Junior League of Chattanooga’s (JLC) 9th annual Kids in the Kitchen event will be Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Highland Park Commons at 200 Union Ave.
This community fair of fun, hands-on activities for kids and parents focuses on healthy eating and active living. The free event targets children in kindergarten through fifth grade. “We seek to promote education on healthy lifestyles including cooking, nutrition and exercise, and the goal is to make it fun so that kids want to continue these positive behaviors in their daily lives,” said event chair Katie Morgan. Activities will include educational games, fitness activities, chef demonstrations and healthy snack ideas.
Inspired by the Junior League of Calgary’s Junior Chefs program, the Association of Junior Leagues International’s Kids in the Kitchen initiative began in 2006 with the goal of engaging children in the preparation of healthy meals as a means to educate them and their parents about nutrition. Eleven years later, Junior Leagues in more than 200 locations around the world provide lessons and demonstrations related to preparation of healthy meals and snacks in partnership with local community organizations, chefs and nutritionists.
“Children’s health and wellness has been a key issue for Junior Leagues since our founding in 1901,” said Jessi Rymer, Junior League of Chattanooga vice president of community engagement. “Today, a critical element of our ongoing commitment is teaching kids and their parents about the importance of eating healthy foods and involving them in the fight against childhood obesity.”
This year’s participating organizations will provide food tastings, free product samples, educational information and activities to all Kids in the Kitchen attendees free of charge.
For more information, contact Ms. Morgan at kmorgan@chahousing.org.