Yes Chef! impact extends far beyond schools
The “Yes Chef!” Project in a Box, developed by South Yorkshire Children’s University and sponsored in part by Loadhog, made a significant impact last year by facilitating schools to teach primary school students about healthy eating, food-related skills, and nutrition.
This wasn’t during ‘normal’ lessons though – as part of CU, the activities were delivered as part of the schools’ programme of extra-curricular or ‘enrichment’ activities, earning the pupils CU credits for their participation.
Schools received their own Yes Chef! box full of resources, equipment and session plans which were introduced through a training session, empowering staff to have the confidence to delivery the activities back in school.
Yes Chef! addressed gaps in food education, covering topics like portion control, food hygiene, savvy shopping, and the importance of food banks. Through hands-on cooking activities, students learned to prepare nutritious meals on a budget, the value of batch-cooking and using leftovers, often sharing the knowledge with their families.
The project also aimed to instil life skills such as leadership and teamwork, with some students eventually teaching their peers. Parents and carers were invited to participate, leading to family-wide changes in cooking and shopping habits.
A number of case studies showcasing local people in a range of job roles and careers in food-related industries inspired the pupils to consider this field as a future career option.
Feedback from participating schools from across the region highlighted improved student confidence around food, particularly for those with dietary restrictions, and an enhanced understanding of nutrition and budgeting. Families felt more confident to shop and cook more cost-effectively as well as trying new dishes at home.
To read more about Yes Chef! and the impact it has made, take a look at our Yes Chef! Full Case Study
The culmination of the project was a celebration event at Loadhog’s Glide House, where students applied their knowledge by designing healthy snacks and engaging in practical activities such as silver service and cooking alongside a professional chef. The positive response from schools, families, and the broader community demonstrates the far-reaching impact of “Yes Chef!” in promoting healthier lifestyles and food awareness.
The Yes Chef! resources are for schools to keep, enabling them to continue to deliver the project and it’s impact for many years to come. In the meantime, South Yorkshire CU will be launching the next Project in a Box – Think Climate – very soon! Watch this space…
