Let’s Eat! Oklahoma 4-H’ers find a new way to stay active during a pandemic

Just like Christmas morning, Oklahoma 4-H members experienced the excitement of opening a package of materials they would use to prepare delicious meals.

“We usually do a summer program, but with the pandemic, we had to come up with something new,” said Cathy Allen, Oklahoma 4-H curriculum specialist. “We put our heads together and came up with Food, Fun, 4-H.”

Funded by a Walmart Healthy Habits grant, the Food, Fun, 4-H program was developed to bring families together to learn new skills and cook delicious meals, Allen said.

In addition, the families could have fun while trying new foods and developing communications skills, she said. The program was much more successful than they had anticipated, she added.

“When the program first started, we were hoping to reach 125 families,” Allen said. “We never imagined we would get 727 families involved.”

During each month of the fourmonth program, 4-H members received recipes by email and cooking utensils through the mail.

The recipes included step-by-step instructions with photos showing how to prepare each recipe. In the first month, participants also received a green apron with the 4-H logo that the members wore when they prepared their meals, Allen said.

“We like all these new recipes!” said Hunter Haxton, McClain County 4-H member. “It’s been fun cooking them and trying something new. We had never had quiche before.”

Similar to a monthly subscription program, each 4-H member received a mystery package in the mail each month, Allen said.

In each package, they received two utensils used in preparing the meals that month. Some of the tools were a rubber scraper, a zester and a rolling pin, she said.

Each month’s recipe set also had a specific theme. For example, one month was Rise and Dine featuring brunch recipes, and another was a Fiesta Mexicana with Mexican dishes.

Oklahoma 4-H members enrolled for the program electronically on the Oklahoma 4-H website, Allen said.

After the kids received their recipes, the families gathered the ingredients to cook their meals.

“I liked the fact that my brothers and I worked as a team to get the meal prepared,” said Brandon Raulie, Rogers County 4-H member.

Many 4-H members already had some cooking skills, Allen said, but through this program, they gained additional skills like time management and responsibility.

“My wish is to keep learning all I can about cooking,” said Payton Smith, Woods County 4-H member. “I’ve found I love being in the kitchen. It’s been very relaxing, and I get to spend a lot of time with my mom. I’ve also learned to communicate better through cooking.”

Many 4-H members became closer to their families and learned new skills from each other, Allen said.

“My grandma helped me make the homemade pie crust from her recipe from her mom, my great-grandma,” said Dayci Starr, Kay County 4-H member. “That was really special.”

Following each cooking experience, the 4-H members had to complete three prompts: I like …, I wish …, and I wonder …. Their answers provided feedback to Oklahoma 4-H and allowed them to receive their next package, Allen said.

The members also submitted at least two pictures each month, one photo as they prepared one of the dishes and one photo of the family meal.

For members who did not have much experience cooking, through Food, Fun, 4-H with step-by-step instructions, they went into a kitchen and cooked amazing meals, Allen said.

“I liked making the dish because I felt proud,” said Riley Price, Kay County 4-H member. “I haven’t really cooked much, and I learned how to cook meat, chop, and set a timer.”

The program went from May through August and received positive feedback, Allen said.

Now, Oklahoma 4-H has received an additional grant that will allow this program to be taken into schools.

Extension educators will work with schools to provide an opportunity for youth to gain knowledge around nutrition, cooking skills, budgeting, food access, mindfulness and physical activity, Allen said.

The new program will not include any food preparation in classrooms but will be offered through a take-home piece students can do at home on their own or with family members, she said.

The Food, Fun, 4-H program will come back the next summer with more delicious meals, Allen said. With such positive feedback, many 4-H members say they cannot wait, she said.

“I wish this program was all year,” Dayci said. “I learned something new every time we had to cook. I want to keep learning how to cook so I will be able to cook for my family.”

REBEKAH HALE SHERIDAN, ARKANSAS