Programs and Services Offered - Elementary Schools
You're the Chef
You're the Chef is a vegetable and fruit promotion program that uses basic cooking lessons to help grade 6, 7 and 8 students establish better eating habits. The program runs once a week for 3 weeks after school. Students learn how to make 2 simple healthy recipes and gain basic cooking skills and proper food preparation and safe food handling.
How to Get Involved in You're the Chef?
- School registration: Registration for the You're the Chef program takes place two times a year. Your school will receive notice of registration in October and January. To receive the most current resources (e.g., Leader's manual, new recipes), it is important for all schools who offer You're the Chef to register with York Region Community and Health Services each year
- How much does You're the Chef cost?: You're the Chef is a free program offered to elementary schools in York Region. Schools need to purchase the recipe ingredients which cost about $150.00 for all 3 sessions. Schools will also need to have basic cooking equipment to run the program. A limited number of 'cooking kits' can be borrowed from York Region Community and Health Services, Nutrition Services. To learn if a cooking kit is available, please call 1-800-735-6625 ext. 4335
- You're the Chef is run by volunteers: If you're a parent, grandparent, teacher, university/college or secondary school student with an interest in helping kids cook and to eat healthy, this volunteer opportunity is for you. Volunteers are recruited and selected by the registered schools
- Training sessions for volunteers: It is mandatory for at least 1 volunteer leader from each school to participate in a training session offered by York Region Community and Health Services. Training sessions are offered bi-annually in October and February. Exact dates will be confirmed closer to the training sessions
Program Support Materials
- Leader's manual: Volunteers will receive a Leader's manual (1 per school) which includes nutrition and food safety information as well as recipes for each of the 3 sessions
- Promotional materials: We encourage you to promote You're the Chef to let the entire school community know about the program. Keeping people informed will build support for the program and might interest others to volunteer some help
- Student certificate: All students who participate in the program are acknowledged by receiving a You're the Chef participating certificate
Success to Share
Read about how You're the Chef has been successfully implemented in elementary schools across York Region.
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