Over the past few years I have been a volunteer chef along with some friends at a local pre-school in my community. A large percentage of the pre-schoolers are homeless and in need of a warm, nutritious meal. They are provided with a daily warm breakfast, and lunch. Multiple groups/businesses take part in feeding the kids. Some dishes we have prepared in the past are: chicken pot pie, baked potatoes with all the fixings, Sweet Meatballs & Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes, baked ziti, and we always include fresh vegetables like brussels sprouts, or broccoli. We were amazed how the children really like the brussel sprouts! I boil them, then roast them in the oven with olive oil and sea salt.

Today we had the pleasure of cooking for the kids. We did a BBQ menu: pulled barbeque chicken, corn on the cob, slider rolls, cole slaw, & watermelon chunks. Everyone really enjoyed the meal.
At the pre-school, they also plant and grow a garden. The structure itself was built by a carpenter. There are big, bright colored windmills throughout the colorful garden. The children get to tend to the garden, and take a proactive role along with volunteers, caring for what they grow and eat. This teaches the kids that you need to care for the garden for it to grow. They also learn that fresh foods from the garden can taste good.

My sister works as a teacher in the inner city and they grow a garden for the kids as well. She applied for a grant through a state Agricultural Program. The money was used to create a garden of vegetables so that the students can learn that the food that they eat comes form nature (not cans) and that through their care and nurturing of the garden it will grow. This year they grew collard greens, lettuce and other greens to make soups and salads. They also have a class to teach them how to incorporate the fresh foods into their diets. This was particularly powerful for special needs children. It’s an ongoing program that teaches them various skills. Most importantly they learn how to grow their own food, which can be very cost effective, and healthier than processed foods.