The Learning Kitchen roster is currently full through September, 2013

If you would like to be added to the list of potential host sites, please send your name, organization, and series preference (Youth, Young Adult, or Adult) to Hunger Free Vermont's Nutrition Education Manager, Laura Fillbach, at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  You will be notified when an application to host additional series becomes available.  You may also request to be added to a waitlist in the event that a currently scheduled series is cancelled and spot opens up.

The Learning Kitchen consists of three programs in order to meet the needs of a diverse audience: low-income parents, at-risk youth, and at-risk teens transitioning into independent living.

The Learning Kitchen (formerly known as Cooking for Life) classes are designed to improve food security for families with limited budgets. The curriculum for the program was developed in collaboration with Hunger Free Vermont and the University of Vermont Extension’s Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). Since The Learning Kitchen began in 1999, there have been hundreds of series serving over 7,000 Vermonters.

In a series of six classes, 8-15 participants receive instruction in meal planning, budgeting, shopping, and cooking from area chefs and trained nutrition educators. At the end of each class, participants take home free ingredients to make the recipes at home. This hands-on approach creates an immediate impact for families, as noted by a recent graduate, "Every parent should take a nutrition class! I learned easy ways to make educated decisions for my family. This class offered a hands-on approach to trying new, healthy foods and cooking techniques." Graduates of The Learning Kitchen are preparing more meals from scratch; learning how best to budget food dollars and plan healthier meals; and consuming more fruits, vegetables, grains, and calcium-rich foods.

Hunger Free Vermont helps schools and community groups offer these essential nutrition education classes across the state. Vermonters would not have access to this opportunity without dedicated communities that not only host the series in their space, but also coordinate volunteer chefs, educators, and gorcery shoppers.

HOW IT WORKS

• You or your organization provides: a host, an educator, a chef, a shopper, a space with a kitchen, and 8-15 income eligible participants.
• The first step: a host fills out an application and recruits the volunteer team with support from The Learning Kitchen staff, if needed.
• Once an application is approved, you will receive: 
  1) an orientation for all new volunteers prior to your first class 
  2) funding for approved expenses for your series; resources to help you find funding for additional expenses 
  3) curriculum and materials for all 6 lessons 
  4) support throughout your series from The Learning Kitchen staff 
• If you are a chef or nutrition expert who would like to volunteer for a Learning Kitchen series, please let us know and we can add you to our resource list.

Online Toolkits for Hosts 

This toolkit contains all the paperwork and resources that Learning Kitchen hosts will need in order to hold a successful series.  Please note that paperwork should be submitted to Hunger Free Vermont within 10 days of the last class. You may use the Host Paperwork Checklist to keep track of the necessary forms.