Elementary & Middle School Food Education Program For NYC Students
A hands-on cooking and nutrition program for NYC elementary & middle School students, building confidence, curiosity, and healthy lifelong habits through real food experiences.
Tastemakers
Food Explorers
Family Table
Sensory Kitchen
Edible Kitchen
Sun, Soil, Sky
Food Explorers
Our signature hands-on cooking and nutrition program, teaching real skills through real food, building confidence and healthy mindsets. No kitchen required.
Program Overview
Food Explorers introduces students to the building blocks of healthy eating through hands-on cooking in the classroom. Each session builds foundational culinary skills, nutrition knowledge, and teamwork through easy-to-follow, culturally relevant recipes. Ideal for grades K–8, in-school, and after school introductory food education programs. Adaptable across grade levels, the program builds independence and food literacy in a joyful, engaging way, setting the foundation for lifelong healthy habits.
Absolutely loved this! Thank you. I think all classes would benefit. Very engaging and educational! Amazing job.
This was a very exciting and enjoyable experience. Our students loved participating and would love to have the opportunity to do it again! Thank you.
My students LOVED Chef Anasatasia and the creations they made! Many tried new foods for the first time and were surprised to learn they like these healthy alternatives.
My class enjoyed the session with Miss Clarissa. She listened to their questions and answered them with a smile. They enjoyed prepping the food especially cutting the different food items. Most of them tried the rainbow wrap and enjoyed it.
Program Details
Food Explorers is our signature hands-on cooking and nutrition program that transforms any classroom into a kitchen. No stove required. Students build real-world culinary skills while exploring healthy food choices, teamwork, and cultural traditions. Each lesson invites students to measure, mix, and prepare meals rooted in seasonal, affordable ingredients, sparking curiosity and strengthening food literacy through joyful, immersive learning.
This flexible 45-60-90 min in-school and after school program is ideal for any grade classrooms, and features bilingual, adaptive instruction and provides individual workstations for every student.
Topics Include
Kitchen safety & basic cooking techniques
Building a balanced plate
Seasonal & local ingredients
Healthy snacks & meals
Food and culture connections
Format
- Available in-person at schools & after-school sites
- Materials, ingredients, bilingual educators provided
- Includes kitchen tools for continued learning.
Sample lesson plan
“MyPlate Stir-Fry”
Activities
Standards Alignment: Common Core ELA (speaking, listening, reading), Health Ed (nutrition), Math (fractions, measurements).
Objective: Students will identify the five food groups using MyPlate and prepare a balanced stir-fry with seasonal produce.
Quick intro: MyPlate and importance of balanced meals.
Hands-on prep: slicing, sautéing, seasoning.
Team discussion: “What’s in your stir-fry and why?” Observe the balance in ingredients.
Cultural Connection: Discuss what cultures cook stir-fry and how it’s adapted in other cultures.
Tasting and cleanup: Students sent home with recipe cards to prepare with families.
Bring The Joy of Hands-On Learning
Back to Your School
