York Region Launches Reel Recipes Video Contest for Youth and Promotes Home Cooking
York Region is celebrating Nutrition Month this March with two key initiatives that encourage residents to cook at home: the Let’s Cook campaign and the new Reel Recipes Video Contest for youth.
Let’s Cook: Encouraging Everyone to Get in the Kitchen
Let’s Cook reminds people that cooking is something anyone can do, no matter their age or skill level. Even small tasks—like washing vegetables, stirring a pot or helping set up ingredients—can bring families together and help build important life skills.
Cooking at home has many benefits:
- It builds confidence as people learn new skills or try new recipes
- It doesn’t require fancy tools—basic kitchen items are enough
- It supports healthier eating because you can control how much salt, sugar, and fat you use
- It helps families celebrate traditions and explore foods from different cultures
- It reduces waste when you plan meals and choose seasonal, local ingredients
- It brings people together and sharing a home cooked meal is an easy way to connect
Residents are encouraged to start small, learn as they go and enjoy the process. Tips and simple recipes are available at york.ca/LetsCook
Reel Recipes Video Contest for Youth
York Region is launching the Reel Recipes Nutrition Video Contest from March 1 to April 30, 2026. The contest is open to youth aged 14–18 who live or attend a secondary school in York Region.
Students are invited to tell their kitchen story by creating a 60–90 second video that shows:
- A recipe they enjoy making
- A cooking skill they’ve learned
- How they stay safe in the kitchen
- A food tradition or cultural dish that matters to them
- A tip or trick that makes cooking easy or fun
Entries will be judged by a panel of students, with prizes awarded to the top three submissions.
Share your recipe, your culture and your creativity and enter at york.ca/ReelRecipes
