–by Mary Norton Yannuzzi
Early in the pandemic, learning was primarily virtual. But how do you teach nutritional education online to students while keeping them engaged and excited?
“We didn’t want to lose any of the positive traction we had gained before we went virtual,” says Rachel Amato, VBCPS district chef.
So, following a few brainstorm sessions, leadership and team members with the office of food services (OFS) landed on the idea of producing short, student-focused cooking lessons. Effectively, online cooking classes delivered on a platform that students use: YouTube.
“We have to meet children where they are,” says acting director of food services, Vicka Harrison, “and right now, they are very active online. So the videos are a great resource for our students.”
These videos aim to teach safe, proper and practical food handling and cooking skills.
“At first, the students participating were the children of staff or close friends, but now, we are happy to receive content proposals from any of our students or staff,” says Harrison.
This unique idea was also used to fulfill a requirement set forth by the federal government to provide enrichment capabilities for students that encourage healthy eating habits while in a virtual learning environment.
Chef Amato notes, “If you start nutritional education early, it becomes second nature. Then that helps the child make good nutritional choices throughout their entire life because it was ingrained in them when they were a child. Then, when they grow up, they teach their child, and so on. Nutritional education really affects everything.”
There are a variety of videos on the playlist from both students and staff. But all have one thing in common – yummy foods!
Some video topics include:
- How to make basil shrimp fried rice
- How to make banana sushi
- How to make an omelet
Each month more videos are added, and the full playlist can be found on the school division’s YouTube channel under the VBSchools Food Services playlist.
Are you interested in making a video to be considered for the OFS’ YouTube playlist? Chef Amato would love to talk with you! Please email Chef Rachel Amato at rachel.amato@vbschools.com your recipe idea. If you are a student, please seek parent/legal guardians’ permission first. Video ideas will be considered and reviewed, and if approved, your video may make it up on the OFS’ YouTube playlist.
Or, don’t want to make a video, but you love cooking? Check out these other division recipes!