Even a pandemic didn’t stop Candace Green from teaching her students about healthy eating—and she did it with the help of the Gaples Institute’s interactive online nutrition education.
Culinary Arts Teacher
Ms. Green teaches a 5-week Culinary Arts class for 6th, 7th, and 8th-graders through the YES! Youth Empowerment Services Program—a collaboration between Stephen Decatur Middle School and the Love Lived Charity, Inc. in Prince George’s County, Maryland. It’s a free project-based STEAM enrichment program funded by the Maryland State Department of Education, designed to teach core academic content in meaningful ways.
When classrooms went virtual last year due to the pandemic, Ms. Green went on a mission to find engaging, high-quality online nutrition lessons.
“The Gaples modules are perfect for our students,” says Ms. Green. “The interactivity really draws them in. And they feel a huge sense of accomplishment when they earn a personalized certificate from the Gaples Institute!”
Although her Culinary Arts program partially transitioned back to in-person learning in 2021, Ms. Green kept the Gaples Institute course as a cornerstone in her curriculum.
“Nutrition knowledge is a huge need among young people,” Ms. Green explains.
“And the best part is, I’m seeing them make healthier decisions because of what they’ve learned. When they choose recipes, they ask not only ‘Is this food I’ll enjoy?’ but also ‘Is this good fuel for my body?’ It has prompted some great classroom discussions, like how to add more veggies to a meal, and how to choose healthy portion sizes.”
Students in Ms. Green’s culinary program have earned a total of 24 certificates of achievement from the Gaples Institute and were honored at an online End-of-Summer Showcase Celebration attended by their families and the YES Program faculty.
We congratulate Ms. Green and her students for making healthy food a key ingredient in their summer culinary journey—and building nutrition knowledge that will last a lifetime.
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