How Do #GrocersDoingGood Create Youth Development Programs in Communities?

<p>By: Melaina Lewis, Communications Specialist, Food Marketing Institute</p> <p><img src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/picture1.tmb-large-350-.jpg?sfvrsn=57887c6e_1" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="Cooking up Change" title="Cooking up Change" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;" />Over the past few years, <a href="https://www.northgatemarkets.com/">Northgate Gonzalez Market</a> has been committed to improving the lives of youth in Anaheim, California. In an effort to increase awareness on the benefits of healthy eating among high-school students, Northgate Gonzalez partnered with <a href="http://mykidhealthy.org/">Kid Healthy</a> to become the first organization to regionally host Cooking up Change&reg; in Orange County.</p> <p>Cooking up Change is a healthy cooking contest that provides high school students from Title I, low-income schools, the tools and training to transform their school lunch menu; develop valuable culinary arts skills, improve self-esteem, and inspires them to continue their education in culinary arts and nutrition sciences.&nbsp;</p> <p>The unique strength of Cooking up Change comes from its power to elevate a meal and a message created by students so that it reaches their peers locally and nationwide. Through the competition, students gain a platform to discuss the importance of raising nutritional standards with our nation&rsquo;s leading policymakers, and create better tasting school food.</p> <p>Here are more ways Cooking up Change is impacting the lives of youth in The Golden State and reforming school food systems:</p> <ul> <li>Lunches from Cooking up Change have been integrated into the school food menus in public schools and are now served regularly in some districts including Orange County.&nbsp;</li> <li>Cooking up Change competition teams have created 153 student recipes and 41 after school snack recipes.</li> <li>The Orange County teams have received several national titles and nation-wide recognition for their recipes. </li> <li>More than 40 chefs have mentored students in Cooking up Change. </li> <li>The program has awarded 30 scholarships to participants.</li> <li>Raised $250,000 to support Kid Healthy, the Orange County Regional Cooking up Change contest</li> </ul> <p>These examples and more can be found at <a href="https://www.fmi.org/get-involved/community-outreach/best-practices">FMI.org/CommunityOutreachBestPractices</a>.&nbsp; &nbsp;<br /> Is your store creating programs for youth development in your neighborhood? Go to<a href="https://www.fmi.org/get-involved/community-outreach"> FMI.org/CommunityOuteach</a> to share your story with us. The deadline to submit a nomination for the Community Outreach Awards has been extended to <strong>Thursday, October 19, 2017.</strong></p>