interactive way to introduce children to healthy eating, cooking skills, and physical activity.

Parents, teachers, youth group leaders, and health care educators will find this toolkit easy-to-use and filled with “kid-tested and approved” activities that aim to increase children’s knowledge, skills and self-confidence so that they can make healthier lifestyle choices.

The key message in the KICK - Kids in the Community Kitchen Program Toolkit is that children are very able to be in the kitchen. It is important that children develop lifelong skills around cooking, nutrition, and healthy living and that an enjoyment of food and physical activity is created. Lessons focus on supporting and encouraging young cooks by allowing them to complete all tasks in the kitchen by themselves in an age appropriate manner.

The Volunteer Youth Leader Training Toolkit

This toolkit is a guide to involving youth leaders in food programs.

This toolkit is designed for community-based organizations, health care educators and those who work or want to work with youth volunteers. It includes great resources for the recruitment of youth, as well as four workshops on food safety, healthy eating, active living, and working with children.

What CONTACT learned from working with volunteer Youth Leaders was the intrinsic value of involving youth in teaching younger children about healthy eating and cooking. The kids who participated in the program benefited from positive role models, while the youth leaders developed lifelong skills around nutrition and healthy living.