Kids can sign up for free cooking, nutrition classes with St. Joe’s Ann Arbor

ANN ARBOR, MI — Hands-on nutrition and cooking classes are available at no charge for anyone age 12 to 14.

St. Joseph Mercy in Ann Arbor has 35 spots open for this Nutrition Buddies Research Program, a four-week virtual course from April to May for kids to explore science, nutrition, agriculture and leadership opportunities. Each participant will receive hands-on cooking instructions at home and a chance to create plant-based meals from scratch with St. Joe’s physicians, according to a news release.

“We know that poor nutrition is a major contributing factor of chronic disease in America, and people who experience food insecurity are at higher risk,” Alexandra Babcock, St. Joe’s lifestyle and culinary medicine coordinator, said in a statement. “By helping children establish healthy eating patterns, we empower them to live longer, healthier lives.”

Participants will receive a free membership to the St. Joe’s Farm Share for two seasons. The program works with 18 local farms to offer a variety of produce each week to customers in the community.

The program also offers lessons on using food as medicine and a chance to gain an understanding of caring for food insecure families. As of 2018, about 10% of residents in Washtenaw County were reported to be food insecure, according to Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap.

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