Q: Tell us a little about yourself.

A: I am a nutrition & food skills educator who has always been passionate about food and health. I have a degree in Nutrition, a culinary diploma and I am a Professional Home Economist. I grew up close to Prince Edward County in Ontario so I was very fortunate to always have access to fresh local products right from the farm. This was especially important since I grew up playing rep soccer and running cross country–I was incredibly active. I still run long distance to this day and I know the importance of being properly fueled for my active lifestyle.

Q: What inspired you to create the “Let’s Make Lunch” online cooking school program for children?

A: While getting my degree in nutrition I was made aware of the role food skills (food literacy) plays in health. Studies suggest that lack of food literacy knowledge and an overabundance of highly processed takeout foods available are contributing to increasing obesity rates in North America. My goal is to help bring food skills back to kids so that they can lead a happy and healthy life

Q: What do you like the most about teaching children to cook?

I love to see how proud the kids are of what they make at the end of the class. Learning food skills not only helps teach kids a new life skill they need to lead a healthy life, it also gives kids a confidence boost and a chance for some hands on learning.

Q: Do you have a food philosophy? What is it and why?

My food philosophy is “All foods fit!”I’m a huge advocate for the fact that you don’t need to cut any foods out of your diet as long as you practice moderation and make sure that you eat a variety of different foods. Focusing on eating whole, local foods is a great way to do this

Q: What have you found out about kids and their understanding/interest in food and nutrition?

I have learned that kids LOVE learning with hands on experiences and that they are more likely to try new foods if they have had a hand in preparing the meal. If you want them to try new foods and recipes it may be as simple as getting them involved in the prep process.

Q: What do you see as being key to a healthy balanced diet? Does beef belong?

My take on a healthy balanced diet is that “all foods fit”. Make sure to eat a variety of different foods. All food groups are important because different foods have different nutritional strengths. For example, lean beef belongs in a healthy diet because it is a fantastic source of Protein, Vitamin B12 and Heme Iron–all nutrients that are important for blood health and building muscle. Make sure that your diet is varied and practice moderation with highly processed foods.

Q: What is your advice for getting kids into the kitchen to cook?

Let them pick the recipe and be encouraging! The first time kids cook the recipe may not look perfect, but it usually tastes pretty good. If they make a mistake in the recipe, encourage them to use problem solving skills to figure out how they can fix it. Kids are developing a new skill so be patient and let them make mistakes. As they gain confidence you will see them start to make substitutions in recipes and maybe not even need recipes anymore. This is a great skill to have!

Q: Do you feel a sense of pride when cooking and serving Canadian beef?

I do feel a sense of pride when cooking and serving Canadian beef. I strive to use local products often and one of my favourite things is to cook a delicious meal for family and friends to enjoy together. Even better if they enjoy it so much they ask for the recipe!