Why We Need an Urban Survival Kitchen

Recession increases the number of children living in poverty-stricken families.  The challenges of our failing economy have had a huge impact upon our students, causing a rippling effect that can be seen in diminished school performance, inadequate career preparation, and an overall feeling of hopelessness.

Our society is facing a frightening phenomenon known as “food insecurity.”

Families are becoming fearful that they will find themselves without enough food to meet even the most basic survival needs.  There has been concern about our dwindling “middle class” who, in spite of still being employed, are increasingly joining a class of society known as “the working poor.”

Often, there is no available adult at home to plan and prepare meals.  As a result, kids often sustain themselves on junk-food snacks that do not require any planning or preparation.  Such foods also rarely provide any nutrition.  When the children get to school, they are often faced with cafeteria lunches that are woefully inadequate.

And it is about more than just feeding oneself.

The poor food choices have resulted in an obesity epidemic.  I recently conducted a survey, distributing questionnaires to approximately fifty teenage students at the Boys and Girls Club of Venice.  The survey came back with alarming results:  70% responded that they generally went to school without having had breakfast; 90% relied on the dismal lunch at school as the primarily daily meal; 70 % complained of mental fatigue by mid-afternoon; and 30% went to bed hungry.  The most upsetting statistic was that more than 50% disclosed that they were worried about the health of their parents and siblings. 

How can we most effectively reach our teenagers and get them on the right track?

·   Identifying the best food choices at an affordable price; learning how use food dollars wisely

·  Maintaining optimal health and avoiding exposure to carcinogens and other toxic elements

·   Health-promoting/planet-friendly/cost-effective food preparation techniques

·   Making the food shopping and meal preparation experience fun

It is clear that there is a growing need for effective strategies to address the burgeoning food crisis.  By providing our students with the knowledge and skills they need to plan and prepare low-cost healthy meals, we can have a positive impact upon not only the students themselves, but also upon their families and the entire community.

The Urban Survival Kitchen is a flexible workshop curriculum that can be customized to address specific areas of need, which may vary, depending upon the population.  Students will learn how to prepare low cost, easy-to-prepare meals that are rich in nutrients, particularly with regard to protein. Protein is a vital nutritional component, especially during adolescence, as it plays a critical role in cognitive functioning.  Students will become conscious of what they are eating, as they discover healthier food choices.

June Pagan, the developer of this program, has three decades of experience developing menus and preparing meals that are healthy yet flavorful.  She has specifically focused on recipes that meet well-established guidelines, such as those that have been developed by the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, and the American Diabetes Association.  Her training background has included a stint at the Pritikin Longevity Center and she continues to work with several prominent dieticians. 

Each daily lesson will be strategically designed so that the students will see results, right away, on the plate. The students will be able to taste the results of each recipe project – immediately after completing it.  We will teach the students practical skills in the kitchen.  They will experience the cooking process in action and will take home the tools and ingredients from each day’s lesson, where they will be able to share their new-found knowledge and experience with their families at dinnertime.  During each session, students will learn such techniques as using cast-iron cookware (affordable, sustainable, and increases iron intake) and using a crock pot (convenient, versatile, and energy-saving).

Imagine what a sense of empowerment this experience can provide to the students.

Teenagers are perfectly capable of planning and preparing meals.  And this is a skill that will have a lifelong impact.  As the students apply the knowledge and skills they acquire in the workshop, they will find themselves making healthier food choices, which in turn will help to reduce obesity and improve school performance. 

The initial Urban Survival Kitchen will take place at Venice High School, partnering with the Learning Garden (a 501 (c) non-profit organization.  We will seek funding via private individual donations.  Partnering with the Learning Garden makes perfect sense, for several reasons. 

Learning Garden students learn to grow their own healthy foods at low cost.

At the same time, students  will also develop a deepened relationship with the earth, and an increased appreciation for fruits and vegetables.  There will be a strong emphasis on fresh vegetables and clean non-GMO products.  Our students will learn how to taste the difference between real and faux food – and – will develop an appreciation for food that is locally grown.  We will be working closely with Master Gardener David King and other Learning Garden specialists, integrating the gardening and culinary spheres.  Our students will learn to grow unique vegetable ingredients – tasty and healthful - that are specified in the curriculum. 

“Poverty often deprives a man of all spirit and virtue.  It is hard for an empty bag to stand upright.” 

Benjamin Franklin