High School Cooking Program for NYC Students
A hands-on cooking and nutrition program for NYC high school students, building confidence, real-world skills, and healthier lifelong habits.
Tastemakers
Food Explorers
Family Table
Sensory Kitchen
Edible Kitchen
Sun, Soil, Sky
Tastemakers
More than cooking, students learn how to make informed food choices, think critically about what they eat, and build habits that support their health every day. They also develop the ability to navigate nutrition trends and misinformation with confidence.
Program Overview
Tastemakers is Foodstream LEARN’s hands-on cooking and nutrition program for high school students, designed to build real-world skills and a deeper understanding of how food impacts everyday life. Students learn to question common nutrition myths, interpret food labels, and navigate nutrition trends with confidence, while preparing simple, balanced meals they can recreate at home.
Wonderful outcomes! Thank you to Camila and Shay for their dedication.
Anastasia and Sandi were fantastic. They connect deeply with students while making staff feel included. Everyone looks forward to each session.
We truly appreciate the teamwork and flexibility despite challenges with our building. Thank you.
Our sessions have been amazing, the students are engaged, learning, and having fun.
Program Details
Each session transforms the classroom into a hands-on learning kitchen where students cook, collaborate, and apply real-world skills.
- Prepare simple, balanced meals using accessible ingredients
- Build foundational cooking techniques and understand how flavor develops
- Explore how food impacts energy, focus, and overall health
- Connect everyday food choices to sustainability and food systems
- Develop confidence, teamwork, and independent decision-making
Topics Include
Students explore key topics that build understanding of how food works in the body and in the world:
- Nutrition fundamentals (macro & micronutrients)
- Energy, blood sugar & focus
- Food labeling & ingredient awareness
- Sustainability & food systems
- Gut health & digestion
Format
- 45–90 minute sessions
- Flexible 8–30 week models
- In-school, after-school, or enrichment block formats
- All ingredients and tools provided
- No cafeteria equipment required
Sample lesson plan
“Fueling Focus Bowl”
Activities
Standards Alignment: Common Core ELA (speaking, listening, reading), Health Ed (nutrition), Math (ratios, measurements).
Objective: Students will identify key macronutrients and prepare a balanced grain bowl using seasonal produce and a protein of choice.
Quick intro: How food fuels energy, focus, and mood. Review protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats.
Hands-on prep: Knife skills, grain preparation, roasting or sautéing vegetables, seasoning proteins.
Team discussion: “How does this meal support your day?” Observe balance across food groups.
Cultural Connection: Discuss how grain bowls appear across cultures and how flavors can reflect personal identity.
Tasting and cleanup: Students plate their bowls and reflect on how intentional choices impact wellbeing. Recipe cards sent home for family recreation.
Bring The Joy of Hands-On Learning
Back to Your School
