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Cooking with Kids educates and empowers children and families to make healthy food choices through hands-on nutrition education with fresh, affordable foods.

When kids help prepare healthy foods, they’re more likely to eat and enjoy them!

In Our School Classrooms

We provide fun and positive experiences with healthy foods and give kids confidence in the kitchen.

Started in 1995, Cooking with Kids serves over 6,000 children in Northern New Mexico every year.

In Our School Cafeterias

We help school cafeterias use local food, cook from scratch, and successfully introduce new foods into the lunchroom.

Local chefs and farmers share their expertise to create cafeteria-culinary connections.

In Our Communities

We build classroom-to-kitchen bridges that support healthy eating efforts at home.

Cooking classes provide a non-intimidating environment where family volunteers feel they can contribute with their knowledge of food, cooking, and a desire to help their child.

Read more about our specific programs.

I love to cook because I can express myself in a way with foods. Also because I get to see what foods go well with each other and have great taste!

Carmen, age 11Cooking with Kids participant

The program allows students to try new foods, encourages healthy habits, and opens their eyes to a wider world.

Kindergarten TeacherAmy Biehl Community School, Santa Fe, NM

I volunteer with Cooking with Kids because it is important to teach our kids how to cook healthy meals as a team safely in the kitchen. It is a great learning experience we can learn and then do at home. This program has taught my two boys the importance of eating healthy and being safe in the kitchen.

Parent VolunteerGonzales Community School, Santa Fe, NM

New Mexico is currently ranked last in the nation for child well-being.

Children living in poverty are especially at risk for food insecurity,
diet-related chronic illnesses, and low academic success.

In New Mexico. . .

Our programs are free to families.

Cooking with Kids prioritizes programming in schools where 50% or more of students qualify for free or reduced-price school meals.

We know kids will eat their veggies.

Providing nutrient-rich foods only works if kids choose to eat them. Our unique hands-on approach gets kids excited about eating healthy foods.

Our programs reinforce academics.

Hands-on learning provides opportunities for students to practice essential literacy and math skills.

We learn about our world when we cook.

We take care of ourselves when we cook.

We use math and science when we cook.

Your support matters.

When kids are healthy and successful in school, everybody wins.

Donate Today
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