NUTRITION EDUCATION

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Nutrition Education program alleviates food insecurity and addresses the root causes of hunger by sharing knowledge for healthy living and teaching skills for self-sufficiency.

For more information of each of our classes and to register, please contact our Nutrition Education team here at Clark County Food Bank.

COOKING MATTERS

Cooking Matters is a national, research based cooking and nutrition curriculum. Throughout the course participants learn about healthy eating, strategies for grocery shopping and meal planning, food safety, and basic cooking skills. By the end of the course, participants are confident in their ability to shop for healthy foods on a budget and prepare healthy, affordable, home cooked meals leading to an increase in food security and self-sufficiency.

Following each of the classes, participants take home a bag of groceries to practice the cooking skills they learned in class.

Cooking Matters is offered at Clark County Food Bank and in partnership with other community organizations at various locations throughout Clark County.


COOKING MATTERS AT THE STORE

Cooking Matters at the Store is a one-time grocery store tour covering the basics of eating healthy on a budget. Participants meet at a local grocery store and walk through the aisles with a Nutrition Educator who shares tips and tricks for choosing healthy foods while grocery shopping on a budget.

Following the grocery store tour, participants will be given a $10 gift card to practice the skills they just learned.


SEED TO SUPPER

Seed to Supper is a comprehensive beginning gardening course that gives novice adult gardeners the tools they need to successfully grow a portion of their own food on a limited budget. From starting seeds to harvesting vegetables, this course will help participants get started on your gardening journey.

Seed to Supper is offered at Clark County Food Bank and in collaboration with host agencies throughout Clark County.

STUDENT NUTRITION AND COOKING (SNAC)

SNAC is a cooking and nutrition program specifically designed for middle school students. Through activities and hands-on recipe preparation, teens learn the basics of healthy eating that is both affordable and delicious. This program aims to increase confidence in the kitchen and equip teens with valuable life skills for independence and good health.

SNAC classes are offered at several middle schools throughout Vancouver and Evergreen school districts, as well as at multiple teen centers in Clark County.


GROWING HEALTHY FUTURES

The Growing Healthy Futures program embeds healthy habits for pre-school age children and families through hands on nutrition and gardening activities. This course is a collaboration with Education Opportunities for Children and Families (EOCF) and is taught at multiple sites across Clark County each year. The 12-week curriculum explores how plants grow from tiny seeds into healthy fruits and vegetables that fuel our bodies. The program also includes nutrition and gardening workshops for parents and caregivers of young children.

COOKING AND GARDENING WORKSHOPS

Clark County Food Bank offers a variety of Cooking, Nutrition and Gardening workshops, tailored to a variety of interests and topics. A few of the topics include:

  • Stretching Your Ingredients

  • Basic Pantry & Meal Planning

  • Cooking with Kids

  • Food Storage Tips & Tricks

  • Introduction to Knife Skills

  • Introduction to Container Gardening

  • Simple Composting

  • Planning Your Garden

  • Preparing Your Garden Beds

  • Beneficial Garden Insects


HEALTHY PANTRY PROJECT

This is a collaboration of our partner agencies with the goal of encouraging food pantry clients to make healthy choices while shopping at the pantry and while cooking at home. Activities include: facilitation of cooking demonstrations and samples for clients to encourage use of unfamiliar foods, recipe development and distribution, and leading training sessions for pantry volunteers.

Join the Effort in Serving Clark County

Do you have a passion for cooking, gardening, and nutrition? Then becoming a Nutrition Education volunteer might be a great fit for you! Opportunities include helping with nutrition workshops, gardening events, cooking classes, and grocery store tours.