Cook It Yourself Program

The Cook it Yourself program is a 1 on 1 person-centered cooking initiative designed to empower our participants, whom we refer to as Chefs, with the skills to prepare their own meals. Each Chef is paired with a personal sous’ chef (one of our employees) who provides guidance and assistance throughout the meal preparation process.

Key Features:

1. Personalized Assistance

• Each participant works one-on-one with a sous chef.

• The sous chef assists with meal preparation, ensuring that the Chef gains confidence and skills to prepare meals independently.

2. Hands-On Learning

• The program focuses on teaching practical cooking skills that our chefs can use in their daily lives.

• Chefs learn to prepare single meals from start to finish.

3. You Take What You Make Policy

• Chefs have the option to take home what they prepare during the session.

• Alternatively, they can choose to enjoy their prepared meal for lunch.

4. Empowerment and Independence

• The goal is to build self-reliance in meal preparation.

• Chefs gain a sense of accomplishment by creating their own meals.

Benefits:

• Individualized Attention: Ensures that each participant receives the support they need to succeed.

• Skill Development: Practical cooking skills that promote independence and healthy eating habits.

• Enhanced Confidence: Builds self-confidence through hands-on, guided cooking experiences.

Grow Your Own Program

Grow Your Own program is dedicated to teaching our chefs the skills necessary to grow, maintain, and harvest their own food. This hands-on program emphasizes the entire process of food production, from planting seeds to enjoying the harvest in our cooking lessons.

Key Features:

1. Indoor Gardening Setup

• We use GreenStalk 5-tier hydroponic towers and 18-gallon tote containers.

• The garden is fully indoors, equipped with grow lights to simulate sunlight and ensure healthy plant growth.

2. Educational Goals

• Nutritional Value: Educating chefs on the nutritional benefits of fresh, home-grown produce.

• Grow Value: Understanding the value and satisfaction of cultivating one's own food.

• Pride in Cultivation: Building self-reliance and pride through the hands-on experience of growing and using their own produce.

3. Practical Involvement

• Chefs will actively participate in maintaining and cultivating the garden.

• The program includes a dedicated room within the facility specifically for indoor gardening.

4. Culinary Integration

• The harvested produce will be used directly in our cooking lessons, allowing chefs to experience the full cycle from seed to plate.

  Benefits:

• Enhanced Learning: Practical gardening skills that promote healthy eating and self-sufficiency.

• Hands-on Experience: Real-life application of gardening techniques and food production.

• Holistic Approach: Combines agricultural education with culinary skills for a comprehensive learning experience.

Shop Smart Program

Our chefs will gain firsthand experience with food by participating in shopping trips twice a month. These excursions include visits to local farmers markets and supermarkets, And food banks with a focus on farmers markets that accept EBT, as many of our chefs are likely enrolled in the SNAP Program. Our goal is to teach chef’s how to shop healthily and within a budget.

Key Features:

1. Bi-Monthly Shopping Trips

• Farmers Markets: Visits to local farmers markets that accept EBT to support chef’s using SNAP benefits.

• Supermarkets: Trips to supermarkets to understand diverse shopping environments and options

• Food banks: Trips and conversations on where and how to find them.

2. Educational Focus:

• Healthy Shopping: Teaching chefs to identify and select nutritious food options.

• Budgeting: Providing strategies for shopping effectively within a budget, emphasizing cost-effective and healthy choices.

3. Hands-On Learning:

• Chef’s will actively engage in shopping for ingredients they will later use in cooking lessons, allowing them to practice what they've learned in a real-world setting.

Benefits:

• Nutritional Education: Enhances chef’s' knowledge about healthy food choices and nutritional value.

• Financial Literacy: Equips chefs with skills to manage their food budget efficiently.

• Empowerment: Encourages self-reliance and confidence in making healthy, budget-friendly food decisions.

Getting Together Makes Us Better

Our mission extends beyond teaching independence in cooking and growing your own food. We also aim to promote self-reliance and self-confidence in socializing through our monthly meet-and-greet events. These events are open to all differently abled individuals, along with their partners, family, and friends.

Event Details:

1. Monthly Meet-and-Greets

• Inclusivity: Open to all differently abled people and their support networks.

• Alternating Themes:

• Every Other Month: Events inspired by the Netflix show "Love on the Spectrum" to promote relationships and social interactions.

• Off Months: General social events featuring music, sometimes with performances by local bands.

2. Goals and Benefits:

• Social Confidence: Helping chef’s build self-reliance and self-confidence in social settings.

• Relationship Building: Creating opportunities for chefs to form meaningful relationships.

• Natural Supportive Networks: Being a catalyst in forming self-sufficiency groups of challenged individuals.

• Community Engagement: Encouraging a supportive community atmosphere.

Our Getting Together Makes Us Better initiative is designed to provide a supportive environment where differently abled individuals can enhance their social skills, build relationships, and enjoy a sense of community. Through a mix of themed and general social events, we aim to foster a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for all participants.

The Shop Smart Program is designed to empower our chefs with the skills and knowledge necessary to make informed, healthy, and budget-conscious food choices. By integrating these shopping experiences into our overall curriculum, we aim to foster a deeper understanding of the food supply chain and the importance of nutrition.

The Cook it Yourself program is designed to be more than just a cooking lesson; it's about fostering independence, confidence, and a love for preparing and enjoying food.

Our Grow Your Own program is more than just a gardening initiative; it’s about fostering a deeper connection to the food we eat, understanding its origins, and taking pride in the entire process of cultivation and consumption