A dash of mobility,a tablespoon of education mixed with a lot of hands-on learning is the recipe for a new community outreach initiative by Brenner FIT (Families in Training) – the Kohl’s Cooks mobile kitchen.
Brenner FIT, a pediatric obesity program of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center’sBrenner Children’s Hospital, was awarded a two-year grant by the department store chain Kohl’s, through its Kohl’s Cares program, to continue its ongoing support of children’s health and education initiatives in the local community. With this grant, Brenner FIT created the Kohl’s Cooks mobile kitchen.
Kohl’s Cooks mobile kitchen will serve low-income families twice a month in their own communities, removing the transportation challenges that some families face.
This new program will provide participants with interactive cooking classes led by a Brenner FIT chef. Classes also offer cooking tips, recipes and ideas on how families can economically shop for groceries and prepare inexpensive but nourishing meals.
“Over the last decade, Brenner FIT has found that instead of just teaching quick and healthy recipes, families have better results with hands-on instructions focused on how to cook, how to grocery shop and how to plan meals,” said Joseph Skelton, M.D., associate professor of pediatrics at Wake Forest Baptist. “Through our new Kohl’s Cooks mobile kitchen, we can offer this hands-on interaction to everyone in the community. These are essential skills if a child and family aim to eat healthier.”
The mobile kitchen, a utility-sized cargo van, is equipped with four large, removable carts with each containing the essentials of a kitchen: a small oven, a hotplate burner and a set of pots and pans. Each cart also provides utensils, tools and groceries, and has enough room for two adults and two children to prepare an entire meal.
Cooking classes offered by the Kohl’s Cooks mobile kitchen will last 90 minutes and are offered in both English and Spanish.
“With this practical experience, children and families will certainly be better supported in their journey to make healthy food choices,” Skelton said.
Media Relations
Eryn Johnson: eryjohns@wakehealth.edu, 336-713-8228
Joe McCloskey: jmcclosk@wakehealth.edu, 336-716-1273