This summer, the City of Sundown Library launched a brand-new, hands-on cooking program for children through its nutrition program.
Designed to teach basic kitchen skills and introduce simple nutrition concepts, the weekly sessions gave kids the opportunity to prepare and enjoy a variety of fun recipes—all while learning their way around the kitchen.
As the first summer offering of its kind at the library, the program was a great success. The aim was to create a welcoming environment where kids could gain confidence with cooking and begin to understand the importance of making healthy food choices. From measuring ingredients to trying new flavors, every class was an opportunity to build useful lifelong habits.
Throughout the summer, participants made variety of kidfriendly recipes together, including homemade chicken nuggets, tortilla pizzas, and caramel popcorn. The children participated in every step of the process—from mixing and assembling to, of course, tasting the results. Additionally, the South Plains Food Bank’s Nutrition Educator presented a Family Cooking Class twice a month.
Now that the program has wrapped up for the season, The City of Sundown Library is proud of what was accomplished and grateful for the enthusiasm of the kids who joined them. The City of Sundown Library is thankful for the special funders who made the program possible: the FMH Foundation, H-E-B Helping Here, and the Prentice Farrar & Alline Ford Brown Foundation. They hope to bring the program back in the future as other funding options are made available and continue sharing the joy of cooking with young community members.