“Mini-Chef” Course Teaches Brazilian Kids About Nutrition
5 December 2022 |
SALVADOR, BAHIA, BRAZIL – A child development project between the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) and the UniFTC nutrition program has inspired a several-week cooking course in Brazil for 2-12 year olds. Launched in September, 2022, the program aims to help kids grow familiar with handling food and learn how to make simple recipes.
In an article posted by the South American Division Portuguese-language news site, coordinators share that, in addition to learning nutrition, the program “was designed for children with the aim of awakening the pleasure of cooking from different culinary cultures, exploring the full use of food according to the Food Guide for the Brazilian Population, and as a way of teaching economics in the kitchen.”
Several mothers of cooking class students were grateful for the opportunity offered by ADRA and UniFTC. For them, projects such as this develop their children in many ways. “I really enjoyed the evolution that my two children had. Now they have the autonomy to do things and learn about cooking, saving, and helping others. It was great to have this chance here in our neighborhood for our children,” said Sara dos Santos, mother of two Mini-Chef students.
According to Ane Caroline Casaes, nutritionist and professor at the UniFTC network, this dream initiative became a great learning experience. “The goal of the mini-chef cooking course is to foster growth in children. Growth results from children having contact with food and having food as a friend. Handling food is a very good way to start,” she said in an article posted by Adventist World.
In a special ceremony on November 1, 2022, 58 young chefs who completed the program were awarded a certificate. The partnership between ADRA and UniFTC is expected to continue with other mini-chef initiatives, organizers said.
