Cooking Classes Build Confidence  

Fountain Gate Secondary College jumped at the opportunity to have the Cooking Class program at their school. Wellbeing Coordinator Kerry was keen to get involved as she knew it would be a great way to promote healthy eating, as well as build practical kitchen skills. She also knows that food brings people together, and that Cooking Classes would go a long way in strengthening family relationships.  

And that’s what they got – plus a whole lot more! The program made a lasting impact on both students and their families. 

Beyond strengthening relationships between staff and families, the classes created a space for students to connect meaningfully with their parents and opened the door to positive communication channels. 

Something for everyone

Students of varying backgrounds and interests found value in the program.  One student, initially hesitant to participate, quickly found that he had gained confidence in the kitchen and developed his knife skills. He especially enjoyed making rice paper rolls and the okonomiyaki which he enjoyed cooking for his family at home – something he never envisioned. 

Another student, who has a long-standing love for cooking, appreciated the opportunity to deepen her knowledge in a fun and hands-on environment. She learned how to prepare new healthy and nutritious meals while spending quality time with her mum, something that’s getting harder and harder to do. Busy family schedules have been a bit of a time thief, so cooking classes were a welcome activity. 

But the most surprising transformation came from a student who had always been a very picky eater. A self-confessed chicken nugget fan, this student was inspired by the facilitators and fresh produce to try new vegetables – even discovering they liked things they had convinced themselves they didn’t. The cherry on top was the increased confidence in the kitchen, from knife handling to food safety and everything in between. 

Confidence, Connection and Commitment to Healthy Eating

The inclusion of take-home food hampers from Foodbank Victoria allowed families to try recipes together outside the classroom. Many reported that they’d begun to incorporate the recipes into their regular meal planning, promoting healthier eating habits at home and encouraging their children to take a more active role in family cooking. 

Fountain Gate Secondary College welcomed our facilitator, Jane into their kitchen with open arms. But if given the opportunity to welcome a guest chef to Cooking Classes, they unanimously chose Jamie Oliver—renowned for his commitment to healthy eating and inspiring young people to love food. 

Testimonials

Parents and carers saw the benefits reach beyond the classroom:   

“This program has definitely helped him become more confident” said one mum. ‘Not only in the kitchen and cooking, but also within himself. We are so grateful for the opportunity.” 

 

“Doing these cooking classes has given me the opportunity to spend quality one-on-one time with my daughter and help her gain skills she will use throughout her life.” 

 

“This program is amazing. I’ve enjoyed learning new recipes and using produce I wouldn’t normally use. It has broadened my horizons.” 

 

“This seems to good to be true. From organisation, to preparation and relationships, this program is absolutely amazing! We have been so pleased that our school can be part of this program and that it benefitted so many different families within our school. Between the onsite cooking classes and the food hampers, 24 families have benefited from this program. It is lovely to see the families come together to cook and prepare a healthy meal together. Their teamwork and bonding as a family has also been wonderful to watch throughout this program. This is something that we would most definitely recommend to others,” – Kerry Gore, school contact coordinating the Cooking Classes.