Little Chefs, Big Change partners with Postmark for local culinary classes

The best part of the Little Chefs, Big Change cooking class being hosted by Postmark LaFollette is, of course, getting to sit down and eat what you made! Kids enjoy the fruits and veggies of their labor after Wednesday’s cooking class.

By Charlotte Underwood

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)-Postmark LaFollette partnered with Knoxville non-profit Little Chefs, Big Change to host fun and educational cooking classes at its youth culinary camp throughout the month of July. Classes take place on Wednesdays from 1 to 3 pm and around 14 area children have been enrolled in the cooking class since it began, according to Postmark LaFollette Summer Art Camp Coordinator Julie Van Arsdale. The program has been open to kids aged 10 to 17 and has been so popular that Postmark has had a waiting list all summer for it.

Over the past month, kids have learned how to make dishes they have never made before such as a tofu scrabble curry dish, homemade apple sauce, fresh spinach fruit smoothies, and more! All the menu items are plant-based and center around healthy eating.

Kids are learning that cooking can be fun and healthy at Postmark LaFollette’s summer cooking class!

Postmark organizers said a big “thank you to Sarah and Jen at Little Chefs, Big Change for their inspirational recipes” as well as a huge thanks to volunteers and sponsors.

Little Chefs, Big Change aims at teaching children about healthy eating and how to prepare home-cooked meals.

The finished product from Wednesday’s Little Chefs, Big Change cooking class held at Postmark LaFollette. This week, the kids will be making Asian inspired dishes!

Little Chefs, Big Change, “believes everyone deserves access to healthy foods and recognizes that even incremental changes towards a healthy diet can positively impact physical and mental health. They acknowledge the importance of exposing children to various foods, which can help prevent pickiness and promote a lifetime of healthy eating.”

This program was founded and is run by Sarah Wharton and the class in LaFollette is the “first outreach outside of Knoxville” for Little Chefs, Big Change.

The program attracted Van Arsdale, who went to Knoxville to sit in on a class and afterwards, she knew she wanted to bring it to LaFollette for Postmark as part of the summer camp program.

Kids are learning that cooking can be fun and healthy at Postmark LaFollette’s summer cooking class!

“When I saw what she was doing with these kids and with her menus, these are things that kids don’t get exposed to everyday, vegetables and different culinary dishes. Life can be fast, and a lot of people eat fast food these days. This program helps show kids that not only is food they make at home healthier, but it is also often cheaper and a more economical choice,” Van Arsdale said, adding that it was also about “teaching the kids that they can source their food from local growers and farmers right here in the county.”

In the meantime, the kids are “having a blast” and “love the cooking class”, according to Van Arsdale, who said the response to the class had been “wonderful” and that she hoped to continue having these classes and build on them as it was a “need” in the community.

Postmark LaFollette Summer Art Camp Coordinator Julie Van Arsdale watches as kids learn about cooking healthy meals through the Little Chefs, Big Change program.

She said Postmark is planning to apply for grants to continue this program and hopes to offer it after school in the future. Donations to Postmark are “always welcome” and help bring great programs like these free of charge to area children.

“I believe kids need to learn how to cook and now is the time to teach this to kids when they are at this age and can soak up knowledge and build good healthy eating habits that can last their lifetime.”

A NOTE FROM THE GRAND ON CENTRAL: “There is so much good going on in our community, and I want to share all this good with you every Monday here on WLAF in hopes that you will start your week in a grand way making each week a Grand Week,” said Olivia Lobertini, owner of The Grand on Central.

Below, take a visit through The Grand on Central.

For bookings, email Olivia Lobertini ohlobertini03@gmail.com. Check on avails HERE. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 07/22/2024-6AM)

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