Vetri Foundation For Children

EMPOWERING PHILADELPHIANS TO LEAD HEALTHIER LIVES THROUGH CULINARY NUTRITION EDUCATION.

VCP'S FOUR CORE SERVICES ENGAGE HIGH-NEED RESIDENTS OF PHILADELPHIA, PA AND CAMDEN, NJ IN COOKING ACTIVITIES AND TASTING OPPORTUNITIES USING RECIPES THAT ARE NUTRITIOUS, PLANT-FORWARD, AFFORDABLE, AND DELICIOUS. VCP'S NUTRITION EDUCATORS MEET FAMILIES IN SCHOOLS, FOOD RETAIL SITES, FARMERS MARKETS, HEALTH CENTERS AND OTHER COMMUNITY SPACES TO ENCOURAGE COOKING AT HOME. PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS INCREASE THEIR CURIOSITY ABOUT AND LIKING OF VEGETABLES, CULINARY CONFIDENCE, FOOD AGENCY, AND HEALTH OUTCOMES. IN 2022, VCP HOSTED OVER 800 WORKSHOPS LEADING TO 21,000 EXPERIENCES FOR PARTICIPANTS TO COOK OR TASTE A NUTRIENT-DENSE AND DELICIOUS RECIPE. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR EXPLANATION FOR FOUR CORE SERVICES: EAT360, VETRI COOKING LAB, MOBILE TEACHING KITCHEN, AND CULINARY MEDICINE.EAT360 - A PA SNAP-ED FUNDED PROGRAM DELIVERING EVIDENCE-BASED NUTRITION EDUCATION IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. OUR STAFF COLLABORATES WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS TO INVITE FAMILIES TO ADD MORE FRUITS OR VEGETABLES TO THEIR DAY THROUGH LEARNING EXPERIENCES AND CHANGES TO SCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMMING ENVIRONMENTS. EDUCATORS PROMOTED HEALTHY CHOICES THROUGH INTERACTIVE PROMOTIONAL DISPLAYS, VIRTUAL EVENTS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR SITE STAFF, AND BY INCREASING AWARENESS FOR AND EFFICACY OF SCHOOL WELLNESS POLICIES. IN 2022, EDUCATORS HOSTED 663 COOKING CLASSES WITH 13,318 SCHOOL AGE AND ADULT PARTICIPANTS. VETRI COOKING LAB - AN OUT-OF-SCHOOL TIME PROGRAM FOR 4TH THROUGH 12TH GRADERS THAT FOCUSES ON TEACHING FUNDAMENTAL COOKING SKILLS PAIRED WITH NUTRITION CONCEPTS TO DEVELOP THE NEXT GENERATION OF EDUCATED FOOD CONSUMERS. PARTICIPANTS WORK TOGETHER TO PREPARE RECIPES THAT ARE PAIRED WITH STEAM HIGHLIGHTS AND IMPORTANT NUTRITION LESSONS LIKE EATING A RAINBOW, READING NUTRITION LABELS, AND INCORPORATING ANY VEGETABLE, ANY WAY. IN 2022, VETRI COOKING LAB EDUCATORS LED 252 VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS AT 21 LOCATIONS THAT CREATED 2,804 OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENT ENGAGEMENT. IN THE SUMMER, 77 WORKSHOPS CREATED 1,000 COOKING EXPERIENCES FOR YOUTH IN PHILADELPHIA.MOBILE TEACHING KITCHEN - A COMMUNITY NUTRITION PROGRAM THAT BRINGS NUTRITIOUS AND DELICIOUS RECIPE SAMPLINGS AND COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS TO FOOD DISTRIBUTION SITES, FOOD PANTRIES, AND FARMERS MARKETS. OUR MOBILE TEACHING KITCHEN TRUCKS ARE DESIGNED TO BRING THE CULINARY CLASSROOM CURBSIDE FOR PARTICIPANTS TO TASTE RECIPES MADE WITH WHAT IS AVAILABLE AND ACCESSIBLE AND OUR VIRTUAL TEACHING KITCHEN REACHES PARTICIPANTS IN THEIR OWN HOMES. IN 2022, MOBILE TEACHING KITCHEN EDUCATORS HOSTED 80 IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL SESSIONS WITH 24 PARTNERS LEADING TO 3,708 OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTICIPANT ENGAGEMENT.CULINARY MEDICINE - A HEALTH-SPECIFIC CULINARY NUTRITION EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS, PRACTITIONERS, PATIENTS, AND FAMILIES. HANDS-ON COOKING WORKSHOPS FEATURE RECIPES THAT SUPPORT SPECIFIC HEALTH POPULATIONS FOR PARTICIPANTS TO ENHANCE THEIR NUTRITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND CULINARY CONFIDENCE FOR REAL-WORLD APPLICATION. IN 2022, CULINARY MEDICINE EDUCATORS HOSTED 55 WORKSHOPS WITH 12 PARTNER HEALTH CENTERS AND MEDICAL SCHOOLS COVERING HEALTH TOPICS INCLUDING DIABETES, HEART HEALTH, RENAL, MENTAL HEALTH, AND PREGNANCY.