CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. — Kids across Western New York are getting a lesson in health and wellness through nutrition thanks to a program through FeedMore WNY.
"Kids in the Kitchen" is a five-week program that's available for schools, churches, and community centers. It's free and open to anyone who's interested, though FeedMore's nutrition education programs do place an emphasis on those facing food insecurity.
Students at Maryvale Middle School just wrapped up their last session. FeedMore's nutrition outreach coordinator, Perry Schmidt, visited once a week on Monday afternoons, after school, to teach kids how to incorporate the different food groups into their diets — and taught them how to cook.
"I didn't know how to cut many veggies and fruits yet, and then I learned how to do that," seventh grader Aliana Bielecki, said.
Physical education teacher Erik Keller helps with the program. He plans to continue the program on his own over the next five weeks.
"These guys are good. They are on it. We've broken into teams every time and come back and have a family dinner every time," Keller said. "It's a great thing, and when we continue with the next five weeks, we'll have a series of new challenges for these guys, so when we're not with them, they're making healthy choices, especially when they go out to eat or at a shopping market."
Students also get take-home bags so they can make meals with their families.
"Each week covers one of the five food groups from the USDA my plate guideline. We give a quick nutrition education session, open discussion, get the kids involved and then we get into the cooking portion," Schmidt said. "The focus for me is adding healthy foods into the diet not focusing on the things we try to restrict."
In the end, the kids get much more than a cooking lesson.
"The biggest thing for me is seeing that kid in week one that is quiet, reserved, to themselves, scared to handle a knife, and by week five, they're the ones talking the most in class and answering all of the questions," Schmidt said.