Kids will learn to cook and to grow fresh garden food

Just like ingredients in a recipe , a lot of good things put together carefully are making something delicious for the kids of Fort Smith Boys & Girls Clubs . It ’ s even nutritious too ! Kids who attend the four youth clubs have eaten good food there for many years , but now the menu is getting even better . In part , the free , healthy breakfast , snacks and afterschool meals , plus lunch in summer sessions , will be “ farmto-table .” Some foods will come from the club garden that kids help to grow .

The non-profit clubs recently held a grand opening for their own new , kitchen whose staff will cook and deliver freshcooked hot food each day to all clubs . The restaurant-style kitchen is at Hunt ’ s Park sports field in central Fort Smith on Old Greenwood Road .

The clubs ’ chef , Lisa Irwin , and her staff have already served about 20,000 free meals to kids aged 6-18 who attend the clubs .

She is very happy to now give them freshly cooked , warm

foods . The kitchen staff starts early in the day to cook their tasty meals and pack them up to be delivered the Evans , Goldtrap-Gardner , Stephens and Jeffrey- Glidewell units . The food is packed into thermal carriers so it is still good and warm when the kids are served .

Kids can learn to cook

Very soon , Irwin is going to have classes that club members can join to learn more about cooking and healthy eating . Starting with teen-aged kids , Irwin is going to give them real kitchen training , like some of them may have seen on television or in movies .

Personal safety , order in the kitchen and food safety will some be some of the first lessons , Irwin said . Personal safety could be about the safe way to use sharp knives , she said . Order in the kitchen

Chef Lisa Irwin packing up the hot meals for delivery to the four clubs .

Getting their hands in the dirt is what garden club is all about , with leader Rod Miller .

26 • November 2024 • www . OfficialKidsMag . com