CookShop is a core nutrition education program of Food Bank For New York City, providing low-income children and adults with the knowledge and tools to adopt and enjoy a healthy diet and active lifestyle on a limited budget. With hands-on workshops reaching thousands of New Yorkers across all five boroughs, CookShop teaches nutrition and physical activity information, as well as cooking skills, fostering enthusiasm for fresh, affordable fruits, vegetables and other whole foods.

Target Behavior: Healthy Eating, Physical Activity

Intervention Type: Direct Education, PSE change

CookShop targets children and their adult caregivers/parents in New York City to fight childhood hunger, obesity, and diet-related disease. CookShop is implemented in classrooms in the elementary and after-school setting reaching K—5^th graders and children ages 6-12.

Setting: School, Community

Target Audience: Elementary School, Middle School, Adults

Race/Ethnicity: All

CookShop takes a “train-the-trainer” approach by utilizing local community centers and elementary and after-school classes to educate children and adults on healthy eating and an active lifestyle. CookShop consists of two different program components:

• CookShop Classroom
  • CookShop Classroom for Elementary School and CookShop Classroom for After-School use hands-on exploration, cooking and physical activity to foster children’s enjoyment and consumption of healthy food.
• CookShop for Families
  • CookShop for Families is a complementary program for parents and adult guardians in schools that participate in CookShop Classroom, with the goal of engaging whole families involved in making healthy choices.

Program implementers within each of the two CookShop components receive:

• Comprehensive, interactive training and support from Food Bank staff
• Curriculum materials
• Food needed to implement the program successfully
• Supplies and equipment needed to implement the program successfully

Materials available at no cost.

Several peer-reviewed studies have evaluated the effectiveness of CookShop. In 1998, Liquori and colleagues found a positive association between participating in CookShop and food preferences, knowledge, and plate waste in both younger and older children. An association was also found between participating in CookShop and behavioral intention in younger children and cooking self-efficacy in older children.

Additionally, in 2003, Quinn and colleagues found that CookShop participants showed a difference in food exposure and willingness to try new foods (although no change was found in participants’ dietary habits).

In 2018, Altarum Institute conducted an impact evaluation to determine the extent to which CookShop promotes healthy eating and physical activity behaviors among participants. Findings show that CookShop participation was associated with an increase in children’s willingness to try new fruit and vegetables and a decrease in SSB consumption. Participating children in CookShop program also exhibiting positive behaviors by increasing the number of days in which they engage in physical activity; and decreasing the amount of time they spend in front of a screen.

Classification: Research-tested

Based on the SNAP-Ed Evaluation Framework, the following outcome indicators can be used to evaluate intervention progress and success.

	Readiness and Capacity – Short Term (ST)	Changes – Medium Term (MT)	Effectiveness and Maintenance – Long Term (LT)	Population Results (R)
Individual	ST1, ST2, ST3	MT1, MT2, MT3	LT1, LT2, LT3
Environmental Settings
Sectors of Influence		MT12

Currently, no evaluation materials are publicly available.

CookShop:

https://snaped.fns.usda.gov/success-stories/cookshop

 

Website: The CookShop website (https://www.foodbanknyc.org/cookshop-in-schools/) includes information on the various CookShop program components and other resources.

Contact Person(s):

Caitlin Fitzpatrick, Associate Director Nutrition & Health Services
Phone: 212-566-7855, Ext: 8359
Email: cfitzpatrick@foodbanknyc.org

Food Bank For New York City
39 Broadway, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10006
Email: CookShop@foodbanknyc.org

 

*Updated as of August 20, 2023