Kids in the Kitchen

WE BELIEVE HEALTHY EATING SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE, TASTY, AND FUN FOR ALL CHILDREN.

Junior League of Pensacola continues our commitment to bettering the lives of Northwest Florida’s children by championing “Kids in the Kitchen.” Kids in the Kitchen is an initiative of the Association for Junior Leagues International and a concerted effort to reverse the national crises of childhood obesity and poor nutrition.

Kids in the Kitchen takes place in public schools and recreation centers throughout our community. Junior League of Pensacola members design and deliver fun, interactive curriculum to inform children (and consequently, their parents) about nutrition and healthy habits. They conduct cooking class, provide recipes for healthy eating and offer tips for the whole family. 

Additionally, Kids in the Kitchen participants have an opportunity to put their new healthy culinary skills to test at the “Junior Iron Chef” end of year event. This event features local celebrity chefs and encourages attendance by the participants’ families. Participants also take home healthy groceries to share with their families over summer break. 

 

PAST KIDS IN THE KITCHEN LOCATIONS

Ferry Pass Elementary School

Ensley Elementary School

C.A. Weis Elementary School

Bear Levin Studer Family YMCA

E.S. Cobb Resource Center

Woodland Heights Resource Center

Fricker Resource Center

 

WHAT DRIVES OUR EFFORTS

Food insecurity and childhood obesity are serious issues affecting children and families across the country, as well as in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties. According to various sources, such as the Center for Disease Control:

  • Healthy eating in childhood and adolescence is important for proper growth and development and to prevent various health conditions.
  • Empty calories from added sugars and solid fats contribute to 40% of daily calories for children and adolescents age 2-18 years – affecting the overall quality of their diets. 
  • When a child has poor nutrition, they can be at risk for obesity, as well as iron deficiencies, dental cavities, and long-term health effects.
  • People living in the poorest socio-economic status areas have 2.5 times the exposure to fast food than those living in the wealthiest areas. 
  • Food insecurity has a high correlation with increased diabetes rates. 
  • Low income children and adolescents are more likely to be obese than their higher income counterparts. 

 

GET INVOLVED

For Kids in the Kitchen to have the greatest impact on children in our community, we need your help. 

 

GIVE

Your gift will be used to purchase essential supplies for the Kids in the Kitchen program, such as nutritional grocery items, educational materials, and exercise activities. It will also go toward funding “take home bags” of nutritional groceries for our participants families during summer break. 

DONATE

We accept gift cards to our favorite grocery stores, such as Ever’man Cooperative Grocery, Publix, Walmart, Winn Dixie, and other area grocers.

 

OUR SPONSORS

Kids in the Kitchen would not be possible without the support from these generous sponsors.

 

 

Questions? Email kitk@juniorleagueofpensacola.org